Hel is not an extremely well-known band, but those who are no stranger to pagan black metal know Hel for their wonderfully crafted music. Cold and spellbinding and brimming with pure quality, Hel’s Falland V?randi; their interpretation of Balder’s Death, is a masterpiece created by those who appreciate that music is an art form and should be treated as such. Throughout the twenty tracks, the music moves through the legend with fitting atmosphere. Solely inspired by a certain tale in Norse/Teutonic mythology, the songs, though sung in German, are rich with poetry, voices, and instruments. There are folk elements pooled in various songs combining with the black metal to form a very well-developed and memorable sound. The acoustics of the album stand out and make for a very lush sounding atmosphere. Sixteen guest musicians accompanied the two band members in the recording of the album and really helped to make the album stand out. The instruments are impressive, but the voices are truly magnificent. From the rasping spoken to the majestic clean vocals and choirs, and even some done by female, the vocals were one of the best things about the music. There is much evidence of the effort that went into this production and that effort has paid off. The lush music does a wonderful job in representing the struggles and emotion surrounding Balder’s Death and the beauty of the story. Hel gives the impression that they are capable of making only great music and Falland V?randi is certainly an exceptional piece of work; highly recommended.
