ALBUM REVIEW: Vredesvävd – Finntroll

Back after a seven-year absence, blackened folk metal pioneers FINNTROLL prove that they haven’t lost a single step with an album chock full of folk-inspired heaviness. The band sound refreshed while still maintaining the same fire from all those years back when folk metal once ruled the Scandinavian scene.

Opening with the grandiose Väktaren, the band set the scene with an inspired instrumental piece that plants your feet directly into the middle of the misty mountains, readying you for the adventure you’re about to embark on. It’s a track that wouldn’t sound out of place in a Lord Of The Rings movie soundtrack and is another stellar opening moment for a band well-known for their wild introductions. The questions now is, what awaits us in the dense forest?  

Att Döda Med En Sten opens with a keyed riff before crashing through the trees with its attack of blast beats and driving guitars. The black metal elements make their first appearance and take what was implemented within the intro and builds rapidly into a crescendo. It may have been seven years break for the band but vocalist Mathias Lillmåns has been keeping his voice sharp due to lending a hand to other projects such as the crushing …AND OCEANS album. Just like on that record, he sounds vicious and snarling throughout with his notable bark launched over the top of the instrumentation. His bellows heard on tracks like lead single Ormfolk are on point and his chorus chants will be sung along by crowds (hopefully) in the near future. Ormfolk is a strong choice as a single, it’s enthusiastic and festival-worthy and stands out as an early album highlight as does the folk heavy Gränars Väg. The keys dance over the snappy guitar riffs which have a lot of bounce and swagger while still staying heavy.

Forsen sees a slight shift in dynamics as the folk elements aren’t as pronounced as previous tracks and the tempo is slowed to more of a stomp aside from a few speedier moments. The track feels a lot darker and sees the band channel their grittier side. It will no doubt be another live favourite and acts as a great midway point of the album alongside Vid Häxans Härd which is home to some of the more impressive drum work on the album. It’s playful stabbing keys shine through the frantic guitars and has that well-known Scandinavian flair made popular more so by bands such as NIGHTWISH and CHILDREN OF BODOM throughout the years.

While the album is solid throughout, it may take a few listens to really appreciate the more subtle differences between each track. On first listen, a few songs sound rather similar but it’s not until your second or third listen through that the tracks really take on a life of their own and stand apart from their peers. Miss having a beer and a drunken dance in the festival mud with your best buddies? Stick Myren on and you’ll instantly be transported back into the circle pits of your favourite European Festival. It’s a solid gold party tune that eases off from the more serious prior tracks.

The album ends of a high note with a pairing of heavier tracks. Mask and Ylaren work very well together as a swansong with Ylaren, in particular, showcasing the band’s musicianship. The guitars sway back and forth like a hulking pendulum only to break for a moment of folky serenity. The seven members are never overreaching for supremacy and work in perfect harmony to attain perfect musicianship throughout the ten tracks.  

FINNTROLL have returned with a bang and provided us with a darker and heavier album that perhaps many of us expected. It’s sure to please the hardcore fanbase but should also be a perfect starting point for those unfamiliar with any of their back catalogue. It’s a solid mix of old and new FINNTROLL and it’s great to see the septet back into the fray once again.  

Rating: 8/10 

Vredesvävd is set for release on September 18th via Century Media Records.

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