And I thought, that the time of the great Black Metal works would be over. But there are some outstanding masterpieces of this genre intruding itself recently. You might think of the godlike GRAVEN, SATYRICON, DARKTHRONE and KEEP OF KALESSIN aren’t making any exception. You can find fucking impressing Black Metal songs on this album. Cold Nordic fury meets epic Symphonic Black Metal exactly in the middle.

But there are also some progressive tunes (“Into The Fire”) to hear, but it goes on principle full into your neck with a dreamy guitar-work! It means a hell of a lot of fun to listen to the awesome leads, riffs and licks. In addition there is a drumming, which is equal to a curtain-fire, although it is a little bit too triggered for my taste. I would prefer the sound being some more natural. But somehow this sterile sound fits into the clinking drive of the Norwegians. Who doesn’t bang his head bloody with smashers like “Many Are We Are”, “The Black Uncharted” or “Vengeance Rising”, has not the faintest notion of the business. I also don’t have it, but therefore I have an opinion. This says: “Armada” is a fucking intensive hellrider, which has to be heard! Awesome! (Online June 25, 2006)