Release date: 29th November 2024
Considering I found my favourite folk/black metal band courtesy of a promo via Inverse Records, you can bet that I always like to pay close attention to other releases I receive of artists in that style – and a band that scratches that itch very nicely is Metsän Alttari, whose self-titled debut is a very enjoyable listen.
The album as a whole is a really strong listen. The flow is great, with each song moving almost seamlessly to the next, and there’s a lot of colour and variety to the music. The mixture of melody and aggression is just right, with the keys and occasional clean vocals bringing the perfect balance of melody to the harsher-sounding guitars and snarled vocals – with particular highlights being Synkkä syvyys and Rautaa, tulta ja jäätä.
There’s a vague sort of familiarity to the music, but not necessarily in a bad way. Myself and one of our other writers David got a bit of an old-school Finntroll vibe from the keys in the aforementioned Synkkä syvyys and a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it interlude in Vampyyri, which we really loved! But as a whole Metsän Alttari has its own sound, bringing something unique to the table.
All in all, Metsän Alttari’s debut is a very solid first offering from the project – and I for one am eager to see what comes next.
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