Svartsot – Maledictus Eris

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Svartsot are an interesting beast, being Denmark’s main export into the European folk metal scene. Not quite popular enough to stand as one of the biggest acts of the scene, they have still managed to retain a loyal following and on the whole are given a great deal of respect by folk metal fans. That being said, there’s something about Svartsot that kind of limits them within said scene, the type of band that only those keenly interested in the fusion of folk and metal would take interest in. The band’s third album, Maledictus Eris, is unlikely to change things, although it is still a fair enough album for fans of the genre. English-speaking listeners are unlikely to appreciate the band’s lyrics (being as they are in Danish, presumably), though the theme of the album is the spread of the black death in Denmark around the 14th century. As interesting a theme as this, this does not come across well in the band’s music. Such a gloomy period in history requires something with a real suffocating menace about it, and Svartsot’s heavy but strangely jovial folk metal doesn’t really suit. Nor does the vocal delivery (ignoring that it is in a foreign language!) really fluctuate or manage to tell us what is going on. Without being able to understand the band’s lyrics, it simply sounds like a second-rate Finntroll, albeit without that kinetic and boisterous charm. This means the album’s theme is not adequately conveyed – at least from music alone – and instead Maledictus Eris comes across as a fun, albeit rather repetitive folk metal album with some Amon Amarth-esque vocals. One thinks that another folk metal drinking album was not the intent; as such the album is a bit of a failure, but it is an entertaining failure nonetheless.

Written by James Donovan
More: 2011, Albums, Folk Metal, Quick.Play Reviews, Svartsot