Iotunn's debut album marked the Danish/Faroese band as a vital new voice in melodic death metal, a genre that had long since grown stale and boring. Access All Worlds brims with a heavy progressive flair, epic scope, and mesmerizing songwriting. As debuts often are, it's a little rougher around the edges than 2025's Kinship. The production is scrappier, Aldará leans more on his harsh vocals, and while the songs are on par, the songwriting isn't quite as refined. The guitar work is crystalline, the rhythm section drives the music with precision and does much of the legwork here, while Jon Aldará's voice remains the star of the show. He is an absolute force, and while I do not care all that much for his growls, his clean vocals define the band's sound.

This album has its flaws, including the occasional sense of directionlessness and death metal passages that feel less compelling. However, Access All Worlds' freshness, ambition, and sheer quality make those shortcomings easy to overlook. A great debut that laid the foundation for even greater things.