TROLD – I Skovens Rige
Release Date: 14th March 2025
Label: Mighty Music
Bandcamp
Genre: Folk Metal
FFO: Finntroll, Svartsot, Trollfest.
Review By: Paul Cairney
I Skovens Rige is the 2nd album by Danish folksters Trold and if truth be told, it is so much better than their debut that the difference is palpable.
What is abundantly clear, is this is not your basic folk-metal album. Yes, there are numerous cheesy moments, but these are offset with genuine meaty riffs, riffs that surprise as much as they do impress. For every flute or other wind instrument moment, there is a frantic blast-beat, or a riff that utterly floors you, or a bass run that gives you a kiss on the cheek before the gut punch.
Set in a forest, I Skovens Rige, and I quote from the press statement, ‘goes from a furious hunt to a mournful farewell and on to folk celebration and singing together’. To be honest I couldn’t have put it better.
Opening with birds chirping away (presumably in the aforementioned forest), spoken words introduce the album before it starts proper with ‘Med Høtyv og Fakkel’, a track that is perhaps a more traditional folk metal song, well, apart from a handful of blast-beats and a menacing riff midway through. The vocals are great. Grunty, dirty and majestic. They suit the album throughout.
‘Troldmanden’ is up next, and you then find that this is no ordinary folk metal band. It is a song full of gleeful aggression, again blast-beats are littered throughout.
It is this approach that impresses. Many folk-metal albums are too long, lacking variety and having the twee la-dee-la-tee-da style approach. Trold have this approach, but they limit it. They seem utterly aware that they are better than this.
I Skovens Rige is definitely the most fun I have had listening to an album for a long while. It is a seriously enjoyable listen. It hypnotises the listener, entrancing you in its world, presumably in the forest.
You may not like folk-metal, it may not be your scene. I Skovens Rige by Trold is your scene – try it. You may love it!
(4.5 / 5)
