Gasta

I agree: it's boring.

I give a 5 to "Diabolus Absconditus". "In the evening too, when lying in my bed I meditate on You, my God, tears of gratitude flood my face, and it is my prayer."

I still have to listen to it, and in fact, the double album format "scares" me a bit. I need to dive in when I have the time. I have some reservations about that "Köld" as a "misstep": I am not a deep connoisseur of Sólstafir and their previous work, but I think it's a really great album, maybe not something you listen to every day, but very emotional, visceral (the title track gives me chills). Now, regarding this latest work, I can say very little; I listened closely to Fjara, and I really liked it a lot. I deduce it to be the compositional peak of the album. In conclusion, one note and a curiosity: it is incorrect to refer to the language of Sólstafir as "norrena"; Old Norse (or Old Icelandic) is a medieval stage of the language, although modern Icelandic has retained many characteristics of Old Norse (linguistic trivia); Andvari is the name of the dwarf who curses the treasure and the ring that will lead to the ruin of Sigurðr and the lineage of the Volsungs (which in the high German tradition become the Nibelungs). That said, I’m out of here. Bye!

I completely agree, including the talk about "Rising" and "Sunlight/Moonlight," even though I'm not as harsh regarding the judgment on clean vocals. My favorite so far is definitely the opener, it really gets me pumped! @Bartle: they have certainly changed their style since their debut, and it's especially with "Communion" that they've taken this direction, and I assure you they truly deserve it.

I’m listening to it a lot these days. And the confidence that it’s their best album grows stronger. I LOVE IT.

I like it a lot.