This has been one of the worst summers, at least temperature wise, that I can remember. Typically, I enjoy being outdoors in the summer and taking long walks, but these past few months have been different. It’s exhausting being out there, and my body and mind can’t handle this. Climate’s fine, though! At least winter isn’t too far away.
That’s fitting today as we have the new self-titled album from Canadian black metal force Finnr’s Cane to discuss, and damn if it didn’t minorly chill my bones amid sweltering heat and humidity. This record, their fourth and first in seven years, combines frigid metallic might with rustic folk infusions and thoughts of frigid tundra, which is not a huge shift for them or anything. In fact, hearing this collection from Finnr’s Cane—vocalist/guitarist The Bard, cellist/keyboard player The Slave, drummer The Peasant—not only transports minds to colder temperatures but also captures the imagination, allowing the listeners to carve their own adventures in their heads.
“Wayward Souls” starts with choral calls before guitars scuff, a mix of clean singing and detached speaking bellowing, which is spread over the whole album. Keys flutter as the guitars burn, feeling fantastical as desperate cries leave welts. “Twilight Glow” blends in with clean guitars and an active pace, rushing as howls blister, keys plinking as the atmosphere swells. Hypnosis strikes as acoustics trace, the pace combusts, and everything burns to ashes. “Awaken the Sleeping Forest” digs in, rushing past you, the speaking/howling getting into your brain, melodies storming and trudging. The leads explode as melodies layer, blood rushes to your heart, and things end in an abrupt jolt. “In Shadows” dawns with liquifying guitars, vicious howls belting, the energy stoking fires that illuminate dark caverns. Grisly howls menace as an animalistic pace lets loose, punishing through atmosphere and grit as the guitars turn cleaner before fading.
“The Northwind” has drums encircling as riffs gust, the vocals twisting between storytelling and agony. Guitars turn gazey and melt while keys jab, and then a jolting offensive pushes into feral shouts and a spreading fog. “The Everwinter Grey” opens with strings gliding, keys dripping, and the singing lulling, the guitars gushing and swimming in hazy waters. The power slowly builds as the drums rupture, the howls mash, and a ravaging spirit takes everything to a quaking end. “The Spell of the Change of Seasons” has speaking encircling, and eerie, yet frosty vibes permeating, and a folkish dash underneath everything. Melody glows, though it’s through a thick murk, and as a monologue creaks, the attack suddenly ravages and jolts away suddenly. Closer “Harvest” begins calmly before the center explodes, cold, focused tributaries carrying you toward winter. There’s a bit of an Agalloch sense here as things get more spacious and active, the playing jostles before holding back, and everything fades with a simmering heartbeat.
With winter (or what’s left of that season when it truly arrives) only a few months away, Finnr’s Cane’s new self-titled album provides a hit of solace as we are immersed in stifling heat that seems to know no bounds. This band remains as adventurous as ever, a reminder that there is some relief in the distance, and that days stomping through (hopefully) snowy forests are closer. Having this land in the summer gives us a chance to get our minds right and our hopes turned toward an eventual deep freeze.
For more on the band, go here: https://finnrs-cane.bandcamp.com/
To buy the album, go here: https://nordvis.lnk.to/finnrs-cane
For more on the label, go here: https://www.nordvis.com/
Meat Mead Metal 