Wolfhorde/Hounds Of Perdition/Inverse Records/2019 CD Review

  Finland's  Wolfhorde  heave  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  black  metal  influenced  style  of  folk  metal  from  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Hounds  Of  Perdition"  which  will  be  released  in  2019  by  Inverse  Records.

  Acoustic  guitar  playing  starts  off  the  album  while  folk  instruments  are  also  used  at  times  along  with  the  clean  vocals  giving  the  music  more  of  a  pagan  metal  feeling  and  they  are  also  mixed  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  as  well  as  some  symphonic  sounding  synths  also  being  used  at  times.

  Blackened  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  are  also  used  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  some  blast  beats  also  being  utilized  when  the  music  speeds  up,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard.

  Wolfhorde  creates  another  recording  that  remains  true  to  the  black  metal  influenced  style  of  folk  metal  from  previous  releases,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Paganism,  Mythology,  History,  Nature  and  Death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Wolfhorde  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  enjoy  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Chimera"  "Towers  Of  Silence"  and "Hounds  Of  Perdition".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/3gDW3NOl_24

Wolfhorde/The Great Old Ones/Inverse Records/2017 EP Review

  Wolfhorde  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  black  metal  influenced  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2017  ep  "The  Great  Old  Ones"  which  will  be  released  in  December  by  Inverse  Rewcords and  consists  of  cover  songs.

  The  ep  starts  out  with  a  cover  of  Finntroll's  "Jaktens  Tid"  which  brings  in  a  very  heavy  sound  along  with  some  keyboards  and  folk  instruments  while  the  screams  are  done  in  more  of  a  black  metal  style  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  Next  up  is  a  cover  of  Moonsorrow's  "Kylan  Paassa"  which  starts  out  very  heavy  along  with  some  atmospheric  keyboards  a  few  seconds  later  while  folk  instruments  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  growls  and  screams  are  also  used  in  some  parts  of  the  song as  well  as  the  track  being  7  minutes  in  length, melodic  vocals  are  also  used  briefly.

  Closing  the  ep  is  a  cover  of  Amorphis's  "Sign  From  The  North  Side"  which  starts  out  with  heavy  guitar  riffs  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  while  also  adding  in  keyboards  briefly  as  well  as  a  touch  of  doom  metal  and  the  music  sticks  to  mostly  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  as  well  as  a  small  amount  of  ethnic  style  instruments  and  the  riffs  also  bring  in  a  decent  amount  of  mlody.

  On  this  recording  Wolfhorde  pays  tribute  to  the  band  that  have  had  a  huge  influence  on  their  side,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  Finnish  and  English  and  cover  Paganism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Wolfehorde  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black  and  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Sign  From  The  North  Side".  8  out  of  10. 

https://youtu.be/ANk_f1LWYCo       

Wolfhorde Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?



Wolfhorde is a Folk Metal band from Finland with a couple of self-released EP’s and a new upcoming debut album Towards The Gates of North. Mostly our music is combination of acoustic and electric instruments with intention to create atmospheric, but heavy soundscapes based on mythological and symbolic themes.



2.In 2016 you have a new album coming out, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?



As a new element on the debut album we have introduced quite massive orchestras, which are not dominative in the sound, but rather in the background. Also the music does not solely rely on any particular instrument. It is more a combination of a lot of different sounds forming a huge stage of sound. As always, we wanted to have quite an organic sound to the album and I think we succeeded in this very well. Maybe it doesn’t sound as heavy and processed as modern metal nowadays, but atleast it sounds real. Also we are proud of the production on this one. None of the instruments were recorded in a real recording studio. Everything is still self-produced, but only better in every possible way.



3.This is going to be the first release in 4 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time span?



We have been making this debut album during many years. Personally I (Werihukka) started doing the demos of these songs already in 2012. A lot of time went into making orchestral arrangements for these songs. Then we wanted to rehearse every song at the rehearsals together. The evolution of these songs at the rehearsing stage was the most important part of the process. In every occasion, we tried different things, drum arrangements, improved the groove and feel of the songs. This is important because the music only comes alive after it is actually played by a band and not intented to be played by drum machines and so on.



Also a lot of time went with completely other things during the making of this album. Unfortunately not all the time can be spend to making music.



4.Your lyrics cover a lot of Pagan topics, can you tell us a little bitmore about your interest in Paganism?



Norse mythology has been interesting subject for a long time for many of us in the band and also common travels to go hiking in the mountains of Norway brings closer to these landscapes. Pagan subjects are mostly sources of inspiration, not so much to do with religion. Imagination is a powerful tool of making art, but no one should base their believes in imaginery things.



5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Wolfhorde'?



Wolfhorde as a name comes from a long forgotten song of ours. After deciding the name, the style of music has become something more suited to this name. Wolves have always been one of many powerful sources of inspiration. They are strong and independent animals, yet able to form even stronger one as a united pack. That is what the band is all about as well.



6.Has the band done any live shows yet or is this strictly a studio project?



So far no live shows. We have only done this as a studio project, but most certainly it would be nice to perform these songs live in the future.



7.Can you tell us a little bit more about the deal you have signed with Inverse Records?



We were already making this album and Inverse contacted us to make deal with them about the release, distribution and promotion of this album. We were very pleased about their offer and we still are.



8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of folk metal?



The feedback has been surprisingly positive all the time. Even the earliest releases received very good impressions a long time ago. I think our music has changed a little bit since those times, but the band is definitely still the same.



9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?



Nothing is certain, but personally I would like to experiment with more simplistic approach next time and concentrate more on band and sit less at the computer doing orchestras and sorts of things. Something heavier and darker will definitely be on the way at sometime in the future.



10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?



There are too many bands to mention, but some of the bands that we would consider influential are Moonsorrow, Finntroll, Eluveitie, Ensiferum, Wintersun, Amorphis, Kiuas, Korpiklaani and so on. Not all the influence comes from folk metal or metal bands at all. And of course we just try to sound like Wolfhorde.



We listen to all good music without restrictions.



11.What are some of your non musical interests?



Mythology and nature.



12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?



Hopefully you will like our new album coming in 22nd of January 2016.  Prepare yourselves for journey Towards The Gates of North.


Best regards,

- Werihukka

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Wolfhorde/Towards The Gate Of North/Inverse Records/2016 Full Length Review

  Wolfhorde  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  folk  metal  with  a  touch  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Towards  The  Gate  Of  North"  which  will  be  released  in  2016 by  Inverse  Records.

  Classical  guitars  and  folk  instruments  start  off  the  album  and  when  keyboards  are  added onto  the  recording  they  give  the  songs  more  of  an  epic  and  symphonic  feeling  and  on  the  second  track  tribal  beats  find  their  way  onto  the  album  and  they  bring  in  a  shamanistic  feeling  when  they  are  utilized  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  long  and  epic  in  length.

  When  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  bring  in  a  very  melodic  folk  metal  feeling  to  the  songs   and  the  vocals  bring  in  both  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  bring  in  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  the  guitar  riffs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  to  the  tracks.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  you  can  also  hear  spoken  word  parts  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording and  the  clean  vocals  bring  in  elements  of  pagan  metal  and  the  music  at  times  also  brings  in  a  medieval  atmosphere  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Wolfhorde  plays  a  style  of  folk  metal  that  is  very  epic  and  symphonic  sounding  while  also  mixing  in  the  heaviness  of  black  and  melodic  death  metal,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  Finnish  and  cover  Viking  heritage and  mythology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Wolfhorde are  a  very  great  sounding  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Fuimbulvter"  "The  Retribution"  and  "The  Gates  Of  North".  8  out  of  10.

http://www.wolfhorde.com
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