Never mind the chanting, here's Havukruunu

 

By Manuel Gemperli

Normally, as soon as I hear fucking chanting, I’m out. And I’m a guy who doesn’t only tolerate but sometimes even craves all kinds of screaming, growling, shrieking, shouting or barking. Maybe it’s my subconscious associating it with some medieval monks or something like that. Maybe it’s just because it sounds stupid (most of the time). Who knows? BUT: somehow, there is this band whose sound is so exciting, creative and unique that even I can tolerate the occasional chanting. Plus, it IS occasional. Gotta keep an open mind. 

I admired Havukruunu’s 2020 album “Uinos Syömein Sota”. There was such a liveliness to it. Their new album “Tavastland” is in many ways a continuation of the previous one. (No idea if that’s true lyrically. I understand zero words. But I’m used to that. The same can be said about many metal records whose lyrics are supposedly in English). I hesitate to call this a black metal record even though there are elements of that style. There’s surely a folk metal touch, but what I think makes it so intriguing for me is that they combine all of that with some good old Heavy fucking Metal (capital H) riffs, leads and solos (oh, the solos. Just great) and create a truly unique sound in the process. You got the ferociousness of black metal without the bleakness. You got the fist pumping fun of the olden days (I mean the 1980s or so, not the 1200s) without sounding like something we heard a million times before. And every time I’ve listened to it so far I enjoyed it more and more. 

Finally, the first metal album that really got me excited this year. Along with the new Sepulchral Curse Finland is taking an early lead in the 2025 metal awesomeness race. 

- Manuel Gemperli

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