CRIMFALL

A relatively new band, Crimfall only came into existence in 2007 as the brainchild of Jakke Viitala when he produced a three song demo before recruiting vocalists Mikko Häkkinen and Helena Haaparanta. Shortly after, the band were snapped up by Napalm Records and, with the assistance of 5 session musicians, entered the studio in summer 2008, the result of which is their debut album, 'As The Path Unfolds...'. Described on the promo sleeve as 'Epic Folk Metal', I'm often deterred by such labelling as with the current popularity of the subgenre it implies both mimicry and bandwagon jumping with record companies using such labels to garner more attention for their bands. Fortunately, Crimfall's 'As The Path Unfolds...' is so much more than the generic folk metal that is presently ubiquitous within the scene. Opening cut 'Neothera Awakening' is a grandiosely atmospheric orchestral piece which segues into the first track proper, 'The Crown of Treason', an instantly infectious fusion of symphonic, power, and blackened folk metal combining Haaparanta's adept, wide ranging clean vocals with Häkkinen's incisively growled delivery. And so sets the theme of the album as its progressive blend of various metal subgenres is perpetuated throughout with the heavier elements both combined and interposed with majestic orchestrations of which Howard Shore would be proud, leaving me with the impression that 'As The Path Unfolds...' is a musical narrative to some great saga. With a huge, resonant production at all times, the album is also masterfully mixed as all of the disparate instruments are clearly audible at all times during every passage of music - drums, bass, guitars, violin, cello, accordion, vocals, keyboards, samples, and other orchestrations combine at various points to great effect, and never to excess. There is so much to recommend 'As The Path Unfolds...' and its appeal within the metal scene is potentially wide ranging. Fans of Turisas will find as much to get excited about here as fans of Nightwish, not to mention those prog-metal aficionados who revel in something a little different. And I sincerely hope that Crimfall find the wide audience they deserve for 'As The Path Unfolds...' is stunning. An epic metal masterpiece.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Napalm Records

Album

AS THE PATH UNFOLDS...

Review by Mark Holmes

RUNNING TIME:

46:50

RELEASE DATE:

2nd March 2009

TRACK LISTING

1) Neothera Awakening
2) The Crown of Treason
3) Wildfire Season
4) Where Waning Winds Lead
5) Sun Orphaned
6) Ascension Pyre
7) Shadow Hearth
8) Non Serviam
9) Aubade
10) Hundred Shores Distant
11) Novembre

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Finland

"...its progressive blend of various metal subgenres is perpetuated throughout with the heavier elements both combined and interposed with majestic orchestrations of which Howard Shore would be proud..."