Angry Metal Guy

Svartsot // Maledictus Eris
Rating: 3.5/5.0—Lute and pillage 
Label: Napalm Records
Website: svartsot.dk/ myspace.com/svartsot
Release Dates: Out now!

There’s nothing quite like Danish melodic death/folk, right kids? What’s that you say? You don’t know what Steel Druhm speaks of? For shame! By now you probably should know of Svartsot and their heavier than thou approach to folk metal since they’ve been churning it out since 2007. I was a big fan of their quirky debut Ravnenes Saga and was equally amused by the follow up Mulmets Viser  (as was AMG himself). Both featured heavy but very catchy and anthemic folk metal with very deathy vocals. Their sound can almost be summed up as Korpiklaani meets Cannibal Corpse after too many ales. Its a weirdly festive and danceable style (yes, you may want to dance around like a spazz to some of their tunes) that somehow remains bruisingly heavy at the same time.  Because their approach is so offbeat and unique, it struck a nerve with me and I had high hopes that nerve would continue getting struck with Maledictus Eris, their third release. I’m happy to report this is more entertaining, beer stein swinging, gnome jigging, renaissance faire approved folk metal. All the elements that made the previous albums work are present and if anything, this may be more catchy and fun than before. Now, their admittedly quirky style might not be everyone’s cup of grog. It requires a little tolerance for folk-infused camp and silliness but if you can handle the oddness, its more fun than a barrel full of forest gremlins. Continue reading

Korpiklaani // Ukon Wacka
Rating: 4.0/5.0 — Let’s drinka then humppa
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Websites: korpiklaani.com | myspace.com/korpiklaani
Release Dates: EU: 04.02.2011 | US: 02.15.2011

I’ve always said there can never be enough folka/polka humppa drinking metal from Finland. Go ahead, ask my friends, I’ve always said that! Thankfully Korpiklaani feels much the same way so they keep churning out albums at a highly dependable rate (seven albums in seven years). If you heard any of the previous albums you know what to expect here on Ukon Wacka. If not, imagine a far less serious and way more drunken Finntroll. This is filled to the brim with ridiculously catchy humppa/polka styled folk metal meant to be played whilst hoisting huge frothy mugs of foaming ale. That’s entirely appropriate since Ukon Wacka was an ancient pagan festival where the beer flowed muchly. If such beer soaked party music from 1099 doesn’t sound appealing to you, go home and tell your mom you’re a loser not a boozer. Continue reading

Månegarm // Nattväsen
Rating: 4.5/5.0 – Excellent! Sounds a lot like Vargstenen, but who thinks that’s bad?
Label: Regain Records
Website: myspace.com/manegarm | manegarm.com
Release Dates: EU: 19.11.2009 | US: 11.22.2009

Nattväsen (Night Creatures) is the name of the new Månegarm record, and one that works well with the feel of the entire album. Clocking in at a good LP length of 45 minutes, this record explores musically and lyrically the fears which we as humans have had as long as there has been night. Those fears of the things that creep out of sight, be it the ghost of a mountain (“Bergagasten”), the creatures in our dreams (“Nattsjäl-Drömsjäl”) or a mythical creature (“Draugen”). This concept seals together a record of some of the best folk/viking metal that is currently available by any band.

Honestly, I’m a sucker for Månegarm‘s style. It’s like a great big blend of Otyg and Amon Amarth. Fusing the melodic death metal with more clean vocals, folky riffs and melodies and violins leads to some of the best riffing and memorable tracks I’ve heard on any record this year. It’s the kind of stuff that makes you rock out at the time and then, later, when you’re doing whatever you’re doing (in my case it was doing dishes—you know, angrily.. ’cause that’s what Angry Metal Guys do..) you start whistling melodies.

Really, the songwriting is great. While the structures are often pretty traditional, they keep it fresh enough with a good mix of thrashy clean vocals, good vocal harmonies and death metal vocals that you never feel like they’re falling into too much repetition. The musicianship isn’t over-the-top progressive, but there are some pretty bad-ass electric violin solos from the poofy-haired member of the band (Jan Liljekvist) and the band is equally comfortable writing good clean parts, and even a full acoustic track (“Delling”) which signals the dawn of a new day.

