Finntroll: Ur Jordens DjupFinntroll’s Frenzy:
A Review of Ur Jordens Djup
Patrick Sullivan
Black Oak Presents
Summer 2007

Everyone’s favorite frenzied Finns have finally returned after three years since their last album, Nattfodd. Their newest folk-infused metal creation, Ur Jordens Djup, comes barreling out of the dank abyss as manic and as fun as always.

The key to Finntroll’s success has always been in their sincere presentation of Humppa metal. Humppa, being a sort of traditional Finnish Polka, is easy to see as a gimmick, especially when taking into consideration that most of Finntroll’s songs are about...well, trolls and other creatures of myth. But the resulting sound is quite powerful and visual. Some of the softer instrumental tracks create a great emotional bond between the listener and the band. Finntroll creates a truly unique mood and feeling, which is a testament to their level of musicianship, songwriting, and focus.

The music itself is largely the work of keyboardist Trollhorn (aka Henri Sorvali) who is also the driving force between the equally impressive Moonsorrow. It seems that over time both groups have followed the same path of progression from simple sounds that borrowed from each other to a rich, layered, and textured sound. In a way, this can be seen as a deterrent because some of the folkier elements created by traditional instrumentation does get lost at times. However, it is the sheer energy of this music that draws you in. In most cases, the folk melody is what drives the song, as opposed to the guitars or keyboards, which no amount of over-production can take away.

Finntroll also welcomes a new member into the fold as vocalist Vreth (real name Mathias Lillmåns) takes over for the recently axed (no pun intended) Tapio Wilska. Although Vreth handles the vocals superbly and captures the feel of the music quite well, his vocal presence and power are a notch below what Tapio Wilska brought to the group, though the difference is not a distraction. Finntroll’s original vocalist Katla (Jan Jämsen) provides the lyrics for the album. Katla was forced to quit the band after only two albums due to a throat condition that prevented him from handling the more “trollish” vocal aspects that were required of him. In that sense, the group had clearly demonstrated a want to keep their original musical vision intact.

As much as Ur Jordens Djup is a wonderful listen, the packaging is also a key component of the album experience. The gatefold edition of the album comes in a highly glossy case whose interior artwork is befitting of the music contained within. No words, no logos, just a monochromatic painting of a desolate lake with a single sailor. “The tale ended up being a complex one involving symbolic death and rebirth and the great war against one-self,” Katla wrote of the lyrical themes in the album.  There are few, if any, groups that can create such a perfect blend of visual and musical themes.

For more info, visit www.finntroll.net.

Patrick Sullivan is fidgety, thinks too much, and can never relax. He lives on Chicago's north side and enjoys ice cream. Sometimes he writes music reviews for Black Oak Presents.

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