The project of former GRAVE DIGGER "gravediggers" Uwe Lulis and Tomi Gottlich, REBELLION, continues the story of Viking exploits with the second part of the conceptual "History Of The Vikings" trilogy, titled "Miklagard." This time, the brave Vikings have decided to embark on a journey eastward from their native Sweden. The main hero dreams of achieving glory so that sagas and poems will be composed about his feats — and, along the way, to do some trading so the trip at least pays for itself. Unfortunately, the harmless Vikings can never manage peaceful commerce; everywhere they go, hostile merchants try to get goods on the cheap, and normal prices have to be negotiated with swords. After visiting the cities of Kievan Rus — Novgorod and Kyiv — the Norsemen arrive at their destination: the mythical city of Miklagard. Having exchanged furs and other goods for jewels, spices, silk, and glass, the Vikings were about to head home, but along the way they also had to overthrow a hostile emperor. Thus, while they didn't earn much money, the brave men accomplished plenty of "feats." A more detailed account of all these events is laid out in the colorful booklet, which also includes a map of the journey's route.
Musically, the album is a fusion of Teutonic heavy metal in the vein of GRAVE DIGGER during one of their best albums, "Tunes Of War" (1996), and American thrash-power in the mold of ICED EARTH. It's an interesting situation: Germans composing an album based on American metal with English lyrics about the adventures of Swedes in Kievan Rus and Asia. As we can see, the concept is excellent, but its execution leaves something to be desired. Where are the guitar leads that guitarist Uwe Lulis was known for in his previous band? On this album, they're few and far between. Where are the memorable choruses? Where are the choral chants that Viking warriors were famous for? Not a single one. Vocalist Michael Seifert handles all the choruses solo, and while his raspy voice is indeed Nordic-stern, it's not very varied. Incidentally, the first track on the CD — the intro "Vi seglar mot Miklagard" — is performed by MORGANA LEFAY vocalist Charles Rytkonen in Swedish (the German "rebels" couldn't quite manage the Vikings' native tongue as well). To the delight of Ukrainian metalheads, I should note that one of the best songs on the disc turned out to be the track about the capital of Rus and Ukraine — Kyiv — bearing the same name, where, as the Vikings tell it, there are plenty of taverns and beautiful women, and where one can rest so well after a sea voyage.