One of the things I love about Folk Metal is that it has always been a subgenre with it's own particular flair, with so much variation being possible. And one such band that have their own undeniable élan is FEJD, a Neofolk band hailing from Sweden. This year sees them back with their bombastic fourth full-length album, fittingly entitled "Trolldom".

Clocking in at just under three quarters of an hour, "Trolldom" sees the band heading in a slightly new direction with these eight songs. Typically erring more on the side of the Folk aspects of their music, this new release is perhaps more varied and balanced than what we have come to expect from FEJD, which will come as a pleasant surprise for many fans. Starting off the album we have "Härjaren", previously released as a single. Its galloping pace interspersed with more melodic sections set the tone for the rest of "Trolldom", incorporating catchy riffs with Folky embellishments. Searing guitar solos give the song that extra flourish to make it truly outstanding. The title song "Trolldom" on the other hand dials the heaviness down a notch, with a swaying folk melody carrying the vocals through various ebbs and flows. "Ingjald Illråde" bursts in with a wilder tune, with strong guitar work adding a fiery quality to the irresistible impetus of the music. Next we have "Bed för din själ", a rerecording of the song taken from the 2004 demo "Huldran". Female vocals give this song a keening edge, countering the slower pace, lending a more haunting and wistful air. "Hednaland" takes the album back to the Folkier side of the spectrum, which is then balanced out by the following song. This offering, entitled "Glöd", shows just how well FEJD have managed to amalgamate both the Folk and the Metal aspects of their music into a compelling whole. Penultimately, "Svart" is a gripping Folkier song that brings in interesting and more contemplative quieter sections. This leads perfectly to the closing song "Vinternatt", a melancholic slow-paced melody. The only thing that irks me here is the startling similarity between the riff used throughout and at the end of "Vinternatt" and the intro tune of DEATH's song "Voice of the Soul".

Nevertheless, what we have here is a polished album that skillfully melds together different elements into scintillating facets that really allow each song to shine. The production quality of this album is also nicely balanced, allowing the heaviness of "Trolldom' to hit home that much harder. This album takes an already unique sound and adds a relentless heavy undertow that completely drags you under, and marks a step in a new direction for FEJD. "Trolldom" is a definite leap forward for the band, and in a direction I very much like. It will be interesting to see where they go to next.