Review by Fernando on September 10, 2024.

One of the most interesting aspects of the Finnish black metal scene is how it embraces its elder statesmen as well as hungry newcomers, provided they show the same level of devotion and dedication mandatory of black metal. Today we have an interesting case of the former in the form of Förgjord. The band had developed a reputation as “your favorite Finnish black metal band’s favorite Finnish black metal band”, and they'll unleash their new record Perkeleen Weri, through the infamous cult-favorite label, Werewolf Records on September 9th, 2024.

Förgjord (at least according to Metallum) seems to have existed for as long as mainstays of the country’s luminaries like Horna and Behexen, but for whatever reason, and some name changes, didn’t release anything until the turn of the century, and since then, they have steadily released music at a relatively consistent pace. Throughout that time, the band was releasing albums, EPs, and splits where they carefully and meticulously crafted their sound, and Perkeleen Weri is another step forward for the band, that also hearkens back to the glory days of black metal.

The album opens with the raucous ‘Silmäinkääntäjä’ which starts with an eerie guitar melody accompanied by some equally ominous spoken word and dripping water, perfectly setting the tone of the album, and then the band bursts into some aggressive doomy riffs and rapacious growling vocals, followed by some classic Finnish black metal; fast, melodic and raw. And from there, the band kept building upon that start and never let up.

The whole album plays like some bizarre greatest hits record in the sense that each song feels distinct and unique from the last, but at the same time, the music as a whole flows organically and with cohesion from beginning to end. The band doesn’t waste a single second and tries their hand at every styling of black metal they can within their own unique brand of raw and melodic Finn black metal, from groove and riff-oriented rock bangers to punkish thrash, depressive and atmospheric dirges, and even combining them all in a single song, all the while keeping a tight and concise runtime of 35 minutes, there isn’t an ounce of filler or a wasted track. More impressively the band achieves this while keeping a minimalistic approach to the instrumentation, and a raw sound that perfectly elevates the music while being just crisp enough that you can hear each instrument and even some subtle flourishes of complexity in the guitar work, and subdued synths to reinforce the dark atmosphere.

Overall, the whole album is an excellent display of classic yet refreshing black metal, and while the band is still playing to their strengths and giving due reverence to the stylings of the early 90s, they do so with so much personality and confidence that you can’t help but just jam with it. This is a bit weird considering the lyrical content deals with the darkest and most violent chapters of the Savo region where the band is from, presented very matter-of-factly, so as to document those horrors, and the music is a perfect soundtrack for them.

Rating: 9 out of 10