As the years stretch on, I find the frequent return of familiar acts to be hit and miss process. Fortunately for a reunited In The Woods..., passing a decade back together, my apatite for their nocturnal naturalist Pagan Metal is well intact. Although little in the way of surprise lays in wait, their seasoned competency in building strident atmospheres reigns supreme. Songs whisk by on the heels of a gallant rhythmic drive, galloping through the motions, steeped in textures, distortion synth and voice, these songs revel in the glory of the moment, adorned by melody that rarely subsides.
The lightened heathen drawls of new front man Bernt Fjellestad simply delight in this renewed melodic focus. Between him and a sailing lead guitar, the fruits of rural melody gush with only brief pivots to howling screams and rattling blast beats nestled in between passageways. The Crimson Crown stands out as a fierce number, leaning into that heavier metallic side. It swings to opposition with a touch of intention, as some of the lightest instrumentation emerges, guitars withdrawing entirely. Beautiful acoustics crop up in the mix too as its seven songs explore a range of temperaments.
Without dawdling into their "progressive" nature, each song masterfully entertains without deviations and tangents, never loosing sight of the overall theme. Thus its songs ebb and flow ever holding one in the present. With strong lyrics, easy flows and the occasional catchy wording, some songs slip into charming sing along moments too. Overall, a really well written record that's a delight to indulge with, never a lull or rushed moment, Otra is a graceful record with a tranquil spell fitting of this summery weather, despite some shackles from its nightly Black Metal influences.
Rating: 7/10