Year: 2022
Total Time: 49.18
Label: Napalm Records
Although they have been around for more than twenty-seven years, the Swedish band MANEGARM is not a name that is mentioned so often in folk metal, despite the fact that they are a quite good band of its kind in my opinion. With the release of their tenth album “Ynglingaättens Öde” they prove exactly why they are a constant force of the Swedish Viking folk metal and not only. The band consists of three members: Erik Grawsiö on vocals and bass, founding member and guitarist Markus Andé and Jacob Hallegren on drums. MANEGARM do not belong to the folk metal that is “fueled” by the alcohol for which this genre is generally known, but has a sound that lies between epic melodies and Black Metal (all in their native language). And if we add a number of traditional Folk instruments and some acoustic parts, we will have their basic sound!
The opening track of the album “Freyrs Blod”, is the perfect example of this mix of Black Metal rage and Folk melodies with clean vocals, in a ten minute epic synthesis. “Adils Fall” uses some nice traditional violin melodies, while “En Snara Av Guld” is one of the most melodic songs on the album that moves in a relaxed rhythm with beautiful vocals by both Erik Grawsiö and his daughter Lea Grawsiö Lindström!! “Stridsgalten” that follows is my favorite, since it features Jonne Järvelä (KORPIKLAANI), Robse Dahn (EQULIBRIUM) and my friend Pär Hulkoff from the legendary industrial metallers RAUBTIER! “Auns Söner” and “Vitta Vettr” are the most Black Metal songs on the album with quite harsh vocals and great riffs leading the songs, having also melodies, in a mix of hard and clean vocals, and all of the above will remind you of ESLAVED! The album ends with the acoustic song “Hågkomst Av Ett Liv”, which has a lot of vocal alternations between guest vocalist Ellinor Videfors and Erik Grawsiö, and I can’t say I was impressed (too light for my taste)… As a bonus track there is “Wolfheart”, which is nothing but “Ulvhjärtat” sung in English, being one of the strongest songs of the album.
In conclusion, this is a good album of its genre. I would have preferred it to have less clean vocals, but that’s purely subjective. I’d also like to know what their lyrics are talking about, but it’s unfortunately impossible…. Anyway, in any case, this band will not disappoint you if you are a fan of Viking Folk/Black metal!
Rating: 7/10
Editor: Dimitris Argyrakis
Related Link: MANEGARM – Facebook Page
