If you're familiar with Finntroll, you know they are one of the best folk metal outfits around. They combine black metal with Finnish humppa music (like German oompah music, and not too far from my great-grandmother's polka). I already had their 2007 release, Ur Jordens Djup
, and I really liked it. But I had no idea how good Nifelvind
would be.Except for the mellow "Galgasång," and the bonus track "Under Dvärgens Fot," these Finns do not let up. The album is blisteringly aggressive. Yet it's extremely bouncy and accessible due to the two-beat writing style dictated by humppa tradition. Several tracks also include a complete orchestra, giving them a highly dramatic element. Throw in the drinking song "Under Bergets Rot" and the aforementioned "Galgasång," and you've got a well-balanced, highly listenable, aggressive, and entertaining album, which runs the gamut from mellow, to drinking song, to fighting song, to epic.
The Verdict: While many in the US may still think folk metal is a curiosity, a gimmick, or a fad, people in Scandinavia (and other Germanic countries) and Finland are not joking. Finntroll has set out to prove their seriousness. They've catapulted themselves past their countrymen Korpiklaani
(who seem too focused on drinking songs) and the Swiss Eluveitie
(who failed to experiment on their last album) to firmly establish themselves at the top of the folk metal game. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
, musically as well as vocally. Like that Swedish group, they have opted for a male singer only, but their gothic metal style is infused with blues-rock rather than psychedelic rock (particularly on "Down the Drain"). I've always liked blues-rock, and I've always liked Lake of Tears, so this makes it sound very promising.
I picked up this album because Cellador is from my home state of Nebraska. I'm not aware of any other metal bands from the state, so this seemed like a good enough reason to me to get it. They're signed to the legendary 
Divinefire (of Sweden and Finland), on the other hand, shows much more chemistry in their sound. This Christian band has an approach which sounds a lot like one of my favorite power metal bands, 
?
I saved the best for last: Italian group Raintime, who incorporate elements of 
of the same name. What did I say about "The Lotus Eater" being on every one of these?
, so their name is definitely well-chosen. The cover art also fits the combined style, as you can see. I think the album title means "foreign language."
has been doing psychedelic black metal for the better part of a decade, and they do it with much songwriting that is more focused and polished. Oranssi Pazuzu sometimes follows an aimless psychedelic tangent, almost like they forgot where they were going--something which is quite possible given their avowed interests. Maybe they should write the whole thing before recording it, and maybe stay off the reefer while recording, too, and they could come away with something really amazing. The psychedelia should accent the black metal, not derail it.
either. I give Muukalainen Puhuu 3 of 5 stars. If I ever have to have surgery and get put on post-operative pain relievers, I may have to revisit it and come back with a different opinion, but I don't think that opinion will be quite so coherent.
as it is 
, combining the highly distorted, dense, feedback-laden sludge elements with the speed and ferocity of thrash.
, but set in ancient Greece. But they don't go in the silly direction of singing about metal, 
. They have hit on that lyrical sweet spot where everything they say is so over-the-top it could be 
, but it's delivered with absolute conviction. The upshot is you can take it whichever way you prefer. The heavy layering of profanity could be a turnoff for some, though.
-inspired speech; it will please some because of its content, but it's kind of ridiculous to have a two minute intro to a two minute song, especially where the rest of the album is so focused and driving.
. But it is home to some unique and interesting groups.
Not only are Japanese metal bands a rarity, but so are metal bands which are entirely female. (
and 
are the only ones I can name.) Enter 
sometime. It's definitely worth a listen if you like the stranger side of metal. I give it 4 of 5 stars. Here is a live video for my favorite track:
Finally, we have 
(the year Girugamesh formed, and probably the last year nu metal could be seen as a viable genre). It's got a lot of catchy riffs in that vein, as well as 
, for instance. But Triptykon is a much better match for the darkness of Giger's artwork. Interestingly, "Do You Wear the Mark" from that Danzig album references a "devil on the left," and eparistera daimones means "devils on the left." 
. It's got to be difficult to write everything with dissonant chords, but it works incredibly well here. If this helps at all, it sounds a lot like 
, except with more breathing room due to more minimalist arrangements. 
and 
), but it could have been combined with "My Pain" to make a perfectly listenable 25 minute song.
