Coming to us from the Black Forest region of Southwestern Germany, Folk Metal group Finsterforst (Dark Forest) has been steadily gaining traction among fans of epic Pagan Metal. Coming to life in 2004, the band released an EP and two albums for Einheit Produktionen before switching singers and singing with the Austrian label Napalm Records. Their third album, and first for Napalm Records, called Rastlos, garnered a lot of attention from the music media upon its release in 2012, so it is with a growing degree of anticipation that we welcome their fourth studio album into existence. Called Mach Dich Frei (Make Yourself Free), the album sees Finsterforst continuing their tradition of singing entirely in their native tongue. Considered by some to be Germany’s answer to Finland’s Moonsorrow, there are certain parallels between the two. Like their peers to the Northwest, Finsterforst make their Folk Metal of the epic, grandiose variety. It takes no small amount of ambition and skill to do this, and four albums in, the band is confident in their ability to craft storied, layered, and transcendent Metal steeped in the lore of the Black Forest region of their ancient homeland.
After a short intro, the first song “Schicksal’s End” clocks in at over fourteen minutes in length. While keys are a part of their sound, they are more background in the mix. The heavy bottom end ensures that Finsterforst is more Thyrfing than Týr. Vocally, Oliver Berlin rasps in a highly enunciated German growl, accompanying the music rather than overpowering it. Immediately, it is apparent that the vocal style will never become repetitive. Wordless bellows and gang shouts augment the Death Metal aspect of the song while additional heaviness and atmosphere are provided by a very powerful horn section. The requisite accordion is used sparingly and meshes so well with the guitars that fans who dislike some of the more jocular Folk Metal bands will probably not be turned off. The breakdown at the 6:45 mark speaks of soundtracks to adventure films, but things return to the foundation of Heavy Metal quite quickly and seamlessly.
“Zeit für Has”‘ (Time For Hate) kicks off with some more of that somber horn section along with some epic guitar riffing and a dreamlike lead. The clean vocal chorus comes in at just the right time, making it clear that Finsterforst have captured something special with regards to mixing Metal in with a cinematic feel. The actual verses of this song are once more reminiscent of Thyrfing, but the horns are never far behind. Four minutes and twenty-five seconds in there is a clean vocal arrangement which speaks of something you might find on a Týr album. In this way, Finsterforst keeps their music refreshing. The same song which provided the aforesaid clean vocals then blasts along in more of a Black Metal style. When the horns section mimics the guitar lines, the whole thing conflates into a heavy, double-bass laden Folk Metal storm.
Another brief interlude heralds the epic call-to-arms title track. Similar in pacing to “Schicksal’s End,” it features some amazing accordion soloing from Johannes Joseph. The accordion whiz has been a part of Finsterforst since 2005 and his playing adds a compelling and genuine element to the band’s sound. The chorus of the title track could rouse a person from a coma, and its very existence should create a high demand for more synonyms of the word ‘epic.’ “Mann gegen Mensch” (Man vs. Human) continues in the album’s vein of triumphant, epic Pagan Metal. Joseph’s accordion makes another appearance. This element might make less open-minded fans pull away, but the instrument is so deftly deployed that it all works amazingly well. The sudden appearance of horns, unique vocal arrangements, and guitar solos again keeps the album from letting your mind drift away from it.
Ambient piece “Resie zum” (Travel To) carries us to the twenty-three minute and fifty-five second closing song “Finsterforst.” Again giving Moonsorrow a run for their money, this song could be its own mini-album. Combining all the elements the band uses, the song is a cinematic, visual piece of Heavy Metal that takes the listener along a multitude of sonic paths. Adventurous, thoughtful, and embodying the spirit of Pagan Metal, it concludes a strong album that while keeping Finsterforst firmly upon the map of Folk Metal, does not enter territory all that different from what was covered on Rastlos. Right now though, Finsterforst are on to a very good thing, so why deviate from a sound they do so well? CrypticRock gives Mach Dich Frei 4 out of 5 stars.
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