Finntroll - Jaktens Tid
2001 Century Media

Track Listing:
1.  Krig
2.  Födosagan
3.  Slaget Vid Blodsälv
4.  Skogens Hämnd
5.  Jaktens Tid
6.  Bakom Varje Fura
7.  Kitteldags
8.  Krigsmjöld
9.  VargTimmen
10. Kyrkovisan
11. Den Hornkrönte Konungen
12. Aldhissla
13. Tomhet Och Tystnad Härska

Line-Up:
Vocals:  Katla
Guitars:  Skyrmer, Somnium
Bass:  Tundra
Drums:  Beast Dominator
Keyboards:  Trollhorn

Website:  www.finntroll.net

Shev's Rating:  B-
Average Overall Rating:  B-

Shev's Review:
Following up their debut, "Midnattens Widunder", the Finnish Finntroll unleash yet another fun folk/polka/black metal release.  As with their debut, this isn't just another black/folk act that take themselves way too seriously.  Just the opposite...these guys are just having a good time and playing a few different styles of music they enjoy.  in doing so, they have actually separated themselves from the endless sea of black metal and black/folk acts, creating something that is actually worth listening to.  A rare feat for modern black metal hybrid bands.

Sharing the same line-up as before (including Somnium aka Teemu Raimoranta of Impaled Nazarene fame), Finntroll seems to have gelled together nicely as the songs have a more fluid and established feel compared to their original release.  They still follow the same idea's, but have come a long way in such a short time.  Unfortunately for us English-only speaking types, all of these lyrics are in Swedish.  Not a big deal, though, as the music itself says it all.  A little on the cheesy side for some (or many, it seems), but highly innovative drunken troll music.  Fans of melodic folky black metal looking for something new, put down that crappy Vintersorg CD and check this out.

Song summaries include...

1. Krig - Just an intro.  Sounds like gladiators entering the arena.  Would have been a lot more cool if they kept this under a minute, but here they push two.  C-
2. Födosagan - Not a bad metal song which plods along at a comfortable pace with a dark atmosphere...but the accordion part from 2:09 - 2:36 is a bit over the top.  This is followed up immediately with some dreary interlude complete with subtle pop-goth backing vocals and clean vocals.  I realize these guys are just having fun, but Dark Tranquility they are not.  C-
3. Slaget Vid Blodsälv - As soon as I started playing this song, dogs standing on their hind legs like people broke into my house, put on large furry hats, and started can-can dancing.  As if that wasn't strange enough, at 1:21 Kurt Angle jumped through a window and started body slamming dogs and sticking them in ankle locks.  Only during a Finntroll song...  A-
4. Skogens Hämnd - Distorted oompa meets melodic black metal with a few bleach blonde streaks of power metal.  Interesting, but even at 4:04 this tends to drag on after the novelty wears off.  C
5. Jaktens Tid - Traditional folk with clean vocals vs. metal with growled vocals.  So uplifting and emphatic that the only thing missing is Bilbo Baggins dancing around with a mug of ale.  A
6. Bakom Varje Fura - A short, prancy instrumental interlude in vein of Bal-Sagoth.  Creative...but then again, so is Yanni.  D
7. Kitteldags - Mischievous, trollish, little tune weighing in at a hair over two minutes.  It's short length and bubbling potion solo keep it as fresh as can be expected.  B
8. Krigsmjöld - Not being fluent in their native tongue, based on the tone of the music I can only assume this is an inspirational tale of victory and some brotherhood triumph.  Yeah...  D+
9. VargTimmen - Teamed with entirely too much vocals and an overdose of melody, this is just a step above generic filler.  Oddly enough, this is a cover of a Hedningarna tune.  C
10. Kyrkovisan - Here's something that took me completely by surprise.  1:10 of highly aggressive Finntroll mayhem.  Their black metal roots shine here.  A-
11. Den Hornkrönte Konungen - Somebody's been listening to a lot of Amorphis' earlier material...  B-
12. Aldhissla - Starts out with some traditional, repetitious folk for about a minute before turning it into a heavier, mid-paced version.  There's so much going on in this song, you literally have to listen it to it ten to twenty times just to take it all in.  A-
13. Tomhet Och Tystnad Härska - 2:20 of light new age effects, about 37 seconds of silence, and then...Marv Epstein's Crackhead Klezmer Jam covering Finntroll.  Includes tuba, squealing cats, and mind numbing insanity.  B

Shev's Rating:  B-