They might not have reached the near-mainstream status of many of their peers, but Swede’s Vintersorg have proven to be a very strong and respectable force with their brand of melodic, folk tinged Black Metal. Band originator and main man Andreas Hedlund may be more, or at least equally, known for fronting Borknagar nowadays, but Vintersorg have always been a masterful presence and shown a knack for forward thinking in their sound, with recent output changing lyrical focus and showing avant garde influences more frequently.

So, it seems both a strange and risky move to return to their roots, both sonically and in context (considered a sequel to their debut). It doesn’t take very long however for Till Fjälls del II (Napalm) to put such concerns quickly to bed.

Standing out on its own rather than feeling like a mere carbon copy of its predecessor, Till Fjälls del II showcases a band that has grown and improved vastly since. Their experimental side may be pushed back here, but is more than matched up with songwriting prowess. Its Black Metal elements bring visions of snowcapped mountain landscapes, with frantic pace and shrieking growls, but in a less daunting manner which matches the shout-a-long epic feel of its battle-tinged folk side. Familiar territory for sure, but you can’t help but feel empowered by its formula and its passion. The one real drawback, however, is its overly long duration, which does highlight its sameness; never proving bad or truly lacking otherwise, but it does start to outstay its welcome.

There is very little in metal that is as captivating and utterly joyous as when folk metal is done right, and combined with frosty Black Metal and a nature based aesthetic, Till Fjälls del II is for the most part absolutely rapturous and calls for the open air festival setting. Being unjustly too long however stops this making the jump to greatness. It’s known how fine and capable this band are, and there are so many fine moments here, but not enough to stretch throughout its entire duration.

6.5/10

CHRIS TIPPELL