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Finntroll - Nifelvind review



Reviewer:
9.0

453 users:
8.07
Band: Finntroll
Album: Nifelvind
Release date: February 2010


Disc I
01. Blodmarsch (Intro)
02. Solsagan
03. Den Frusna Munnen
04. Ett Norrskensdåd
05. I Trädens Sång
06. Tiden Utan Tid
07. Galgasång
08. Mot Skuggornas Värld
09. Under Bergets Rot
10. Fornfamnad
11. Dråp
12. Under Dvärgens Fot [limited edition bonus]

Disc II [Limited tour edition]
01. Insects [Oingo Boingo cover]
02. Can You Forgive Her? [Pet Shop Boys cover]
03. The God That Failed [Metallica cover]

The trolls are back and have never sounded so comfortable in their own skin. Nifelvind is album number five, and once again shows another step in the direction of complete musical freedom. This is an album where chaos is summoned and fit into place to form a well-rounded and quirky piece of work to remember.

Nifelvind is one of those kitchen sink albums where every idea, no matter how weird was kept and used in some way. Each song on the album has it's own separate identity, be it an up-beat, sing-along folk metal classic such as "Under Bergets Rot", acoustic troll encounter "Galgasång", or Finntroll almost oriental style with "Ett Norrskensdåd". Slower, heavier songs meet with black metal pandemonium, but whatever the style, you're always going to find some weird and wonderful instrument accompanying it somewhere along the line.

This album is more Finntroll than ever before, and you're never going to be short of material to sing, drink, chant or headbang to. This is extreme folk metal with a difference, Nifelvind is extremely varied and diverse, and is enjoyable in a far more gratifying and indulgent way than the majority of bands in the now stale and unimaginative folk metal scene. Nifelvind is an extremely earthy album, you'll feel filthy by the end but will have enjoyed it all the same. This is the soundtrack to troll life; you can almost imagine a maddening journey through an endless cave to the brilliant "I Trädens Sang".

The band are on top form, and Vreth has come into his own element now sounding a vital and intrinsic part of the band. With Nifelvind, Finntroll have released an album that is not immediately catchy or gimmicky, but given time to get your head your head around, this more than puts Finntroll back on the genre's throne with an extremely rewarding album to enjoy. More than ever, Finntroll have evolved into a band playing their own unique form of extreme folk metal music, as opposed to a band simply playing a style of music.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 9
Songwriting: 9
Originality: 9
Production: 9





Written on 25.02.2010 by Member of Staff since 2006


Comments

Comments: 29   [ 1 ignored ]   Visited by: 431 users
25.02.2010 - 15:42
Valaskjalf
Account deleted
Pretty good album, quite similar to Ur Jordens Djup but in my view not as strong with less killer songs. I feel 9/10 is probably a little high I dont consider it a brilliant album, would probably give it around 7.5/10
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25.02.2010 - 16:01
Overlord_PT

Indeed, the album is very good, only one not so good song (the third one)
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25.02.2010 - 16:11
Rating: 9
arj

The album rules. Back to the old form. Love it
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25.02.2010 - 17:13
Uirapuru
Liver Failure
Not that good at all.

Its an ok folk metal work, not even close to some of Finntroll early works... a less catchy album, which is definetly what im NOT looking in a folk metal album.
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member of the true crusade against old school heavy metal, early 80s thrash, NWOBHM, traditional doom, first and second wave black metal, old school death metal, US power metal, 70s prog rock and atmospheric doomsludgestoner. o/
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25.02.2010 - 17:34
Valaskjalf
Account deleted
Written by Uirapuru on 25.02.2010 at 17:13

Not that good at all.

Its an ok folk metal work, not even close to some of Finntroll early works... a less catchy album, which is definetly what im NOT looking in a folk metal album.


Yeah I must agree. It really isnt very catchy thats why I think 9/10 is perhaps a bit high.
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25.02.2010 - 20:02
RiouxMax

There has been a style change in Finntroll's sound, and I think you have to see them as folkish black metal more than pure folk metal. I think that therefore, it could justify their songs not being as catchy as Jakten tid or Trollhammaren, for example. Yet, it still has this whole Humppa feeling to it.

Still, I agree with the review that they have attained a pretty mature sound that makes them stand out from the massive Folk metal scene. There's a LOT more diversity on this album than the last ones, in my opinion, and every song got their own "personality".

I guess it's a question of taste, I'm okay with their sound not being as catchy as they were before, because I find what they do now a whole lot better. ^^'
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25.02.2010 - 20:46
Marcus
Doit Like Bernie
Only thing I'm worried about is the vocals on this album, their new vocalist is pretty bad.
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25.02.2010 - 21:13
Valaskjalf
Account deleted
Written by RiouxMax on 25.02.2010 at 20:02

There has been a style change in Finntroll's sound, and I think you have to see them as folkish black metal more than pure folk metal. I think that therefore, it could justify their songs not being as catchy as Jakten tid or Trollhammaren, for example. Yet, it still has this whole Humppa feeling to it.

Still, I agree with the review that they have attained a pretty mature sound that makes them stand out from the massive Folk metal scene. There's a LOT more diversity on this album than the last ones, in my opinion, and every song got their own "personality".

