
Hot and cold!
-- Wolfhorde --
11/01/2019
Stijn Daneels

Album genres:
■ | Black metal |
■ | Folk metal |
Album artists:
■ | Hukkapätkä | Drums, vocals |
■ | Werihukka | Guitars and other instruments |
■ | Nuoskajalka | Bass |
Review written by Glenn Van Bockstaele.
Wolfhorde is a Finnish folk black metal band formed in
2001. Despite their lengthy existence, “Hounds Of Perdition” is only their
second full length release, succeeding their 2016 album “Towards The Gates Of
North” and is also released through Finnish record label Inverse Records. The
album starts off with “Chimera,” an opener going well over 9 minutes but, like
the fearsome creature from Greek mythology, this track is a multifaceted hybrid
of melodic metal riffs, orchestral chants, folk flute and symphonic keyboard
tunes all played in beautiful harmony. A truly mystical atmosphere that reminds
me a lot of their countrymen named Wintersun. A lengthy and spectacular start of
the album!
Then comes “Doctor Of The Plague,” a much shorter
track and one of my favorites on the album! Starting with heavy marching beats
before turning into a joyful folk song. Unfortunately the song does lose some
of its charm because of Hukkapätkä’s occasional use of clean vocals. They feel
forced and unfit for the song as a whole. Fortunately, his clean vocal chords
sound a lot better starting with the next tune, “Black Song.” Another upbeat
folk and symphonic track and this time Hukkapätkä’s clean singing sounds more
natural and balanced in tone for a more suitable and enjoyable experience. The
album’s fourth track, “Towers Of Silence,” is a song sharing many traits with
the preceding two songs but this time more emphasis is put on Wolfshorde’s
orchestral side with bells, guitar solos, choirs, violins and blast beats. A bit like Ensiferum. Then comes “Forged In Ice,” beginning
with a gentle acoustic melody before going for another set of bombastic tunes
as well as clean and harsh vocals singing either in harmony or in duet. The
song has a medieval quality to it and once again Ensiferum comes to mind every
time I listen to this track. Up next is “Kill The Light,” a fast power metal
tune with catchy, soaring vocals and a nice bit of violin (functioning as a
guitar solo) being played alongside vicious drum beats.
And then comes the finale, the 11-minute title track
of “Hounds Of Perdition!” A track that summarizes all the stuff you’ve heard
earlier in the album, fun folk melodies played alongside or in turns with solid
heavy metal riffs. Vocal styles that range from clean singing to grunting and
shrieking and of course choirs. Guitars and drums along with flute, violin and
harp. It’s all here! And there you have it, with this second album Wolfhorde
shows a very multifaceted sound that can be played around a campfire, at a medieval
themed party, when charging into battle or just live on stage in a good old
rock or metal venue! Now come and enjoy the music video for the album’s second
track, “Doctor Of The Plague!”
85/100