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Third album from this veteran Belgian band who don't get the respect they deserve. True, Pagan/Viking Black metal is kind of hip these days, and a lot of bands are trying it, but Theudho succeed where others fail by bringing a classic metal compositional style to their music.

A lot of these kind of bands just play regular Black Metal with some neo-folky interludes to qualify as 'Viking', but Theudho have a much more traditional metal approach, and they punch out heavy, riff-oriented metal like the propulsive opener "Terror Cimbricus". This band is melodic without being wussy or laying on the keys, remembering that melody is essential to being catchy, and they do manage to be quite catchy within the bounds of their chosen style. This is not hyperspeed music, but hooky, riffy headbang fuel that will stick in your head and keep you spinning this repeatedly. Vocals are the expected rasp, but interspersed with some chants and clean vocals here and there. In spots they remind me of both the great Sear Bliss as well as Berserk — two of my favorite bands in this vein.

Not as black as other bands of the Viking school, while drawing on the epic atmosphere and adding twin-guitar harmonies and memorable riffs, Theudho manage a distinctive sound and an album that stands above the crowd. When I am still spinning an album two months after I get it, then that is a good album. Recommended.