Finntroll - Ur Jordens Djup
Century Media file under black/pagan metal
 Vera: The standard-bearers of humppa metal, Finntroll, have conquered a lot of misfortune. The two men who once started the band, vocalist Katla and guitarist Somnium, are not a part of today’s line-up anymore. The first one was obliged to leave vocal duties to Wilska on the score of continuing problems with his voice, the second one died after falling of a bridge. Tragedies that almost caused the end of the band. But in 2004 Finntroll returned stronger than ever with ‘Nattfödd’. This album was followed by intensive touring and the fuse of Finnish polka with black metal appeared to enchant many people.
When Finntroll started to write new material at the beginning of 2006, it was without vocalist Wilska, he left the band after one album. After long time searching, the band presented halfway 2006 the - if you compare him with his predecessors - very slender looking Vreth. However, not a bad word about the voice of this new front man, for he easily fills up the arisen gap on this new album ‘Ur Jordens Djup’. What kind of feelings come above after listening to ‘Ur Jordens Djup’? (which means ‘From The Depths Of The Earth’) Well, a bit less folk elements and this in favour of more black metal and heaviness. I have to admit that I considered Finntroll always less folk-ish than bands like Ensiferum and certainly Korpiklaani, but here you can say with a bit of fantasy that they are moving in the direction of Moonsorrow. This is not that odd, for anyone who is a bit familiar with the genre will know that keyboardist Trollhorn is nobody else then Henri Sorvali who is responsible for a great part in Moonsorrow’s writing process. Is his part in Finntroll that big?
Now we put all these thoughts aside and focus us on the new album. It kicks off with a dark invigorating keyboard intro with nearly fairylike melody that gets a tribal mood by dry ruffles. This ‘Gryning’ (‘Dawn’) smoothly pass into steady fast black metal of ‘Sang’ (‘Song’). This is proper black metal with keyboards, also the scream-like vocals. Sounds almost like Amon Amarth. Only this song, do not fear, our well-known trolls did not lose their identity! We soon hear that in ‘Korpens Saga’ (‘The Raven’s Saga’), where jolly folk influences and typical vocals (Joik) enrich the mixture of humppa rhythms and black metal. Marvellous! I suddenly see large crowds of dancing people before my eyes. More of those cheerful flute tunes and danceable melodies in ‘Nedgang’ (‘Downfall’), lots of rhythm changes and lovely details you only get into after repeated listening. In between the hectic black metal one can find numerous surprising turns. But in spite of the acoustic start of ‘Ur Djupet’ (‘Out Of The Depths’) it soon evolves into mid-paced black metal, preceded by a drawn out scream, with many skilful ornaments like mouth harp and harmonica (or is it keyboards all over?). Mark the extra-ordinary centrepiece of ‘Ormhäxan’ (‘The Serpent Witch’). These things add a zest to the music. Or the slightly drunk sounding ‘clean’ vocals in the background during ‘Slagbroder’ (War Brothers’).
I am sure that the fans will enormously love ‘Ur Jordens Djup’, an album completely sung in Swedish again. To occlude we have the long ‘Kvällning’ (‘Dusk’), but after wavering acoustic guitars for a few minutes it fades out into silence, to return after a while with a kind of drunken troll-ish chants on a mirthful party. I think the bonus DVD included in the first edition will be a better extra. I eagerly look forward to the gigs of the band as headliner in April/May.
Rating 92/100 (details)
http://www.finntroll.net
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