Album Review: Finntroll - Blodsvept

Not certain who could have seen it coming, but folk metal has become a worldwide sensation with a particular resonance among Australians. Perhaps it's the associated drinking culture that has endeared this shtick, enabling long-running acts like these Finns, Ensiferum and Korpiklaani as well as upstarts Alestorm to attract sizeable audiences.    

Now half-a-dozen LPs in, Finntroll's bridging of black metal, their native, rabble-rousing Humppa music and Swedish lyrics is well-established. Slightly more raw and aggressive than recent releases – as Vreth's coarse-as-sandpaper rasp attests –yet still jovial,many of these songs still aren't overly distinguishable one from another. This isn't a major issue live where they can energetically translate to hundreds of beer-swilling, vodka-downing punters, but is less engaging and memorable on record. Blodsvept is often fun 'in the moment', but when you wake up hung-over the next day with no money left in your wallet you may not be able to recall many individual moments. That said, Skogsdotter is akin to duelling banjos taking on a swing bandand if you've ever pondered what a video game would sound like accompanied by folk music you'll find the answer in rallying cry Ett Folk Förbannat. Tva Ormar and Fanskapsfylld are both highly danceable and Midvinterdraken's synth-infused, blackened atmospherics close matters in grandiose fashion. 

Folk metal can be an absolute blast; predominantly while attending a European festival, or in a packed, sweaty club filled with likeminded (and well-lubricated) individuals. A new record for Finntroll is likely an excuse to hit the road again and party down with their rabid fans, rather than providing them anything particularly fresh on disc.