VOIMASTA JA KUNNIASTA

Onto the next potential heap of Euro-Folk-Metal cringe, apparently the debut (I really don't care I got that wrong on my last review), Voimasta Ja Kunniasta; I can't help but hear this 'Island'-inflected a la Rastafari. I'm actually kind of sorry to fans if they see this if this goes as poorly as what I had thought was the debut, Suden Uni.

On "Tyven", we actually have quite a bit of loveliness, with soft piano on this introduction. Rolling right out of that proverbial gate is "Sankarihauta", with grandiose chording and swelling keyboards. Ultimately, though, it fell pretty flat. The ending, on the other hand: pretty good(!). Then we have the clanging of... swords... over a classic trudging guitar intro on "Kylän pääsä". I really can't stand their use of accordion, to mention it here. It's just way too hokey for me. All in all, almost better than the last...

"Hiidenpelto" certainly starts off strong enough; good riff. I appreciate what they're doing in the mix, providing a pretty classic sound. Compositionally, this song has more to offer than most of their early stuff, apparently. What feels like Eastern sonics and a Jew's harp head off on the next, "Aurinko ja Kuu". Very folksy. It was alright. And finally, "Sankaritarina" sounds like a beach-side campsite with rolling waves and seabirds and a crackling fire. A bit more going on, but just not entirely for the whole journey throughout.

True Rate: 2.5/5.0