Since Bathory's Quorthon first introduced folk instruments to black metal and started to sing about longboats in the late 1980s, the Viking metal genre has expanded and developed to become one of my firm favourite strange sub-genres of heavy metal music. While there are many cheap imitation acts of the genre leaders, my favourites are the ones that manage to remain distinctive and unique, and Sweden's Månegarm, in particular their excellent album 'Vredens Tid,' are at the top of my list.

'Vredens Tid' perfects the previous album 'Dödsfärd' by focusing on slightly longer, more intricate songs, mostly rooted in folk-tinged black metal but increasingly experimenting with moments of pure folk, female vocals and melodic elements comparable to melodic death metal, as in the catchy 'Dödens Strand.' The band retains its talents for instantly compelling and memorable lead melodies, performed by a comination of guitar and violin in most cases, and the alternation between yelled, growled and sung vocals works brilliantly, though may take a while to get used to before you reach the point of joining in with the unintelligible Swedish choruses.

Longer songs such as 'Kolöga Trolltand' and 'Hemfärd' are extended through contrivances such as folk sections, but these never feel out of place, and although the extended atmospheric build-up of 'Preludium' may be a little excessive in repeated doses, it does lead excellently into the war-torn title song. Fans of the band's black metal roots may find some elements a little soft here and there, but for the most part this is excellent, high-octane mead-drinking music, perfect for the kind of Viking-themed parties that I wish I was invited to. Perhaps I'll have to throw my own.