Review by Felix on June 12, 2019.

M-A says that the status of the band is "unknown", but this seems to be a euphemistic statement. It's a fact that Allegiance did not release any new material during the last 19 years. Even 30 years ago, Mister Dickinson told us that only the good die young and this might be the reason why he and me are still living, but honestly speaking, I wish also the good would reach a high age. Enigmatic doctrines aside, Blodörnsoffer, which is kicked off by a nice, stage-setting intro and finished by the second part of this atmospheric piece, does not mark a monumental milestone in the history of Swedish black / death metal and it should not compare itself with the debut. Nevertheless, genre fans are well advised to lend an ear, because the band presents passion, vitality and robustness.

The Scandinavians plough through heavy soil. Their songs spread the smell of hard work. Soft guitar interludes give the listener the occasion to gasp for breath, but the songs themselves are characterized by viscous, thunderous and almost lumbering riffs and lines. The pretty smooth flow of some parts of "En svunnen tid" remain an isolated case. By the way, this excellent, partly wistful yet extremely heavy song marks the climax of the material due to its effective opening riff and the brutal beauty of the melody that appears after four minutes. Too bad that there are no further tracks which reach the formidable quality of this song. The remaining material sounds angry (or even very angry like the title track), powerful and it does not lack high-speed eruptions. To give but one example, wide parts of "Heimdal" pray to the God of velocity. However, it bares its teeth without suffering from any signs of fatigue, but one has to realize that the band itself had set the bar very high with its outstanding first full-length.

Not very transparent, but lumpy, vehement and uncompromising, that's how the album's sound can be described. Too bad that the word "dull" also fits the context, too. Meteorologists would probably speak of a hail storm of exceptional severity and this means that its appearance limits visibility. No, the sound does not fully meet my taste, because it lacks clarity and precision. I don't want to complain too much, because it does not drive the album into the ground, by far not. Even the bass is audible, and we know that this is sometimes no matter of course. Yet it would have been fine to listen to a better-defined sound. However, the balance between the vocals and the instruments gives no reason to lament. The hateful nagging does not steal the show from the instrumentalists and vice versa. Okay, the throaty style of singing of the lead vocalist borders on monotony, but this kind of music does not ask for virtuoso opera singers.

For sure, Allegiance do not make great mistakes, but a great opening riff like that of "Korpen skall leda oss" would have deserved a better continuation. This song represents an example of the lack of catchiness and sharpness that prevents a higher rating, although there are some very strong instrumental sections as well. But I don't want to look for the fly in the ointment - and I wish the status of Allegiance would change into "active".

Rating: 7.8 out of 10

Review by Allan on May 28, 2002.

“Mardraum: Beyond the Within” is quite a step to make in one album. As the band claims, it’s a new era for them. I’d have to agree. “Blodhemn” showed the band playing in a rage, while “Mardraum” encompasses the elements that the band has shown before. Emotion, depth, epicness... it’s all here, and there is more. “Mardraum” is a textured and accomplishing album for the band and it is a perfect way for the band to state their new direction.

The album opens up with 'Større Enn Tid- Tyngre Enn Natt'. What better piece to open the album that this – one of the best songs Enslaved have ever written. It holds all the elements of this album in one song, but that’s not to say that just one track does the album justice. Every note on this album was written with a purpose, and it serves that purpose. The psychedelic influences really start to come out here in each song. While the band slightly hinted at them in the past, it is here that they actually come to life. Atmosphere is of the utmost importance in this record, and I can safely say it’s continuous and precise. It’s got a dark, epic feel to it the entire way throughout. The emotion on this record just bleeds through the music, and not just sections, but the entire album. All ideas on this album are unique and creative. From the production to the musicianship to the songs themselves, it’s completely unscathed.

The performance of each individual is above and beyond. Singer and bass player Grutle Kjellson does an excellent job. His vocal styles range from black rasp to death metal growl to epic clean vocals. He performs these all most excellently, and my favorite would be the clean ones. To date, these vocals are the best ever. They are so full of life and feeling. Guitarists Ivar Bjørnson and R. Kronheim are most excellent. Their work together is on a whole new level. They’re definitely one of the best guitar duos ever. Their abstract ideas work on a variety of different levels. Lastly, drummer Dirge Rep is no exception. He’s a truly underrated drummer full of great ideas and the talent to back it up. Enslaved act as a functioning whole when it comes to themselves as musicians, and this album shows it the best so far.

What makes Enslaved great is that they aren’t here to play typical music. It’s about exploration and pushing the boundaries, for themselves. At this point in time, “Mardraum” has to be the highest achievement for the band. Their atypical approach to song structure, composition, and sound is something that should be appreciated in today’s scene.

Bottom Line: It’s a safe gamble that fans of the bands previous work will find something to enjoy in this album, but if they don’t I can’t say I’m surprised. It’s a new direction for the band, and some people just won’t be up for the journey.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Originality: 10
Musicianship: 10
Atmosphere: 10
Production: 10
Overall: 10

Rating: 10 out of 10