It is this kind of musical and conceptual cohesion that makes Månegarm the cream of the crop in this genre right now. Their ability to consistently write intelligent, coherent records that smack of musical taste and maturity at the same time as writing addictive, sing-songy melodies (visor) is something that I think is phenomenal. There are not many bands that have the same musical breadth and depth as Månegarm does, while not making their music pretentious and out of reach. And while this record is not a terrible departure from Vargstenen, why break down the formula that is obviously working for them? The only major format change is that it feels like the songs have more folk-breakdowns than on Vargstenen.

Simply put, there isn’t a bad track on this album. My favorite is “Nattsjäl-Drömsjäl,” but every song on here, including the acoustic one, stands up to the test. The band also does a good job of linking things and creating a feeling of creepiness and uneasiness at various points in the album, which definitely lends to the concept being such a phenomenal success (see: “Hraesvelg” and “Nattväsen” for examples of this).

All-in-all, this is a great record with all the working parts in order. I honestly hope this record thrusts the band more into the public with some better promotion and a good touring package or two (you hear that Heathenfest organizers? These guys are so much better than fucking Blackguard). Sure, all the lyrics are in Swedish, so it’s a little harder for an English language audience to really pick up on it, but Ensiferum and Korpiklaani really enjoy more success internationally—I’d like to see the same for these guys, because they deserve it.

Arkona – Goi, Rode, Goi!
Rating: 4.0/5.0 – Gripping and great, but too damn long
Label: Napalm Records
Website(s): arkona-russia.com | myspace.com/arkonarussia
Release Date(s): EU: 30.10.2009 | US: 11.02.2009

Sure, folk metal is Europe’s deathcore, but somehow it’s so much more enjoyable as a genre! It probably has something to do with the accordions. Oh, and the lack of breakdowns. If folk metal is Europe’s deathcore, than I’d have to say that Arkona is the equivalent of The Red Chord or Between the Buried and Me: so much better than the genre-title implies. Many have come to associate folk metal with the silliness of Korpiklaani and written it off as too much for their tastes. Then there are other people who get a little bit nervous about the sort of nationalistic shit that could easily be associated with a band like Arkona in a land where right wing extremists are definitely an issue. But as far as this Angry Metal Guy is concerned: Arkona is not your average folk metal band and Goi, Rode, Goi! is definitely not your average folk metal record.

No, instead Goi, Rode, Goi! is an gripping and eclectic folk metal album filled with everything that I like about folk metal: the accordions, the mouth harps and the catchy-as-hell melodies. Then, using that formula, they add in very smartly used keyboard “orchestras” and even harmonized “lai, lai, lai” sections.  The music is well-paced, though mostly fast enough to encourage copious amounts of headbanging and, generally epic as hell.

There are a couple of things that stood out to me, as well. While many bands push their way from one record to the next using the same style and writing songs that are nearly indistinguishable from their previous album, Arkona seems to have completely avoided this trap. While Goi, Rode, Goi! definitely shares elements with Ot Serdca K Nebu it is actually much less death metal influenced than the previous album. Instead this record shares a lot more in common with Finntroll and Ásmegin and other more black metal influenced folk metal on this album. This isn’t necessarily an improvement, as I was pretty fond of how brutal Ot Serdca K Nebu got, but in general it works. And since the band produced Goi, Rode, Goi! in about a year since the last album, I’d say it’s definitely worth the change.

Honestly, this record is pretty awesome. I think my only complaint is that it’s a little too long. By the end I’m pretty much ready for it to go away. I think one bad thing about the dawn of the CD was the idea that bands should use the whole thing, instead of saving material for other projects. While some people like long CDs, I find that if a disc overstays its welcome then I never listen to the whole thing after the first couple listens unless it’s The Wall. Sure, the melodies and rhythms and speed are addictive and they’re fun to listen to, but there are actually few chances when someone has an hour and 19 minutes to spend listening to an album.

But how often does a reviewer get to say “they give us too much!” This album is great and while it’s maybe not genre defining (since the genre defining stuff happened before these guys got signed), it is still an excellent album in the folk metal genre and totally worth your time and effort. I strongly suggest you pick this album up if you like the genre even a little bit.  Arkona does it extraordinarily well.