Review by Jeger on July 26, 2024.

Tuomas Saukkonen - dude's a serious brute, right? Like Viking material… So, it's only natural that the music he creates happens to be fit for battle, for triumph and for pale nights under silver moon; bonfires ablaze and axes glinting aside their dancing flames. This is melodic death done the Finn way and with all proper Scandinavian brutality to complement melodies of Valhallen proportions. In 2012, Tuomas formed Wolfheart and since, this fast-rising establishment has released five uncompromising, eagerly-received LPs and one just over the fiery horizon as we prepare for Wolfheart's sixth addition to their envied discography, Draconian Darkness, to be unleashed on September 6, 2024 via Reigning Phoenix.

All things grande, chorale and symphonic to introduce you to all those glorious riffs you've been waiting two years for more of, and the ground is hit running. Each record an organic continuation of the former; conceptually an homage to Finland's unforgiving seasons and unflinching warrior's spirit. With Draconian Darkness, we happen to stand upon the Autumnal cusp where the promise of death to all things but also renewal harkens through the forest gale. A more soulful approach to the craft as discovered in 'Evenfall' where texture and warmth both stand paramount within each passage: a hearty triple vocals assault, a tempered lead and blessed note after blessed note raining over you as leaves falling from their mighty oaks. And as you bear your ears witness to 'Burning Sky' in all of its compositional/atmospheric glory, one fact should remain starkly clear, and that is the realization that this is some world-class shit right here; intangibly setting the bar to heights unreachable once more with every epic track are Tuomas and crew. And with unparalleled wisdom in recording to boot. People are rarely in the mood for weird 13 minute long tracks here, interlude there and your guess is as good as mine over here… With Draconian Darkness, Wolfheart provide a most welcoming and staying experience with 10 evenly measured cuts that each bleed seamlessly into the next and without a bunch of guesswork. Anticipatory but in a good way where everything feels familiar and intense, edge-of-your-seat tracks like 'Grave' awe, but don't necessarily shock as they play out to arrangements fevered in nature (DM-laden grinds, rapidly evolving riffs and ethereal atmospheric overtones) compared to what's been previously experienced.

Epicality fit for cinema… Take notes, youngsters, because what you're doing is great but not this great. Tuomas and his band of honed savages proving to be worthy of study here, particularly during the stunning visualizer to the aforementioned 'Evenfall'; just the band and engineer in the throes of recording such a gem of a track. A level of class and professionalism revisited here as I'm reminded of 'The Hunt' - Wolfheart's 2013 debut single. From acoustics to distortion and cleans to gutturals, from melody to harmony and atmosphere to forefront, a reflective closing track in 'The Gale' that hits with all the finality of an unexpected death as this majestic recording approaches its climax. And it's to the fading out of piano that it culminates… Take a breather, you’ve earned it…

That satisfied feeling that comes after watching a Lord of the Rings-level epic and the residual majesty of it all to haunt the rest of your day. Draconian Darkness - but another more-than-worthy flash of melo-death steel out of Wolfheart, who despite the cheapening of extreme metal as a whole, continue to hold tight to their long-established and uncompromising way of recording music. We need bands like Wolfheart and albums like Draconian Darkness now more than ever. There's a level of elitism to be found here that may be admonished today, but nonetheless is of the utmost importance for any kind of viable artistic future for extreme metal. Finland… You just don’t fuck with Finland, man. Enjoy.

Captivation: 9/10
Cover Art: 8.5/10
Concept: 9/10
Production: 9/10
Revisitability: 10/10

Rating: 9 out of 10