Most folk metal these days owes most to black metal. Fredlös reaches back into the classic days of doom and wonder. The most prominent instrument is the nyckelharpa, which could easily be mistaken for a violin. The songs are long, doomy anthems carried by Liv Hope's exceptional vocals.

Fredlös Fredlös (self-released)

The connection to the past is strengthened by the presence of Alex Hellid (once of Entombed), but it is the combination of Hope's soaring vocals, the stately presence of the nyckelharpa and well-paced doomy riffage that brings this album to life.

The band sounds comfortable whatever it plays, but the key is the anthemic nature of the songs themselves. Much like My Dying Bride, the joy is in the build rather than the climax itself. Fredlös progresses with intentional stolidity, and that insistence provides a good foundation for the sprawling songs.

The band is Swedish, and the songs are sung in Swedish. I have no idea what they're about, but they sound amazing. The underlying power of these songs lifts the folk elements to greater heights. This one cuts to the soul.

Jon Worley