Mithotyn
In the Sign of the Ravens
Death/Invasion/Metal Blade
As any good Viking knows, the Raven is the sign of Odin. Ravens have the right to feast on the battle-slain. To have your body devoured by them is an honor. The band also seems to have some allegiance to Thor, which is surprising, since he is the god of thralls, rather than the noble-born, who follow Odin. Not that it matters…
The music is potentially great Viking-oriented operatic death metal, flawed by poor recording. Seriously, I just couldn’t hear the music clearly enough from this, as I said before, potentially great album. I could hear the guitars pretty well, but the vocals were too drowned out once the bass and drums kicked in.
The song titles in themselves are enough to tell of Mithotyn’s greatness: “Upon Raging Waves,” “Embraced By Forest,” “Stories Carved In Stone,” and “Freezing Storms of Snow.” I love the band’s focus on the life of a devout Viking, which includes fighting, pillaging, and general mayhem. All, of course, with an eye on the religious significance of it all. Metal Blade Records, 2828 Cochran St., Suite 302, Simi Valley, CA 93065-2793; http://www.iuma.com/Metal\_Blade
