Bifrost have put various influences together here, sounding quite distinctive. But still, always familiar... This record is paradoxical, because it should be great by the sum of the band's influences. However, 'Mythistory' leaves me cold. This is the 3rd and the last album from Bifrost.

Bifrost mix thrash (especially German, sometimes imitating Kreator), death (old school and similar to their countrymen Shadowbreed (same guys on both bands)), heavy (whole basis of the music) and black/dark (especially Rotting Christ comes to my mind). It is metal all right, but something vital is missing. Only some songs are powerful enough to stick into my mind, but 'You Fear My Kind (The Truth Divine)' is actually a bloody good song with its Maiden-esque twin leads. Synths are also quite paradoxical: They sound sometimes like glued over everything else, but are still different from all overused semi-symphonic crap. But then there's some piano without any originality... Funny voices on 'In Nocturno Silencio'! I fell from my chair laughing! But otherwise, this is on darker side of metal.

Lyrically this is all myths and paganism. Nothing new here. Vocals are varying. Growl, more blackish shriek and clean vocals. Blackish ones sound a lot like Rotting Christ's Sakis! Only the pronunciation is better, heh. But variety does good on vocal department, even though the voices aren't anything special. Some growls sound exactly like late Gandalf's vocalist Jari.

There's no flashy playing here. Everything's left a bit dirty. Production is organic, but it is also partly badly done. It is kind of flat, even though every instrument is well audible. There's some crackling every now and then, I quess it's caused by a certain guitar sound. Sound is simultaneously old and new. Most of the instruments sound old, but the production is still quite powerful soundwise. Older Rotting Christ comes to my mind also in this department, just listen to 'Soulbound Eternity'. But this does not beat the Greek gods.

This album is paradoxical, almost in every possible way. Sometimes when listening to 'Mythistory', I feel I need to change it fast, but sometimes it just works. Or at least some of the songs, 'You Fear My Kind (The Truth Divine)' being my favourite with 'Soulbound Eternity'. But metal attitude is here and it saves something.

Rating: 4½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
06/25/2003 23:17