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Finntroll's latest release is a mixed bag in many ways. If you're not familiar with Finntroll, I would highly recommend this album, because I think its one of their best. Finntroll plays a blend of traditional Finnish polka (humppa) and black metal, and they manage to make it sound completely natural, though quite unusual at times. The reason why I don't give this album a higher rating is because its far too similar to prior releases. Some bands have a specific formula, that while maintaining some continuity, still sounds fresh with each new release. Finntroll's new album however, exhibits a lack of that subtle innovation and evolution. They're a great band, and Nattfodd is a great album, but it seems like more of the same material. I admit that I'm not all that familiar with humppa melodies, but I could swear that I heard some of the same melodies in these songs that I've heard in other Finntroll albums. Let's make it clear right now though, if it weren't for this lack of innovation, I would rate this album with at least a 9, because the quality of the songs is grade A and I will surely be listening to it for a long time. I just wish that the band could have showed some sign of change other than returning to their darker roots. They do accomplish this in a way, but it's really not enough to qualify as something new or something different.
There are loads of bands right now trying to mix and match genres and I hate to say it, but for the most part, it doesn't work. It either sounds forced, or seems like the mixing is completely arbitrary. "Hmm... now I'll put in a death metal riff.... ok hardcore vocals and blastbeats... now some progressive acoustic" and so on and so forth. But Finntroll never sounds forced, it seems like their music is a fusion that was destined to happen and its almost surprising that no one had done it up to this point (at least not to my knowledge, feel free to correct me). Finntroll is definitely a band that deserves more attention than it gets, and I think that other metal bands should take a page from their book and not be afraid to incorporate anything and everything desired into a piece of music. However, Finntroll should perhaps learn from Amorphis' precedent (though not to such an extreme!) and let themselves open up to new musical ideas that present themselves. Nattfodd is impossibly close to previous releases, and the conscious effort to retain their exact same sound (even melodic progressions it seems) is just simply too strong. So once again, if you don't know Finntroll yet, buy this album without a doubt in your mind, it will blow you away. If you're a long time fan however, you might find yourself hoping for something a little more.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Vindfärd / Människopesten |
| 2. Eliytres |
| 3. Fiskarens Fiende |
| 4. Trollhammaren |
| 5. Nattfödd |
| 6. Ursvamp |
| 7. Marknadsvisan |
| 8. Det Iskalla Trollblod |
| 9. Grottans Barn |
| 10. Routas Vaggvisa |
: 36.30
| Buy other Finntroll albums |
