The mix of Melodic Death Metal with a slight touch of Doom and Black Metal makes the band Wolfheart quite unique. The melodic, atmospheric and emotionally composed music has found an ever-growing fan base since the foundation of the Finnish Melodic Death legend Tuomas Saukkonen, known from Before The Dawn and Black Sun Aeon for example. The band Wolfheart has been heard a lot lately and this year they will honor us with the upcoming album ‘Wolves Of Karelia’.

The first song “Hail of Steel” goes straight into the ear. The mighty beginning together with the powerful guitars makes you hungry for more. In fact, you will not be disappointed at all. Fast, hard and the suitably selected orchestral samples in the background give the music its special touch. This whole package is just as you would expect from Wolfheart and at this point, it should be said: The whole album follows a golden thread that you can hear throughout the whole album. Thematically as well as instrumentally, this is typical for Wolfheart and almost gives the impression that you are listening to one single long song, of which I am a big fan personally. All songs are on a very high musical level, with my favorites appearing in the second half of the album. The instrumental song “Eye of the Storm” introduces what I think is the best part of the album. The three following songs are hard to beat in general concerning atmosphere and epicness. “Born From Fire” is carried by groovy headbang parts, a very well done guitar solo and epic lead melody in chorus and outro, which is a very cool mix. After that comes “Arrows Of Chaos”, which is fast, hard, but still playful. The latter is probably, because of the very concisely perceivable orchestra. All in all a very cool composition. But my absolute highlight on this album is the song “Ashes”, which is a worthy conclusion of the album. It starts with fine acoustic sounds, increases with impelling orchestral parts and powerful guitars up to very nice doom-like halting lead melodies and all accompanied by powerful and emotional vocals. All this then mixed with groovy parts for headbanging. The other songs already get me, but this song takes it one step further.

I can’t complain about the sound on this record. Whoever likes a good Finnish Melodic Death Metal sound will be happy with this album. The sound is powerful, well mixed and has received brilliance in the right places. I don’t miss anything and I haven’t noticed anything bad even after listening to it several times.

All in all, Wolfheart’s new album ‘Wolves Of Karelia’ is an album that should definitely be on shelves that are within easy reach, because this album should listen more often. The excellent sound, the consistently high niveau of the songs and explicitly the two half of the album are worth it.