Review by Felix on November 14, 2021.

This piece of Finnish black metal seems to be one of the forgotten jewels of the genre. Probably due to the fact that its successors did not sniff the air of comparable heights, Heirs Of The Northstar lives the life of a hermit. This is a pity, not only because of its tasteful and atmospheric artwork.

Be that as it may, Darkwoods My Betrothed play extremely fast-paced black metal. Apart from its obvious affinity for velocity, their music is characterized by the insane performance of lead singer Pasi. His high-pitched screaming appears as a tremendous tribute to madness. It is definitely not a matter of course to be a fan of his extrovert behavior, but I like it. As an aside, he knows how to surprise the listener. Irrespective of his mainly preferred approach, he is also able to sing with a completely different voice. I must mention the less rapid 'Uller' in this context. He contributes heroic, somehow antique vocals to this piece and lends it an atmosphere of grandeur. But 'Uller' has even more to offer. Its cold melody lines and some gloomy keyboard tones at the end create an aura that fits very well with the artwork. (By the way, the keyboards were arranged and performed by a guy called Tuomas Holopainen. Never heard of this dude again. Maybe he has founded a shitty symphonic "metal" band with permanently changing front women who think they stand on an opera stage. Yet this is surely just one of my unrealistic visions.)

Yet first and foremost, the ultra-fast pieces shape the character of the album. They do not stand behind the aforementioned mid-paced number in terms of atmosphere, but it goes without saying that they have another effect. Instead of offering a panoramic view over snow-clad landscapes, they feel like an icy storm that blows directly in the face of the listener. A crust of ice distorts his face, inter alia because of the coldness of the guitar sound. It possesses the necessary degree of sharpness and the spirited melodies commute between almost minimalist straightforwardness and rather majestic size. In view of the proven potential of the group, I hate the fact that exactly the opener and the title track are not meticulously worked out. Only their mediocre appearances prevent that Heirs Of The Northstar joins the exclusive club of flawless classics. But after this more or less acceptable warm-up period, the black cohort delivers only killers. For example, the effervescent riffing of the fourth track, which is flanked by a restless double bass and, of course, the unleashed yelling of Pasi, leaves no room to breathe. More or less the same applies for 'In A Silent Night' and 'Come Fimbulvetr'. Full of energy like a blinding flash of light, they electrify the audience with their craggy arrangements that are based on velocity and relentless dedication while delivering stubborn Finnish art.

But the most outstanding number is placed at the end of the album. Insiders will perhaps say reverently that the 16 minutes piece 'Yggdrasil's Children Fall' is Darkwoods My Betrothed's "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner". Modern maidens would even whisper "Empire Of The Clouds". But let us keep our feet on the ground. Dickinson and Harris knew the number of the beast, but I don't think that they are familiar with the number of black metal epics. In other words, Iron Maiden do not have the monopoly on monumental tracks. The Scandinavians have created a fantastic, almost divine being whose lyrics deal with the arcane Northern mythology. This topic matches perfectly with the highly diversified and dramatic configuration of the composition. It shows the mightiness of the band (and the genre as well) in its entire spectrum. Unholy riffs, mid-paced parts, spheric sequences, versatile vocals and explosive eruptions illustrate the twilight of the Gods. The song is divided in six chapters and the last one is called 'A New Heaven, A New Earth'. But despite this promising perspective, this sonic giant gives no cause for optimism. It is a monument that protrudes from its surroundings, a barren icy desert which is illuminated by the pale light of an autumnal sun. If you have a weakness for primordial yet intelligently designed black metal of the second wave, this desert is worth a journey.

Rating: 8.9 out of 10