Finsterforst – Mach Dich Frei (2015)

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Borrowing from bands like Moonsorrow, Wintersun, Eluveitie, Vintersorg and even some Borknagar, today we have Germany’s Finsterforst and their fairly decent Folk Metal. Having seven members amongst their ranks, this band delivers an authentic feeling without overdoing it on the Folk elements.

Opening with the catchy “Schicksals End, the band nicely builds momentum and keeps the listener pretty entertained for the nearly 15-minute duration of this track. While the length of the song is unconventional for the genre, the band drives it home with solid riffs, tight drumming and a very crisp production that highlights all different vocals and atmospheric elements. The band keeps their groove with another engaging song with “Zeit für Hass” and its battle-like stance.

After a brief instrumental, the best track of this release “Mach dich frei!” creeps its way through with some pretty epic headbanging melodic sections and intoxicating instrumental atmospheric passages. Up until “Mann gegen Mensch” the band has done a very solid job in crafting engaging songs that follow the ultimate Folk Metal formula or epicness filled with powerful riffs and catchy melodic sections. Our biggest concern is that the band seems to be taking elements from everybody else, but failing to craft their own unique style and the album starts to drag close to its end.

Before the monumental 24 minute closer “Finsterforst”, the band delivers the obligatory atmospheric/trippy instrumental with “Reise zum...”. Saving the best for last, we are treated to 24-minutes of very interesting musical exploration that could have been better used since the beginning of the album. With such a long song, the band is free to experiment with acoustic instruments to properly build a mood and progress the song. This whole slower process reminded us a bit of Falkenbach but with some nice accordions that completely change the dynamics of the style.

Overall, “Mach Dich Frei” is a pretty solid album with too many influences that need to be sorted out and properly made their own. Finsterforst is a very promising band and we are sure that in the future they will be leading the genre forward, but for the time being, the listener still gets a pretty strong album with solid songs.

Band: Finsterforst Album: Mach Dich Frei

Label: Napalm Records

Release: February 10th, 2015

Oficial Site Social Media

Genre: Folk Metal

Country: Germany

Rating: 80/100
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