Review: “Vredesvävd” by Finntroll

After seven long years sailing the seven seas Helsinki, Finland’s Finntroll have returned to plunder the hidden treasures Valhalla. They bring with them their seventh studio album, recorded and mixed at the renowned Sonic PumpStudios, mastered at Chartmakers and produced by keyboardist-composer Henri “Trollhorn” Sorvali with vocalist Mathias “Vreth” Lillmåns acting as his right-hand man. The album marks the recording debut for drummer Heikki “Mörkö” Saari who has waited six years after replacing Samu “Beast Dominator” Ruotsalainen in 2014 for the opportunity and for a band who have seen musicians walk the plank regularly over their 22 years on the high seas, that is the only change since 2013’s “Blodsvept”…

…The album title “Vredesvävd” translates to “Wrath-woven” and with lyrics strictly in Swedish this is an epic foreign language album for those who aren’t speakers. Not an issue for anyone who has taken pleasure in albums by the likes of Rammstein previously, a film without subtitles. Introduction piece “Väktaren” (or “The Guard“) is an epic Hans Zimmer esq cinematic affair of an instrumental that is brilliantly orchestrated and with touches of wonder and sets us on our path. It serves to bring in the powerhouse “Att Döda Med En Sten” (or “To Kill With A Stone Guard“) which has those same cinematic touches but buried under a wealth of Black Metal blast beats and Vreth’s blood curdling roar. As a duo they go hand in hand, like Hansel and Gretel, a pair that are a perfect partnership, forged from blood, sweat and tears. “Ormfolk” continues the breakneck speed of the riffs with a playful nature that reminds of Californian Melodic Death Metallers Nekrogoblikon musically with the synths playing a vital role in building the layers of sound, as much an integral part of the foundation as their rhythm section artillery. If you’ve read the introduction piece to this review and wondered what the Pirate Metal puns were about for a band that write about fighting Trolls, the answer lies in “Grenars Väg” which has a distinct Alestorm vibe in the way that it’s constructed and it’s not the only one to have that familiar feel, with follow up “Forsen” having that Metal sea shanty approach to the chorus sections. Whether it’s an accordion or a synth mimic in the final third of the song, it only serves to reinforce that mental image. The animated video that accompanies it sees a troll separate his spirit from his body with some ancient witchcraft to send it to another land to do his bidding.

A heart warming acoustic guitar intertwining introduction to “Vid Häxans Härd” (or “At the Witch’s Hearth”) serves as melodic break before the hammer goes down and Finntroll once again reach their energetic potential; if you could capture what they give off and bottle it, you could fuel a nation of millions for decades with their rapid fire prowess. “Myren” (or “The Ant”) is equally deadly, a headbangers delight that represents a call to a circle pit and could also server as a set opener in the live arena. What’s fantastic about it is that the band maintain all the elements of their hallmark sound, not abandoning anything at all despite the nitro injected all out speed of this one. For those not in the know, fermenting honey with water, sometimes with various fruits, spices, grains or hops gives you Mead. An alcoholic beverage that can reach as much as 18% abv. “Stjärnors Mjöd” (or “Star Mead”) seems like the perfect drink for Finntroll’s activities and by throwing in some gang chant group vocal moments that beg for a call and response live, it makes for a another winner. You can just picture Viking long ships being rowed across vast oceans, braving the oncoming storms and using this as their soundtrack; if you’re a work out lover then the high octane nature of this album makes it perfect for that. “Mask” keeps things flowing nicely with the synth doing some of the lead guitar parts and in case you were wondering, by long before this point Mörkö has proven himself as more than an adequate replacement for Beast Dominator on the drums stool; his timing is metronomically perfect while he brings to the table some interesting fills of his own. “Ylaren” slows down the pace from 11 to 8 for an evil introduction with pounding war drums and a slightly off kilter riff. It may have been seven long years in the waiting but “Vredesvävd” finds Finntroll at their finest [8/10]

Track listing

1. Väktaren
2. Att Döda Med En Sten
3. Ormfolk
4. Grenars Väg
5. Forsen
6. Vid Häxans Härd
7. Myren
8. Stjärnors Mjöd
9. Mask
10. Ylaren

“Vredesvävd” by Finntroll is out 18th September via Century Media