Wolfheart’s latest release, Draconian Darkness, blends epic cinematic builds with slower and more melancholy atmospheric sections. While the band has not deviated stylistically from their past work, Draconian Darkness shows the lineup coming together to create an expertly crafted execution of Finnish melodeath. The moods ebb and flow seamlessly across the album, moving from upbeat harsh sections to sorrowful atmospheric pieces, crafting a serene and hypnotizing soundscape that allows one to get lost in the music without losing attention.
Beginning with a slow and gradual buildup in “Ancient Cold,” the album soon breaks into fast drum beats and searing guitar riffs before slowing back into the entrancing and sorrowful track “Evenfall.” Throughout the album, the fast paced melodeath are punctuated with low gritty harsh vocals that blend effortlessly with the mid-range cleans, while the atmospheric parts create a sense of dread and foreboding. The center section of the album is primarily heavier parts, with a screaming guitar solo in “Death Leads the Way” and fast-paced black-metal inspired riffs in “Grave” and “Trial by Fire.”
To balance the heavier parts, “Scion of the Flame” begins with a slower acoustic guitar intro, and the lethargic and haunting piano intro to “Grave” bestows a welcome break from the chaos before plunging back in. Amid a series of solid tracks, “Throne of Bones” stuck out as somewhat uninspired. Despite blending many elements of the album, this track seemed less engaging and came off as feeling repetitive and dull instead of as a connecting piece to the overall album flow. This doesn’t disrupt the album, however, and the mood of grieving continues to build throughout. The deepest emotional hit comes at the conclusion of the album with “The Gale,” which emanates a litany of mourning and regrets in a gloomy instrumental outro.
Overall, Draconian Darkness is a fantastic listen for fans of Wolfheart or Finnish melodeath in general.
