CDReviews

Wolfheart – Constellation Of The Black Light

Label: Napalm Records Release: 28.9.2018

Finland features several Metal acts you can trust blindly, just buy the album or the concert ticket, because they manage to “stick to their own style” as well as “avoid copying themselves, deliver something new”. One example is Amorphis who released a brilliant 10/10 album „Queen of Time“ recently. And yes, Wolfheart belong into this category as well, as also their fourth album  Constellation of the Black Light is outstanding.

When Amorphis required their own category „Kalevala-Metal“ in order to define their style, well, it’s the same with Wolfheart. There are elements of Epic Pagan / Black Metal, Old School Metal and Old School Death, Melodic Death and a touch of Thrash. Talking about diversity, the song writing does not follow any “rules” and remains unpredictable, offers surprising accents and twists … The band offers “Winter Metal” as a definition, yet for me this is way too harmless and vague. How about “Snow-hurricane – Metal” because of those powerful majestic-merciless riffs, or “Frostbite-Metal” because of those meat guitar soli? And in case, dear readers, you have suggestions, please leave us a post at our Facebook, Twitter …

But now to this CD – it begins pretty smooth with an acoustic intro (is this still a guitar or is it a Kantele?) – but then drums, riffs in an epic-majestic mix that has characterized Black Sun Aeon too – brutal but still melodic and somehow catchy, and there is so much diversity you hardly notice that this song is more than 10min long.

Diversity, majestic brutality, epic melodies – those are the key expressions to describe the whole album. Many songs have just the right groove to make you Headbangers happy. Mastermind Tuomas has also worked on his voice, there is much more colour in his growls. Breakwater – see video below – features a clean shout / growl chorus that is extremely contagious with this heartbreakingly beautiful melody. Then the headbanger-groove – just this one song deserves 10/10 already.

The Saw and Forge with Fire come with piano accents, and Warfare delivers a pure Thrash intro. Defender on the other hand could be called the most “Pop” song of this album with this ear candy quality and the moderate groove. Otherwise I wonder what Joonas has eaten – how on earth can he sustain those insane blast beats? The final Valkyre has the most melancholic mood of all, and the guitar melodies remind you a bit of Swallow The Sun yet Wolfheart play it so much faster… and any bet, after listening to this album you hit “Replay” …

Well, basically I said it all with my opening statements. Fans of this band don’t need any reviews any more… and for everybody else, this album and Wolfheart in general is Must-Have.

WOLFHEART – Line Up:
Tuomas Saukkonen: Guitar, Vocals
Mika Lammassaari: Lead guitar
Joonas Kauppinen: Drums
Lauri Silvonen: Bass, Backing Vocals

WOLFHEART - Breakwater (Official Video) | Napalm Records

 

  • 10/10
    Bewertung / rating - 10/10
10/10

Klaudia Weber

reckless and merciless dictator, so KNEEL! In other words, editor-in-chief, translator, website and ad admin, "Jane of all trades" - - - addicted to books (everything between Lord Of The Rings & quantum physics) and music, mainly Metal made in Finland. Furthermore, there's painting, drawing, movies, theater... so you can expect some variety on this website too. MA Master of Arts, English and American studies & Media communication = completed two full studies parallel within 5 years; very proud of my achievement - a bit later in life thanks to a scholarship - as a working class girl in a highlyconservative-romancatholic nation...