Track Listing:
1. Vegvisir
2. Fimbulvetr
3. Taivaankappaleiden Kato
4. Death Long-Due
5. The Retribution
6. Unyielding
7. Boundless Agony
8. Lycomania
9. The Gates of North
‘Towards The Gates Of North’ is the debut “full-length” from Finnish folk-metal band, Wolfhorde. (Although I would consider ‘Deathknot’ as a full-length, it’s officially an EP). There seems to be something about Finland that allows for the creation of some very atmospheric, haunting folk metal and this album is no different.
From beginning to end, the album ebbs and flows like a mountain stream. At times it verges on soothing and yet in other moments it’s a bombast of metal. It’s certainly not formulaic or predictable, and in this case it works well. There’s an instrumental complexity to be found in almost every song that is reminiscent of bands such as Moonsorrow. The mixing of both Finnish and English lyrics contained within the same song is an interesting approach.
From the first notes of “Vegvisir” to the last notes of “The Gates Of North”, this album takes the listener on an epic journey drawn from (mostly Norse) mythology. Hukkapätkä’s vocals lend a harshness that contrasts with some of the more mellow instrumentals. ‘Towards The Gates of North’ lacks much of the relentless fury of death-influenced folk metal, instead relying on a more purely folk feel, incorporating plenty of more traditional sounds offset by harsh vocals. It’s not a mind-blowing album, but it is enjoyable and worth multiple plays.
Best tracks: Fimbulvetr, Lycomania
