Mithotyn - In the Sign of the Ravens Mithotyn

Mithotyn’s Viking Metal classic remastered and with new artwork by Kris Verwimp! First time on vinyl and digi-CD. After releasing four demo tapes, Mithotyn finally put out their first full-length album in 1997. “In the Sign of the Ravens” might not quite reach the heights of the band’s later releases, but there’s still plenty here to enjoy. The album delivers a hard, cold take on Viking Metal, and at this early stage the band hadn’t yet fully embraced the stronger melodic elements that would become more prominent on later records. As mentioned, Mithotyn had already released four demos before this album, so about half of the tracks here originate from those recordings, mainly “Nidhogg” and “Promo 96”. The newer material fits in nicely though, and overall the album maintains a solid level of quality throughout. One area where this record really shines is its atmosphere. In many ways, the Viking feeling here is the strongest in their entire discography. It comes through especially well in the instrumental tracks like “Lost in the Mist” and “Let Thy Ale Swing”. The band creates a mystical mood with folky keyboard melodies layered behind distorted guitars, growls, and occasional chants. If you’re already a fan of Viking or Black Metal, you’ll know roughly what to expect: longer songs with some variation, harsh growled vocals balanced with cleaner chorus sections, and a strong sense of atmosphere. It’s a familiar formula, but one that works well and captures what makes this style of music so enjoyable.