Back to the Havukruunu forest.
Coinciding with the band’s 20th anniversary, Stefan (guitar/vocals), Humö (bass), Kostajainen (drums) and Henkka (guitar) announce the release of their fourth album, Tavastland, on Svart Records.
A spoken voice introduces the first track Kuolematon Laulunhenki in its native tongue, accompanied by ominous sounds, but the catchy pagan riffs quickly take over before letting icy harmonics and blasts accompany them. Furious vocal parts join the frenzied charge, reinforcing the ambient rage that leads us to the haunting tones of Yönsynty, a composition with a different approach but just as driving, where bass plays quite an important role. We have soothing majestic backing vocals, but also leads with relatively gentle influences, close to a melodious Heavy that suits the slowness perfectly, before speeding up again on Havukruunu ja Talvenvarjo, where leads are immediately more scathing but remain consistent with the imposing, martial sound. The roars continue as usual, rounding out the sound until Tavastland grants us a moment’s respite with the introductory bird call, before being joined by sharp, jerky patterns eventually replaced by a fairly continuous flow where choirs and massive elements take center stage. Kuoleman Oma‘s acoustic introduction is another moment of gentleness, but it doesn’t last long either, turning into a torrent of violence that culminates in the final solo, quickly followed by Unissakävijä, which propels us back into this virulent charge. Folk roots are never far away, tingeing the soaring passages accompanied by sometimes furious vocals, but they are also taken in by the final rush to Kun veri sekoittuu lumeen where patterns are sometimes more measured, correctly punctuating the troops’ advance. While some moments are very unifying, promising great headbanging sessions live, others are clearly calmer and more orchestration-oriented, before we enter the final stage of this epic, the icy and long but initially relatively festive De Miseriis Fennorum, which is sure to get our skulls shaking with a jerky but quite melodious sound that finally starts to slow down shortly after halfway through the composition, letting us land softly and regain our spirits thanks to epic notes.
Although still part of the underground scene, Havukruunu have established themselves as one of the spearheads of Pagan Black Metal, and it’s a safe bet that Tavastland‘s catchy coolness will serve them well both at home and abroad!
90/100