Soknardalr [Import]

Windir | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 28, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Head Not Found N'way
• ASIN: B00005Y9J5
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,479 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Early Windir, June 20, 2005

By 

Karl Haikara (Denver, Co.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soknardalr (Audio CD)

Early, but not more primitive or worse. Valfar plays nearly all the instruments, except drums, which are handled by a very talented drummer, and female vocals, which are obvious.

Inspired a lot by the French band Mystic Forest to develop his melodic trem picked guitar style, and also his sense of melody, V. never-the-less manages to be one of the most original black metal players around in music (it's a very sad thing that he died). This early album brings to mind Norwegian landscapes, epic scenery and Vikings, and also a magical, occult and most of all mystical enviroment. This is beautiful and epic music that really is made for listeners who are beyond that "evil and elite" crap that goes on in black metal. This is mature music made to create atmosphere and beauty, not just hatred and juvinile despair. Really brings me up to listen to it, and acts as good music to watch Lord of the Rings to!

Over-all this would be both a good place to start for new fans of Windir, and fans who want to explore the back-catalouge after hearing Likfred and 1184. This is brilliant stuff from a great musician taken too soon.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of all the underrated metal bands ever!, June 4, 2006

By 

Xander Xavier Xymox "Black metal rivethead an... (Frederick Co :() - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soknardalr (Audio CD)

That is quite a bold statement but I am ready to give this band the credit they deserve. I may have quite a few 5 star Cd's that I have written reviews for but this is in my top 10. Possibly even top 5. My friend burned me a few Windir songs from 1184 a couple years back and I loved them. I thought this is excellent. I just hoped that the rest of the songs would live up to those few songs. I started looking to find Windir Cd's and couldn't find them anywhere. Finally I tried to look for them and I accidentally used a (i) instead of a (e). That just happened to be the right way of spelling Windir. So I bought likferd off of amazon. I was so impressed that I ended up picking up 1184, Arntor, and last I picked up this masterpiece. All of the Cd's are worth 5 stars. This one just happens to be my favorite. It is not as experimental as 1184, or likferd. It is one step ahead of Arntor. I was hooked from the opening song on here to the last one. The highlights are Morket Sin Fyrst, and Likbor. With this type of talent coming from one man I am surprised that they are not widely recognized as a elite black metal band. This Cd is mostly black metal with hints of Norwegian folk melodies. Valfar is an excellent guitarist, keyboardist, and bassist. Speaking of bass you can actually here it in the songs. Most black metal bands have minimal bass, but here it is quite good. The other review for this CD says that it blows away Dimmu's storm blast and Cradle's Midian. At first I thought that is going to far. After hearing this CD I can see how a argument can be made for this blowing those masterpieces away.

Sognariket Sine Kirgarar 9 This is a epic song that many bands only wish they could imitate. I like the clean vocals better on this CD than on the others. The other ones are more clear and maybe even better, but the dreary humming vocals give this a better atmosphere.

Det Som Var Haukareid 9 My favorite part of this song is the organ. The way the organ melody matches the guitar is just genius. Almost reminds me of old cradle of filth. Half of the way through the song their is a awesome organ solo.

Morket Sin Fyrste 20/10 Yes this deserves a 20 out of 10 rating. I cant describe the grandeur of this opus. Since I owned this CD I have listened to this several times a day. Nuff said.

Songanriket Si Herskarinne 8 Another really good song. Morket Sin Fyrste is a tough song to follow but this doesn't disappoint. At about two minutes in their is a acoustic section. Their is some clean Norwegian spoken vocals that I think take away from this song. It still ends up a really strong song.

I Ei Krystallnatt 10 When I first heard this CD this was one of the few songs that didn't hook me right away. Over the last couple weeks this has jumped leaps and bounds in my estimation. Their is not as much keyboard usage in this song. This song is all about valfars dazzling guitar work.

Rovhaugane 8.5 Flawless piece of music. Just one of eight great songs here. Not my favorite though.

Likbor 15/10 Second favorite song here. The chorus is awesome. When I heard it I couldn't get it out of my head all day. The best part of the song and maybe even the CD is at 4:44 to the end. A phenomenal guitar melody that sounds absolutely triumphant. It is repeated for several minutes while gaining splendor each time. As it reaches the end a organ joins in. This is eight minutes that feel like four minutes. I wish it would never end.

Sóknardalr 9 Instrumental. I am almost sad that this has to end. Duel guitar melodies and keyboards give this a harrowing atmosphere.

I had to be really critical just so I wouldn't give every song a 10. When Valfar made this CD he was making a statement. Unfortunately this statement didn't get the exposure it deserved. His life may have ended in tragedy, but just because he is gone it doesn't mean that the windir saga is over. The art that represents his dreams will forever live on as a immortal tribute to one of the greatest unknown artist of our time.

Hail Valfar!

5.0 out of 5 stars Valfar R.I.P. he will be missed, October 29, 2008

By 

Alec McAndrew "Random Hero" (Bozeman, MT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soknardalr (Audio CD)

valfar a very talented artist soknardalr his first album i havnt got a chance to listen to the rest of his stuff yet but this album is catchy it is black metal at its best excellent guitar and excellent drums pretty good growls screames what ever you wanna call the well i cant understand what he is saying because it in norwegian but that ok i dont really want to spoil anything but damn any metal fan looking for a good album look no further heres somthing cool he did all the stuff by himself the drums he did on his computer and he did the vocals and guitar bass any other instruments like syphony kind of stuff alll computer which is amazing considering how good this album is too bad valfar died but his legacy remains with windir i heard arntor, 1184 were good and the tribute cd and dvd i hope this review helped oh and its a excellent album all the way through track fliping there is no need to do that