A soundtrack for pagan triumph<\/p>\n
Finland! At this point, anyone even remotely into metal knows that the country is pretty much Metal World. And of course, the country has one of the most prolific and enduring black metal scenes, for better or worse. But regardless, today we have Havukruunu<\/strong>, the current poster boys for pagan black metal. Considering the fact that this year marks the 10th anniversary of their debut album, it\u2019s exceedingly fitting that they\u2019ve finally graced the world with their much anticipated fourth full length album, Tavastland<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n
Havukruunu have pretty much established themselves as purveyors of quality pagan black metal, and for a solid decade they\u2019ve had a near spotless record of killer albums, and even an EP that was pretty great. So after a considerable amount of time, their return is most welcomed, and I\u2019m happy to say that the band are continuing their streak of great music with gusto.<\/span><\/p>\n
For those unfamiliar with these Finns, their style of black metal follows in the tradition of other pagan or heathen acts, most notably Moonsorrow<\/strong>, and especially late-era Bathory<\/strong>, and more specifically, very melodic black metal with an emphasis on guitar work and a grandiose atmosphere. However, unlike their kinsmen, Moonsorrow, the band doesn\u2019t use as many synths or folk instrumentation; they\u2019re definitely there, and this new record definitely makes excellent use of them at key moments, but overall, Havukruunu favors a straightforward approach with dual guitars, bass and drums. And with that in mind, it is no surprise that this record seems to quadruple down on the band’s classic metal melodicism. Continuing with the sound and leanings from the previous album, and incorporating the synths of the preceding EP, the band really lets their love of OLD METAL, as Fenriz from Darkthrone<\/strong> would say, shine unashamedly.<\/span><\/p>\n