Review of Manegarm - Urminnes Hävd - The Forest Sessions

Synopsis:

Manegarm’s acoustic equivalent to Finntroll’s Visor Om Slutet as their send off from Displeased Records...

Review:

With the assistance of Swedish folk band Tva Fisk Och En Fläsk and a few other friends, Viking metal warriors Manegarm have fulfilled an apparent career long dream to end out their contract with Displeased Records and begin anew with Black Lodge, and while this seven track acoustic set doesn’t come across as filler, it is tantalizingly short.

Although instrumentally similar Finntroll’s Visor Om Slutet, Urminnes Havd isn’t quite as tragic as Finntroll’s dedication to deceased member Somnium, though it is at times, still a sober, introspective affair especially with the extensive female vocals and haunting ballads. Still, though, there are some expectedly catchy and bouncy jigs and suitably folkish jaunts into typically folk/pagan territory which are this EP’s better tracks.

After a brief intro, the somber tribal beat, violin and mouth harp twang of “Himmelsfursten” sets the mood, but the far more energetic “Utfärd” picks up the pace with a beer hall choir and typical folk “Heys!”. However, it comes to a screeching halt with the rather depressing start of “Alvatrans”, but the track’s initial sadness soon switches into a far more urgent and bouncy gait before returning to it’s prior mood. However, more sad violins and female vocals lead off the morose “Hemkonst”. The EP’s centerpiece, “Döden” is a stern seven minute hymn that shuffles and peaks with artful beauty and a romantic pace.

I’d hoped the EP would end with a more upbeat number but “Vaggvisa” is yet another tempered, sad ballad, and one can only hope the band's forthcoming Black Lodge debut will see the band purged of their moodiness and ready to deliver a blistering Viking assault to kick the genre in the nuts.

Release Details

Manegarm

Urminnes Hävd - The Forest Sessions

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