Wolfheart - Wolves of Karelia (2020)

The restless Tuomas Saukkonen was not content on just dropping an amazing Dawn of Solace release in 2020, he and Wolfheart are also releasing the latest full-length, “Wolves of Karelia”, this April 10th. Building up on their success, the band continues to fine-tune their superbly crafted Melodic Death Metal and unleash 41 minutes of their signature neck-snapping music.

Kicking off with the melodic guitar onslaught of “Hail of Steel”, you instantly get that Finnish and Wolfheart vibe, with lush riffs and a slow buildup. The band’s heavier side is brutality present in the intense “Horizon on Fire”, a track that perfectly balances the duality of the band’s musical approach as the clean vocals and melodic passages lead way to crushing drums and heavier riffs. The use of atmospheric arrangements greatly enhances songs like “Reaper”, where it gives it a more dramatic edge to certain passages.

For those looking for the catchy chorus sections and blistering guitar leads, “The Hammer” has a very epic vibe in this regard, while “Born From Fire” will get your neck hurting thanks to all the headbanging you will be doing. A more dynamic and bombastic evolution of the band’s sound can be heard on the powerful “Arrows of Chaos”, a song filled with exciting tempo changes and melodic brilliance. Our favorite track has to be the moody and superbly crafted, “Ashes”, where lush clean guitars lead way to furious riffs and a very melancholic overall vibe.

More bombastic, more complex, more elaborate are the best ways to describe this crushing release from Wolfheart. Staying away from the path of bands like Omnium Gatherum and Insomnium, Tuomas has steered his wolves into a darker and more complex Melodic Death Metal sound that still retains all the staples of the Finnish version of the genre. If you are looking for the epitome of Finnish-infused Melodic DM, look no further and pick up a copy of “Wolves of Karelia”.

Label: Napalm Records

Release: April 10th, 2020

Genre: Melodic Death Metal

Country: Finland