From their record label’s website, “Originated by hardworking multi-instrumentalist Tuomas Saukkonen (BEFORE THE DAWN, BLACK SUN AEON), WOLFHEART stand for a unique combination of sinister atmosphere and intense Northern European metal. Their music is based on sheer strength and poetic depth what generated much appreciation for their work within the worldwide metal community. While WOLFHEART's art is mainly inspired by their Finnish surrounding, their albums tell eclectic stories connecting nature and human feelings, and with each and every album, they've managed to extend their artistic horizon and to give even more utterance to their music.”

“Ancient Cold” is first, and the symphonic elements are strong in the opener, followed by the familiar snarl of Suakkonen’s vocals. The two walk hand in hand towards the front of the army, ready to command the troops of the dead. “Evenfall” has a faster moving sound, fueled by thick bass notes, an energetic riff, and ultra-fast drums. But just when you think you have the sound down, a melodic passage springs out of the ground, like the first flower of spring. “Burning Sky” begins with acoustic guitars, and, like a storm brewing on the horizon, you know what is coming. The first few distorted guitar notes are powerful, and the symphonic elements help to thicken up the sound. “Scion of the Flame” has a slower pace and is fueled by both a weighted, chugging riff as well as clean and harsh vocals. It also has another powerful chorus that is quite catchy.

“Grave” begins with delicate piano notes that quickly segues into a monstrous riff and some musical dissonance. From there, the song remains hidden in the shadowy dark. “Throne of Bones” also has a dark sound, and as the riff chugs away in unison with the drums, symphonic elements are peppered in. Listen to the chorus, the sound takes a sharp turn into controlled chaos and madness, and I love the guitar melody. “Trial by Fire” is yet another dark and powerful song, and Saukkonen’s harsh vocals provide much of the might. “The Gale” closes the album, and it might be the best song on the album, featuring a perfect combination of melody and aggression. The clean vocals are somber, and melancholy, while the harsh vocals grate against your skin. 

Overall, this was an excellent album, with a nice combination of Melo Death elements and symphonic ones. The orchestral sounds didn’t take over the music however, but rather were there in support. The music was vital, and powerful, and leaves the listener with a sense of the magnanimous.