#iotunn

By your iridescent way I see

Why forgiveness fills the day with meaning..

Mindreaper | Kozoria | Trollwar Týr | Kerberos | Witherfall Tómarúm | Ensiferum | IOTUNN

Music On This Mixtape:

Mindreaper: "Nocturnal Animals" taken from the album "Withering Shine (...into Oblivion)"

Kozoria: "Division" taken from the album "The Source"

Trollwar: "The Unseen One" taken from the album "Tales From the Frozen Wastes"

Týr: "Hangman" taken from the album "Battle Ballads"

Kerberos: "Alpine Sea" taken from the album "Apostle to the Malevolent"

Witherfall: "Insidious" taken from the album "Sounds of the Forgotten"

Tómarúm: "Silver, Ashen Tears" taken from the album "Beyond Obsidian Euphoria"

Ensiferum: "The Howl" taken from the album "Winter Storm"

Iotunn’s Kinship is nothing short of a masterpiece, a towering achievement in extreme progressive metal. From the moment the opening track, “Kinship Elegiac,” unfurls its 14-minute saga of haunting melodies and thunderous riffs, it’s clear that this Danish quintet has not only built on the promise of their 2021 debut Access All Worlds but has catapulted their artistry to breathtaking new heights. This album is a sonic odyssey, weaving together the ferocity of melodic death metal, the expansiveness of progressive rock, and an atmospheric depth that pulls you into its mythic narrative like a gravitational force.

Jón Aldará’s vocals are a revelation, effortlessly shifting from soaring, emotive cleans to guttural growls that hit with visceral power. His performance is the emotional core of Kinship, elevating tracks like the heart-wrenching ballad “Iridescent Way” and the blackened fury of “Earth to Sky” into transcendent territory. The Gräs brothers—Jesper and Jens Nicolai—deliver guitar work that’s both technically dazzling and soul-stirring, their interplay painting vivid landscapes of sound. Meanwhile, Bjørn Wind Andersen’s drumming and Eskil Rask’s basslines provide a rock-solid foundation, driving the album’s dynamic shifts with precision and heft.

What sets Kinship apart is its ability to balance complexity with accessibility, making it hands-down the best album of 2024. The hour-plus runtime flies by, each track a journey in itself yet perfectly cohesive within the album’s exploration of human connection and existential struggle. Standouts like “Mistland” and “Twilight” blend melody and aggression with such finesse that you’re left awestruck. At the same time, the closing epic, “The Anguished Ethereal,” ties the experience together with a raw, cathartic intensity. The production is lush and expansive, giving every element room to shine without ever feeling cluttered.

Kinship is the kind of album that demands repeat listens—not because it’s impenetrable, but because its layers reveal new brilliance each time. Iotunn have crafted a work of art that’s as emotionally resonant as it is musically ambitious, cementing their place among the genre’s elite. This is a triumph that will echo through 2024 and beyond.

Iotunn - Mistland (Single) [June 30th, 2023] Countries: Denmark, Faroe Islands Genre: Progressive Melodic Death Metal Format: FLAC

Lineup: Jón Aldará - Vocals Jesper Gräs - Guitars Jens Nicolai Gräs - Guitars, Keyboards Eskil Rask - Bass Bjørn Wind Andersen - Drums

Miscellaneous Staff: Costin Chioreanu - Artwork Jens Bogren - Mixing, Mastering

Label: Metal Blade Records

Iotunn - Access All Worlds (February 26th, 2021) Countries: Denmark, Faroe Islands Genre: Progressive Melodic Death Metal Format: FLAC

Lineup: Jón Aldará - Vocals Jens Nicolai Gräs - Guitars Jesper Gräs - Guitars Eskil Rask - Bass Bjørn Wind Andersen - Drums

Miscellaneous Staff: Eliran Kantor - Artwork Nicole Kantor - Design, Layout Fredrik Nordström - Mixing, Mastering Bjørn Wind Andersen - Engineering

Label: Metal Blade Records

Tracklist:

Voyage of the Garganey I - 07:25

Access All Worlds - 11:36

Laihem's Golden Pits - 04:40

Waves Below - 10:10

The Tower of Cosmic Nihility - 07:30

The Weaver System - 06:33