WIND ROSE – Trollslayer (Album Review)

Trolls of the world, beware.

The world of J.R.R. Tolkien is so vast that it seems a single fragment of its corresponding lore could culminate in a band’s entire career. Such is the disposition of Wind Rose, a one-time progressive power metal upstart of the early 2010s after the spirit of Symphony X, who has since embarked upon a more folk-infused stylistic path primarily concerned with the kin of Erebor.

Naturally old habits die hard, and while the niche they had adopted on their colossal sophomore studio album “Wardens Of The West Wind” presented a more accessible template than their multifaceted storybook of a debut “Shadows Over Lothadruin,” their sonic craftsmanship has retained a sophisticated and adventurous sense of song structure and contrasting themes that have stuck with them in the years since. However, 2024 has seen this quintet opt for a more streamlined approach on their 6^th and latest opus “Trollslayer,” one that might well fit their highly particularized lyrical pursuit all the better still.

The general formula at work has remained unchanged, boasting elaborate yet highly infectious melodic hooks dancing about via interplaying voices and instruments. The visual of a crowd of drunken dwarves singing the night away after 10 hours of mining for precious metal comes courtesy of helmsman Francesco Cavalieri, whose versatile pipes act as a massive male choir, mostly devoted to deep-ranged shanty themes, but also occasionally getting into grittier thrash metal territory and channeling his past affinity with Russell Allen’s soaring yet pummeling tenor.

Guitarist Claudio Falconcini takes a measured approach consisting primarily of heavy riffs and a driving rhythmic assault to further bolster the veritable 2-ton hammer of force coming from Cristiano Bertocci’s steady bass work and Ancient Bards’ own Federico Gatti’s double kick happy beats. While Falconcini occasionally channels Blind Guardian’s Andre Olbrich with his melodic leads, he often doubles keyboardist Federico Meranda, who handles much of the non-vocal melodies and adds a powerful symphonic layer to the arrangement.

In keeping with the cinematic character that has generally accompanied European power metal since the turn of the millennium, this latest episode of dwarven exploits kicks off with a mighty orchestral prelude dubbed “Of Blood And Ice” that could easily be mistaken for an ode ushering in the beginning credits of some Hollywood blockbuster. Like a seamless segue into a scene of explosive warfare, the resound of Falconcini’s distorted guitar ushers in “Dance Of The Axes”, a high-octane banger of an ode, complete with Cavalieri even throwing in a few harsh shouts to complement the rapid foray of dueling chants and blazing riffs.

This thrasher entry is by no means an outlier, as an equally ferocious, albeit more of a driving speed metal variant of the same formula follows suit in “The Great Feast Underground”. Taken alongside similarly fast and hook-drenched sing-along romps like the epic cruiser “Home Of The Twilight”, the wandering melodies of “Legacy Of The Forge” and the driving Celtic charm with a heavy edge of a title entry “Trollslayer”, one can’t help but draw parallels between what this album dishes out and what Ensiferum’s mighty sophomore album “Iron” did about 20 years prior.

Though arguably the most straightforward collection of twilight tales set to power metal, “Trollslayer” does come with a few entries that recall Wind Rose’s more nuanced work of years past. The slightly longer and more mid-paced crusher “Rock And Stone” could almost function as a direct sequel to their popular metallic rendition of the internet meme phenomenon and turned dwarf anthem and The Yogscast cover “Diggy Diggy Hole”, albeit with a slightly decreased level of symphonic interludes in the mix.

“To Be A Dwarf” treads a somewhat similar path, though more steeped in folksy noodling and grandiose symphonic atmosphere, culminating in one of Meranda’s most impressive showings at the keyboards. But in terms of an elaborate compositional affair that showcases this fold’s prowess at their instruments and ability to weave a set of folk influences into a long-winded affair, “No More Sorrow” functions as the perfect coup de grace to this 42-minute anthology of high fantasy splendor. Cavalieri mixes a heavy degree of higher-ranged wails to complement the obligatory deeper chants and intermitted shouts, while the rest of the band wheels through a plethora of intricate ideas, landing triumphantly on one of the most riveting yet solemn chorus hooks the band has ever committed to recording.

Those who have followed this Italian powerhouse since the mid-2010s will find few surprises with “Trollslayer,” as it sticks true to the band’s established style, offering a more stripped-down version of where they had been in recent years. However, they will also find an album that lacks nothing in terms of quality and sheer power, simply favoring a more streamlined and working-class character over exaggeratedly upbeat majesty and happy-go-lucky high-jinks.

Wind Rose is a band that sticks to what works, and while this might be a tad less complex than “Stonehymn” or a bit less extravagant than “Warfront”, it certainly is a record that pulls zero punches and offers no apologies. Whether in the mine, the dining hall, or on the battlefield, these are the sort of dwarves that are not to be messed with, let alone underestimated.

Released By: Napalm Records
Release Date: October 4th, 2024
Genre: Power Metal

Musicians:

• Francesco Cavalieri / Lead Vocals
• Claudio Falconcini / Guitars, backing vocals
• Federico Meranda / Keyboards
• Cristiano Bertocchi / Bass, backing vocals
• Federico Gatti / Drums

“Trollslayer” Track List:

1. Of Ice and Blood
2. Dance of the Axes
3. The Great Feast Underground
4. Rock and Stone
5. To Be a Dwarf
6. Home of the Twilight
7. Trollslayer
8. Legacy of the Forge
9. No More Sorrow

Order “Trollslayer” HERE