Tavastland, the new record by Finnish pagan black metal band Havukruunu, tells the tale of how the people of Tavastland rebelled against the Catholic Church in 1237. The priests, popes, and I don’t know what other clerical people were chased into the woods by them, never to return again. The album or its theme goes even further and it is about those who have been estranged from their own hinterland, about those who are afraid in the dark while the lights are still on. It is also about the fact that we no longer know what freedom really is.
We have known these Finns for years now, since 2005. Their most recent album, Uinuos Syömein Sota, dates back from 2020 already and was released through Naturmacht Productions. Nowadays they can be found at the Finnish Svart Records. This label represents a boatload of other artist and in different metal genres. All good though, we are not here waiting for Tom, Dick and Harry. It’s time for Havukruunu’s newest compilation of evil tunes!
It is not an odd thing that, before all anger can be released, a certain tone needs to be set first. A Finnish narrator backed by mesmerising background sounds introduces us. A more robust production has convinced me that we are off from the start and on a rollercoaster of solid sliding riffs, choral vocals, and thunderous rolling bass lines. Those who are a bit familiar with the Finnish pagan black metal school will immediately recognise the shape and tone and already know that this album cannot go wrong anymore. Delicious, nasty riffs and drums with gritty vocals in their mother tongue instantly catapult you into Tavastland and the year 1237 where everything happens. You’ll happily kick a clergyman an additional hole in his rear end with your own boots.
With this album, there’s a lot thrown in front of your winter boots. Take the magnificent guitar solo in Yönsynty for example. An all-shattering blastbeat complemented by banging bass work and magisterially melodic guitars can be heard in Havukruunu Ja Talvenvarjo. A friendly bird introduces the title track Tavastland. Holymolyjesuschrist! Hear that riff that the gents Henkka and Stefa conjure from their instruments! Kuoleman Oma wraps itself around some acoustic parts, while in the first seconds of Unissakävijä the hands and feet of mister Kostajainen take on such speed that I wonder if they are still attached to his body by the end of this very impressive record.
Havukruunu sounds brutal, aggressive, raw and angry but simultaneously pagan, epic and heroic when they need to. That’s why Tavastland cannot be missing from your collection. End of year list-worthy too, don’t forget!
Score:
90/100
Label:
Svart Records, 2025
Tracklisting:
- Kuolematon Laulunhenki
- Yönsynty
- Havukruunu Ja Talvenvarjo
- Tavastland
- Kuoleman Oma
- Unissakävijä
- Kun Veri Sekoittuu Lumeen
- De Miseriis Fennorum
Line-up:
- Stefa – Vocals, guitar
- Humö – Bass guitar
- Kostajainen – Drums, percussion
- Henkka – Guitar
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