Finntroll

Big and lively, Finntroll's newest folk metal extravaganza should come as no great surprise. The range of instrumentation and the symphonic arrangements that bring it all together give Nifelvind a touch of that larger-than-life quality. The folk/death/black metal fusion at the core of Finntroll's sound is embedded in a broader matrix of traditional, orchestral and synthetic sounds, giving the production a theatrical cheesiness that current band photos (pointed ears and all) emphasize all the more. At times, the new record sounds like an eviler version of Eurovision winners Lordi. The fast-paced momentum slows down now and then for a more laidback jig, an ominous dirge or a folky ballad, and the melodies and harmonies vary along similar lines, from dark to boisterous, a little Eastern flavour or a bit of oompa. It's all a little schizophrenic, but Finntroll slide remarkably smoothly between the different speeds and moods, splicing it into a consistent onslaught of Swedish language growls. Nifelvind holds together well, and though it's hard to take the record seriously, with Finntroll, serious rarely seems like the right approach.