IOTUNN — Access All Worlds (review)

IOTUNN — Access All Worlds album cover Album · 2021 · Progressive Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Access All Worlds" is the debut full-length studio album by Danish metal act Iotunn. The album was released through Metal Blade Records in February 2021. Iotunn formed in 2015 and released the "The Wizard Falls" EP in 2016. Since then lead vocalist/bassist Benjamin Jensen has left and has been replaced by Faroe Islands native Jón Aldará (lead vocals) and Eskil Rask (bass). The former is also known for his work with Barren Earth and Hamferð, while the latter is know for his work with Sunless Dawn.

Honestly the departure of Jensen got me a bit worried, as he was such a big part of the sound of Iotunn on the "The Wizard Falls" EP, but Aldará proves to be a strong replacement. He performs both snarling blackened growling and epic semi-operatic clean vocals. Stylistically the material on "Access All Worlds" is an interesting combination of black, death, doom, power/progressive metal, ethnic Scandinavian folk, and traditional heavy metal elements. Keyboards are often used and there is an epic atmosphere to the whole album (I´m often reminded of Barren Earth, although Iotunn are generally a more eclectic act). The huge ofte clean sung choruses of the songs are on such an epic scale that they often threaten to leave earth. The guitar riffs are both heavy and melodic, and the lead guitar work is intriguing and memorable (delivered by the two brothers Jens Nicolai Gräs and Jesper Gräs). Underneath is a heavy and reliable rhythm section.

"Access All Worlds" features a powerful, epic scale, and detailed sound production, which suits the material well. Upon cocnclusion "Access All Worlds" is a high quality release from Iotunn, which is well composed, well produced, and well performed. The combination of the many different elements is what makes this album stand out, but other than that you´ll recognise all elements used here. So calling this unique or particularly original is a bit far fetched. It´s certainly is a high quality product though and a 3.5 (70%) rating is deserved.
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