This is going to be quite blunt. This album is
awesome!!! I haven't had a Folk or Viking metal disc hit me this hard since
Ensiferum's self-titled release and there have been some great albums by
many other bands in-between. "...zum Tode hin" is Finsterforst
album #2 and hails 5 tracks with a total of over 70 minutes. The band name
is German for "Dark Forest" and this new release translates as
"...towards Death". The music is at times very calm, acoustic,
and tranquil. While other parts are super heavy, mid-paced, progressive.
Keyboards are heavily used as well, but accordion is the main ambience.
Both epic and majestic, the guitars and percussion feed off the ambience
quite harmoniously and vice versa. If you will. This 7-piece band also appears
to be influenced by 80's style metal to go along with their Folklore reminiscence.
The vocals are nearly all of the black metal style, which suits their themes
nicely. The album artwork is more in the vein of photography and use of
Celtic symbols than actual drawings or computer graphics. Although, technically,
I suppose it all fits into one mold these days. Anyways, the booklet actually
folds out into a nice little poster of sorts. As the music is genuine, so
too is the presentation. German-born Finsterforst is quite possibly one
of the top 5 best Folk / Viking bands on the planet! Everyone who is into
Ensiferum, Borknagar, Finntroll, Moonsorrow, Thyrfing or even Bathory should
be purchasing this album at once!!! Excellence beyond belief!!
Rating: 97
Reviewed By: Thomas Mitchell |
