MONDVOLLAND is a Black/Folk Metal group hailing from the Netherlands, and their latest release sees the group at the end of their journey. Formed in 2006, the group announced after the release of their latest album that they would be disbanding, marking "Kwade Vaart" as their last effort.

I'm not really into the Folk element in Metal, but it's not really a problem here, mostly because the band doesn't let it take over more of each song than it should. "Vuurkeals" opens with this nifty acoustic section that leads into the powerful "Duivelshuis." The inclusion of clean vocals amongst the intense Black Metal chugging around the 1:30 mark is a nice touch, and the song is replete with strong melodies and a positively epic atmosphere. "Ravenhorst" is great for a lot of the same reasons, with its mournful buildup that explodes into a flurry of drums and biting riffs. The production isn't too shiny a la IMMORTAL, but clear enough to experience the melodies and all the other twists and turns of their music very well, and frankly, it's a damn good thing.

"Wanneer De Hemel Bloedt" is another visceral offering, and the lead lick towards the end of the song is like the icing on top, but I feel like the acoustic intro could have been shortened a bit without taking away from the song's overall quality. Indeed, the biggest problem I had with this album is the sheer length of the songs. There's a lot of good material here, and some songs, like "Ravenhorst" and the fantastic "Broedermoord" warrant it, for the most part, but towards the last couple of songs, the novelty starts to wear off, at least for me. Otherwise, the songs are very well crafted, and manage to pack a healthy amount of memorable moments through their strong musicianship and overall ambitious approach. Their sound is very much rooted in Black Metal, but they eschew what one might call the 'usual' tricks employed by lesser bands with a sound that is very much their own.

MONDVOLLAND may be on their way out (they are currently playing a string of Farewell shows), but "Kwade Vaart" certainly gives them a reason to hold their heads up high. Its heaviness is a force to be reckoned with, and the band's strong sense of melody and atmosphere make it one of the more entertaining Black Metal releases I've heard in a while.<