ALBUM REVIEW: Angel Of Carnage Unleashed – Darkwoods My Betrothed
After disappearing into the nocturnal abyss of the Eastern Finnish night 23 years ago, and achieving cult status in the process, DARKWOODS MY BETROTHED’s pagan flame was all but a glimmer on the distant horizon. Now, the dark and primeval force within the band has been awakened with devastating effect as the band return through the mists and snow of the tundra with their fourth album Angel Of Carnage Unleashed. There is also an added extra to the return of Finland’s cult black metal heroes, the band now features the incredible talents of Tuomas Holopainen and Kai Hahto of world renowned symphonic metal band NIGHTWISH. Angel Of Carnage Unleashed is a unique blend of fast paced, raw black metal with anthemic melodies and choruses.
The album centres around the harsh and inescapable brutality of Finland’s nature and circumstances through the years of The Great Northern War (1700-1721), in which famine, war and plague thrived. The most significant event that the band explore on the album is the Battle of Napue, which took place in 1714, on In Thrall To Ironskull’s Heart. It was the last land battle in the Great Northern War between the might of the Swedish Empire and the ever expanding Tsardom of Russia. A battle so fierce and destructive the scars were seen for the next 200 years. The strenuous, arduous and wearying existence that faced the Finns during those two decades, they had many reasons to believe that the ‘Angel Of Carnage’ cursed their every step. The ‘Angel Of Carnage’ was allegedly put to rest 300 years ago with the Treaty of Uusikaupunki, which saw the end of The Great Northern War. DARKWOODS MY BETROTHED’s Angel Of Carnage Unleashed captures these moments in time with songs filled with sorrow, grief and pain, to the extent that the bite of the Finnish winter is tangible.
Blending a furious mix of black metal sub-genres with sweeping soundscapes, orchestral passages and power metal-esque choruses, the album unleashes itself like a caged animal which has been chained up for 23 years. The impact of Holopainen’s ideas and creativity can be felt throughout the record, as his fabled symphonic song-writing prowess is woven into the very fabric of the album. The symphonic passages capture the more subtle darkness of the sorrows faced in the aforementioned moment in time. Whilst no expense is spared for setting the scene, the riffs are also choice cuts. Showcasing a mastery of melodic and atmospheric black metal, the band effortlessly weave lamenting melodies and choral vocals between frostbitten, raw black metal riffs. In Evil, Sickness And In Grief demonstrates all of this perfectly, opening with an ominous, cinematic style introduction before launching into a sinister, merciless black metal epic.
The standout song however is In Thrall To Ironskull’s Heart. Opening up like a sombre and solemn ballad, the song captures a rare moment of calm on the album. However, it plays out like a SABATON-esque power metal epic with its strong focus on melody, which feels in some areas triumphant and patriotic. Then on Massacre, once the realities of war are realised, we are brought back to earth with a significant thump as the true extent of the massacre is unfurled with harrowing screams. There is an interesting ebb and flow throughout Angel Of Carnage Unleashed which harkens back to the old school sound of black metal but also appreciates the new developments within the modern form of the genre. In other words it feels very contemporary despite the band having been lost in the Finnish ether for 23 years.
The in-depth focus on the two decades of the Great Northern War have been captured perfectly by DARKWOODS MY BETROTHED and executed with devastating effect. The Angel Of Carnage has indeed once again been awoken and is ready wreak havoc after 300 years. For a band to disappear into the dark Finnish winter for so long and then make a triumphant return such as this is quite remarkable in this day and age. Angel Of Carnage Unleashed is an incredible journey through Finnish history and a fine example of how black metal can be used for incredibly emotive and compelling storytelling.
Rating: 8/10
Angel Of Carnage Unleashed is set for release on November 12th via Napalm Records.
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