Vintersorg – Jordpuls

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Whilst some folk metal is fairly easy to describe and can be relatively shallow, some artists in the genre can be rather deep and extremely difficult to put into words. Vintersorg falls into this category. A folk metal artist so old he predates most of the big names in the genre, it’s not surprising that both him and co-conspirator Mattias Marklund have come up with something so unusual and yet so impossibly accessible. Jordpuls (“Earth’s Pulse”) as an album is less folk, and more progressive metal (something Vintersorg has in common with his other band, Borknager), and demonstrates an impressive and unusual grasp of complicated melody. The melody lines on offer are incredibly catchy, but at the same time are unpredictable and unexpected, a sign of a truly impressive songwriter. Opening track Vårldsalltets Fanrar in particular has a bizarre and slightly twisted tune in its chorus that is instantly memorable and yet so difficult to predict. The band’s sound certainly has folk-like instrumentation, such as the use of acoustic guitars and flutes (and even xylophones, of all things), but very little in the kind of folk rhythms associated with the genre. Rather the band’s sound is more reliant on smooth and imaginative basslines, alongside heavy, blackened guitars and a few good riffs, as well as plenty of softer moments to make the album more dynamic. What perhaps is more folk-influenced are Vintersorg’s vocals, often multi-layered to harmonize with himself. There’s something peculiar about singing with oneself, but with an expressive voice like Vintersorg’s it works very well, especially against the offbeat melodies. Whilst the album as a whole is certainly not shy about showing its black metal heritage with occasional growled vocals and blastbeats often prominent, it also proves to have a rich musical texture in between its heavier moments. As a result, Jordpuls should certainly find itself being one of the most interesting and developed folk metal albums this year.

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