I guess it's a question of taste, I'm okay with their sound not being as catchy as they were before, because I find what they do now a whole lot better. ^^'


Well yeah I agree that their new direction isnt out and out folk metal and the darker sound is actually quite refreshing, the way it was done on Ur Jorden Djup on which they started the whole "dark folk" vibe. Yet even though that album was very different from the earlier album it still had some seriously catchy songs on there. The new album is kinda dark but the catchy portions of the songs are weak.
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25.02.2010 - 21:15
fade
Son of Sweden
A true fresh breath of Trollish air....
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The troubles of avoiding horseshit.
My Music database: http://www.racksandtags.com/northernsky/
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25.02.2010 - 21:30
visiblenoise

Written by Marcus on 25.02.2010 at 20:46

Only thing I'm worried about is the vocals on this album, their new vocalist is pretty bad.


new vocalist has a powerful voice! it's not as nuanced as the previous, but he is very far from sucking.
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25.02.2010 - 21:32
.exe
Account deleted
Great album! Definitely 8.8/10... also a good review.
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26.02.2010 - 00:32
EarlHaakon

Nifelvind is awesome. I didn't find it that good at the first listening but after listening it throught couple of times it opened up and it's just awesome. And Vreth is a great vocalist!
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26.02.2010 - 08:20
Rating: 8
Uller

Written by EarlHaakon on 26.02.2010 at 00:32

Nifelvind is awesome. I didn't find it that good at the first listening but after listening it throught couple of times it opened up and it's just awesome. And Vreth is a great vocalist!


Same to me, the first time that i listen to it, i said meeh ok..., but after a couple of times i culdnt stop laughing and dancing to this awesome album, specially the last 4 songs makes me thing about a haunted house in a swamp or so.

Great album, but im agree 9(brilliant) is to much, i gave it an 8 (very good)
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26.02.2010 - 12:07
schwanderen

Considering a 6 is a low score here on metalstorm i think that a 9 for Nifelvind is a fair score. It's the most solid album the trolls have come out with since Jagtens tid. Nice too see artist that are able to breath life in their own niche, even aften 5 albums.
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26.02.2010 - 18:28
Rating: 8
MétalNoir
Fils du Lys
This sucks, I can't even find this album anywhere... I've been waiting for so long, damn. Anyway, I agree their dark era is very good, IMO much better than pre-Ur Jordens Djup albums, which were mostly bad (Nattfod fucking sucks). And Vreth is definitely their best vocalist to date. The original one sounded weird and Tapio was just bad.
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Notre destinée n'est pas encore tracée....
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26.02.2010 - 22:07
Marcus
Doit Like Bernie
Written by visiblenoise on 25.02.2010 at 21:30

Written by Marcus on 25.02.2010 at 20:46

Only thing I'm worried about is the vocals on this album, their new vocalist is pretty bad.


new vocalist has a powerful voice! it's not as nuanced as the previous, but he is very far from sucking.


I dunno, I'm going to have to politely disagree. I think their vocalist lacks the fun attributes in his voice while i also don't think his more blackened style fits with their music, at least from Ur Jordens Djup, havent listened to Nifelvind yet though.
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27.02.2010 - 17:12
Rating: 10
regallmigthy

Very good review, i agree with a 9/10
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01.03.2010 - 22:57
deathead

I think its a great album. Took about 4 or 5 listens before i really got into it.

9/10 for me
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02.03.2010 - 22:28
the stranger

Never been a Finntroll fan, but this album is really good, not excellent or great.
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25.03.2010 - 14:20
Rating: 10
skatmat

Absolutely one of their bests. I was very happy to hear this refreshing sound, i think it would've been boring if they would have sounded just like before. And Mathias' voice has developed so much. This is a masterpiece. It takes a bit longer time to get into the songs than before, and I love that, it makes it much more interesting.
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01.04.2010 - 01:16
Rating: 8
White Winter Sun
Laboratory's Rat
Finally I bought it, and I have no regrets. Nifelvind is a pretty solid album.

By the way, nice review Barry.
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06.05.2010 - 03:24
Rating: 6
Jiri

Another Finntroll album. Solid, but nothing special.
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02.07.2010 - 21:05
Rating: 8
Necrodamus

Great review, good album. My personal fav will always be Nattfodd, though.
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18.07.2010 - 04:34
Rating: 8
akvan

Nifelvind is my god
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Think about it . Every generation gets some new frontier to tackle . Einstein got relativity , The Nasa cowboys got the moon . All the easy stuff is taken , Artificial consciousness is the next frontier !
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04.08.2010 - 11:11
Rating: 9
Mitch0002

This was my 1st Folk Metal cd and not gonna lie, I belive this deserves Album of the Year, at least in my opinion, i love this album
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11.08.2010 - 05:08
Rating: 7
elseif

Feels good to be a troll
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22.02.2011 - 21:40
Growing

This is like folk-metal made experimental.Cool.
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04.07.2011 - 08:21
Rating: 9
Grody2themax

When I first listened to this album last year, I was wondering why I had even bought it. However, ever since Ive always been perplexed at why I didn't see anything in it the first time I listened to it. It took me a little while to fully understand it and see the creativity in it.

In terms of folk metal, its definitely one of my favorites.
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14.12.2011 - 21:44
Parasomnia

Written by RiouxMax on 25.02.2010 at 20:02

There has been a style change in Finntroll's sound, and I think you have to see them as folkish black metal more than pure folk metal. I think that therefore, it could justify their songs not being as catchy as Jakten tid or Trollhammaren, for example. Yet, it still has this whole Humppa feeling to it.

Still, I agree with the review that they have attained a pretty mature sound that makes them stand out from the massive Folk metal scene. There's a LOT more diversity on this album than the last ones, in my opinion, and every song got their own "personality".

I guess it's a question of taste, I'm okay with their sound not being as catchy as they were before, because I find what they do now a whole lot better. ^^'


+1
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