15. Enslaved - 'Utgard'

Try as they might, Enslaved find it impossible to make bad albums. Or to turn that around, Enslaved can’t help making consistently excellent albums. This particularly rich run of form stretches all the way back to 2006’s terrific “Ruun”. Seven albums on, “Utgard” shows no sign of them dropping the ball or in dialling down the quality level. We are in the same territory as their previous releases, namely lusciously progressive Black Metal that highly effectively uses the juxtaposition between smooth melodic passages and the harsh delivery. 

However, “Utgard” see’s Enslaved once again try to expand the envelope that they operate within. They have gone for a more widescreen and cinematic style this time around, “Utgard” feels like the soundtrack to an expansive and expensive drama about the Nordic Gods. It is ambitious and confident in its approach. What could have come across as bombastic and ridiculous in lesser hands actually feels rich, and epic. A grand, sumptuous record that sidesteps being overblown and pretentious and instead comes cross as refined and highly impressive.