For much of the 2000s Finntroll was the shining example of how to write dark, epic, and downright fun folk metal. Across each of their full lengths the band took elements of second wave and symphonic black metal and brought polka and other folk elements into it, creating a noticeably different sound from other folk metal bands that emerged around the same time. But in recent years Finntroll has been quiet, with their last release Blodsvept coming out back in 2013. While this long of a gap would usually indicate lineup shifts, everything’s been stable in this band’s camp, with new drummer MörkÖ being the only new person to join. After this seven year gap the resulting effort Vredesvävd shows this longer span of time has been well spent, as the material doubles down on their black metal roots while still having just the right amount of folky, jig worthy moments.
Finntroll has always been great at creating epic, sweeping intros that draw you into the fantasy of their music and this is once again the case on Vredesvävd. “Väktaren” is an almost three-minute opener that feels like it could have been ripped right out of Lord of the Rings or another suitably grandiose film score, preparing you for the harsher elements that are still to come. The lead-in to “Att döda med en sten” works wonderfully, and for those who mainly know the folk and polka heavy musical directions you might be surprised to find that the instrumentation here is much closer to early symphonic black metal. There’s a bottom heaviness to the guitar and bass that give the song some real weight, and when merged with the iciness of the guitar leads and soaring keyboards it proves to be truly intoxicating. It’s a reminder that when Finntroll want to go full-on black metal they can be just as powerful and entrancing as others in the genre, and a great way to start off an album that explores ideas from their earliest efforts as well as more recent ones. By the time you reach the third and appropriately titled song “Ormfolk” the folk melodies and danceable beats that recall warriors jigging around fires after winning battles comes back in full force. There’s an even balance between these more fun, lighthearted moments and triumphant, powerful ones and this goes a long way in making Vredesvävd appealing to fans of both genres. Compared to some of the band’s recent discography, the material here is a bit more concise and recalls the brevity of Midnattens widunder and Nattfödd, providing sweeping and catchy melodies that don’t overstay their welcome. Admittedly some of the songs do have a similar approach and don’t fully stand out, but when three-quarters of the material has a ton of staying power it makes up for it. Pieces like “Grenars väg” showcase Finntroll at their best with acoustic, cinematic instrumentation leading into powerful climaxes that fall somewhere between the sweeping nature of melodic death metal and black metal’s icy chill.
Vreth has been with the band since 2007’s Ur jordens djup, so chances are if you’ve heard any of their music in the past ten years, you’ll find his raspier screams to feel familiar. That’s hardly a bad thing though, as the vocals prove to be just as powerful as before and even when the rest of the band hits immense peaks with layers upon layers of sound Vreth stands tall above them. You do get some backing chants that pump up the energy even further and add to the fun drinking tone of some of the most folk leaning moments, but unlike some of the other folk metal bands out there Finntroll retains their blackened edge and doesn’t head into cleaner singing ranges. While these dynamic approaches have benefited some groups, I’m still of the opinion that these guys don’t really need to deviate from their abrasive approach and call to battle chants, as they’re just as appealing now as they were two decades ago.
At this point in their career, it’s unlikely that Finntroll will radically reinvent any of the elements they built their discography on. But Vredesvävd proves that they’re still at the top of their game, providing powerful and icy black metal with just the right balance of drunken campfire sing-alongs and jigs. In some ways it feels a bit more black metal than folk compared to some of the group’s more recent albums, but they fuse the two in a way that should still have broader appeal. The wait has been worth it, and Finntroll has returned with a bang. Vredesvävd is available from Century Media Records.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg
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