Prolific Estonian folk metallers Metsatöll have something rare in the folk metal scene: no one else sounds like them. They always place folk melodies at the centre of their songs and compositions, so that the addition of distorted guitars merely deepen and thicken the darkness that is already there. This leads to some extremely interesting moments of discord, often between a snarling riff progression and a weird wind instrument passage, and unfailingly, it's the flute that wins these battles.
Their latest offering, Karjajhut, has a very different pace and feel than their previous releases, in that it has more energy and moves forward at a faster pace. There is still a sense of intensity and sobriety to the record, which the deep, stentorian vocals establish very well by "See On See Maa," but there is more gallop and drive. With their rough edges and brash eloquence still intact, Metsatöll remain true to their immediately recognizable aesthetic while kicking the energy up a notch on this offering, rewarding loyal fans and possibly earning a few new ones.
(Spinefarm)Their latest offering, Karjajhut, has a very different pace and feel than their previous releases, in that it has more energy and moves forward at a faster pace. There is still a sense of intensity and sobriety to the record, which the deep, stentorian vocals establish very well by "See On See Maa," but there is more gallop and drive. With their rough edges and brash eloquence still intact, Metsatöll remain true to their immediately recognizable aesthetic while kicking the energy up a notch on this offering, rewarding loyal fans and possibly earning a few new ones.
