Band: Finntroll
Title: Nifelvind
Label: Century Media Records
Distribution: EMI
Release date: 22/02/2010
Review: CD

The Finnish formation Finntroll surely is one of the most important names within the current Metal-scene. The band was formed in 1997 by Katla, who isn’t a permanent member anymore due to throat problems (yet still he writes the Swedish (!) lyrics for Finntroll), and Somnium, who, unfortunately, died at the beginning of this millennium.
Throughout those years, the band performed all over the world, and they did record several highly appreciated (mini) albums, all of them coming with a rather ‘own’ sound. And as from the beginning, they deserve to stand on top of the overcrowded Folk Metal scene nowadays. Especially in Finland this scene is ‘too much’, yet a few exceptions make it all worth, or at least, bands as Finntroll give the scene an acceptable dimension.

Anyway, this newest epos has been recorded at the famous Sonic Pump Studio (Ensiferum, Amoral, Amorphis, Omnium Gatherum, Apocalyptica and many others), and it was mastered again at the -also famous- Finnvox with Mika Jussila (Soulfallen, Shape Of Despair, Black Sun Aeon, Ensiferum, Moonsorrow and thousands of others). Nifelvind lasts for forty six minutes and goes on in the vein of the last records, a fact that’s rather evident. More specific it means that this catchy and powerful album stands for a collection of epic and groovy war-hymns, combining pounding Black Metal with traditional Folk / Pagan-elements, including traditional instruments, lots of tempo-changes, acoustics, varying vocals, a heroic atmosphere and an extremely professional approach. Sometimes the band plays with fierce aggression and battle-lust, then again some songs are acoustic-emotional, or upwhipping ‘let’s-get-drunk’-sagas. A certain touch of humour has always played an important role, and this time it is not different. The members perform with a serious spirit, yet not too serious, making the whole not as rigid as so many would-be’s within the (Finnish) scene. The album sounds like fun, not in a stupid way, yet agreeable and enjoyable.

I won’t state that Nifelvind is Finntroll’s strongest album to date; yet it is no surprise that this recording is one of the best Folk / Black-things from Finland, excuse me, from the worldwide scene.

85/100

Ivan Tibos.