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Despite a few wobbles here and there, Finsterforst have become a really strong band in the caverns Moonsorrow carved out, playing a similar kind of epic, folk-tinged, pagan-style metal that's hard to really pin down, but you know it when you hear it. They had some trouble following up the massive Rastlos, but as 2019's Zerfall proved, they definitely have what it takes. This is technically an EP, but in another similarity to Moonsorrow, this band's idea of an EP is almost 40 minutes long, consisting of what is described as one song split up over four tracks.

If you have heard Finsterforst or Moonsorrow (or Ereb Altor, really), then you will know what to expect here. Massive, folk-fueled metal riffs used to build thunderous, bludgeoning compositions that carry you on a journey you can feel. I never like rubberstamping albums, even by bands I like a lot, and I kind of wanted this to mess up and be less than it could be, but it doesn't do that. It's just fucking great from the opening to the last note. I do like the choral-styled vocals better than the harsh growls, as the music is often so intensely melodic that the harsh vocals just sound a bit jarring in contrast. But that's a really minor quibble. This may not be a full-length album, but it is wall-to-wall brilliance and I can't pretend it isn't.