The many faces of melodic death metal – review of Wolfheart’s “Draconian Darkness”

Music is surprising. Metal is even more surprising than most music, because one day you can say you don’t like this genre or this band, and the next day you might actually become a fan. This is exactly what happened to me in relation to melodic death metal. Yesterday I used to say that it was overrated and it was not for me, and today I am a fan. Well, this is due to amazing artists like Wolfheart who make this genre absolutely accessible to a sceptical person like myself.

So you might probably wonder, why the sudden change of heart? Well, it wasn’t much of a change of heart per se. I think that now I understand the need for melodic death metal, and if it is at the level that is in “Draconian Darkness”, even better. Tracks like “Burning Sky” which includes so many different influences, or like “Scion Of The Flame” that is more traditional, make this album a Pandora’s box (but without the evil and the illnesses).

In “Draconian Darkness” there is the complete and deepest part of the soul of Tuomas Saukkonen; he has not spared to provide us with a range of emotions and situations. He even went as far as including some Finnish lyrics, to testify how much this record goes beyond the mere music. The composition and songwriting are carefully done, as well as the production, mixing and mastering.

It will still be a while before I’ll be able to write more elaborate and comprehensive reviews of this newfound love for melodic death metal, but it’s undeniable that Saukkonen and his mates put an extreme level of passion into their art. The conclusive track “The Gale“, is the cherry on top of this cake. From a brilliant beginning to the power unleashed a bit later, this is a top-quality product.

Because each song adds to the overall story of darkness, struggle, and, in the end, resilience, this album must be listened to in its entirety. To be able to comprehend the more profound meaning, to be able to receive the message. Wolfheart has created an album that is as harsh and frigid as the winters in Finland, but it also has an unquenchable fire.

Tracklist:

1. Ancient Cold
2. Evenfall
3. Burning Sky
4. Death Leads The Way
5. Scion Of The Flame
6. Grave
7. Throne of Bones
8. Trial By Fire
9. The Gale