Year of release: 2021
Label: Signal Rex (this release)
Rating: 8 / 10
This new project of the prolific Chilean from 13TH TEMPLE is, of course, quite insolently attracting attention with its obvious parallels with RUNDAGOR. In addition, the gorgeous album cover hints at the ancient ENSLAVED demo a little more subtly, and even more so does the music. Norwegian - specifically Norwegian, not generalized Scandinavian - black and extreme metal of the early 90s had a decisive influence on RÜNDGARD. The album has a flawless old-fashioned sound that you want to absorb to the last note. The riffs are also old and primitive, but well glued together. The guitars are constantly accompanied by a synthesizer, playing voluminous gloomy parts. The voice is mostly calm, growling. All this together brings back memories of early ENSLAVED and SATYRICON. The obvious difference is that the music lacks folk or "Viking" motives. Total darkness and the spirit of proper metal reign here. I didn't expect anything less from an album from Chile. “Stronghold of Majestic Ruins” is an exemplary early Norwegian Black Metal worship, where the desired coincided with reality. Not as it usually happens, when someone is listening to DARKTHRONE and then emulates some fucking ARCTURUS.
English (UK) 
Крыўская