ALBUM REVIEW: Fornaldarsagor – Månegarm

24 years in existence, MÅNEGARM are perhaps Sweden’s preeminent, albeit often overlooked, folk metal outfit. Being one of few bands to successfully incorporate pagan lyrical concepts with traditional folk elements whilst retaining a lossless and bold black metal foundation; they pay tribute to their astute legacy with their 10th studio album Fornaldarsagor, set for release in April via Napalm Records.

Grim as the frosty Swedish winter Sveablotet signals the beginning of another deep exploration into the pre-Christian sagas with a soundtrack heavier than Mjolnir. With lightning fast, melody laden fury we experience a new chapter of the band that retains the classic chant driven choruses that helped forge MÅNEGARM‘s distinctive style. More melodic and crisp but with a style reminiscent of their 2013 era, Hervors arv conveys the clash of old and new with impeccable delivery. Even with the departure of long serving violin guru Janne Liljekvist in 2012, MÅNEGARM retains their folk characteristics and certainly compensate for it with memorable yet thunderous composition. They have managed to evolve their musical direction despite the obstacles laid before them and this is why MÅNEGARM consistently stand the test of time, forever fusing fresh inspiration with a unique musical identity.

Slaget Vid Bråvalla celebrates a compound of blackened folk as Erik Grawsiö bellows his signature vocal style with matured intensity in the black ballad Ett sista farväl. For anyone familiar with the bands methodology you will appreciate that they stay true to their native musical roots with Spjutbädden just in time for Tvenne drömmar to knock you off your seat with a fresh wave of tremolo augmented classic MÅNEGARM. For a band that has existed for over two decades it’s hard to imagine how they still manage to forge music that brings in fresh inspiration whilst retaining DNA intrinsic to the bands journey so far. The vocals never fail to astound you with their sheer power, composition is always a seamless mix of the perfect ingredients and the album as a whole doesn’t outstay its welcome. Krakes sista strid is a fitting example of the bands contribution and prowess whilst Dödskvädet creates a primordial atmosphere that plays its salient role in sealing the album, despite it being completely acoustic.

MÅNEGARM are already a key player in the world of folk metal, the music they create is not necessarily restricted to the usual boundaries and therefore allows the band to be far more creative in their delivery whist retaining the bold power that metal generally radiates. By doing so they make themselves attractive to metallers usually deterred by the perceived “cheesiness” or gaudy characteristics often attached to folk metal by outsiders. Fornaldarsagor is a fitting tribute to the band’s commendable legacy and it resembles the mature evolution of a band committed to solidifying their own identity in the realm of metal. Highly recommended for devout fans and incomers alike it is absolutely a contender for being one of the foremost albums of 2019.

Rating: 8/10

Fornaldarsagor is out now via Napalm Records. 

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