All signs point to progress when "En Sista Litania" kicks off proceedings with a riff that's every bit as stark, stripped down and momentous as prime Burzum. "Fraan Stormens Oega" hints at a similar raison d'être, its haunting chorus only barely managing to anchor its misanthropic leanings. Even as early on as this track however, ominous signs begin to hint at the possibility of _Hels Vite_ descending into a plodding mess at any moment. While the situation never gets quite as dire, the likes "Isolation" and "Becoming the Eye" (ironically the album's only English language tracks) prove trying as they meander along without a trace of atmosphere and have run out of creative steam long before they've even come close to concluding.

The album is not without its exceptions, and to view the title track as anything other than a triumph is to do the band a severe disservice. The fact remains however that Thyrfing have proven themselves infinitely capable of delivering more engaging and exciting fare than they do here.