Rating: 7/10
Release: 19 November 2010
Label: Mayhem Music

Not too long ago I wrote the review on the new Trollfest album, apparently I’m going to be trolled again. Another troll review of mine, this time it’s are the Norwegian trolls from the mountain Faanefjell. A young band formed by a Norwegian and a Dane, beginning in 2009 these trolls first came together to make their terrifying sounds. Trollmarsj told us about the struggle between these mountain people and their priests and churches, and on the other two trolls, troll, and Grim Syrtroll. An ominous sound, only broken by the haggling of a Jew’s harp, so begins our Trol Mars.
Then a wonderful story is told by an intriguing voice, in Faansk, so I would not know what he’s actually doing. Then the evil trolls come, laughing mean, they make a lot of noise in that, but there’s certainly a nice merry tune in it. If the song really starts then it is clear that they make blackmetal, although I do not a huge black metal fan, I keep listening anywah. “Faanetrollets Vise” is the first song, in my best Norwegian this will translate as something like “Songs of the Faanetrollen” a solid black metal song but with enough time for happy tunes and crazy troll calls throughout the song. Also for this next song, the title song Trollmarsj (which in my opinion nothing but troll Mars may mean) money concept. “Tre Tinner BAKOM Bruen,” begins with an acoustic merry tune you just have to become accustomed, the storyteller returns and tells a lot more about the saga of the mountain Faanefjell. He has just finished his story and trolls themselves brutally go on with their music. The rest of the song is similar to the previous tracks. “Soknadalr” is number four on this CD, this is in contrast to the previous numbers not a happy sounding song, not hard and it does not even get into shouting. To the troll-concept probably a sensitive song, is what we get to hear. This is certainly not the best song of the album, but it gives a good variety and a nice contrast to the rest of the songs. “Drikkegilde i Jotunheimen” goes on in the old style again, but this chain is broken immediately by “Slaatt” again. A completely acoustic song that even though it is quite simple, it brings you immediately in a cheerful mood. Then it’s time for “Hedningens Time”, my personal favorite song on this CD. Awesome keyboard parts and raw guitars alternate. A song which contains all elements of the CD, in a fantastic combined way (one hour after I wrote this review and had the music turned off, this track was still echoing in my head) Lift Camp is the second to last song and builds on the foundation of the rest of this album, a new nice track by these trolls, but nothing new compared to the rest of the CD. Finally, we come to an end with Her Hersker you Trol log Mörkemænn. A strong closing on a good debut album. At the end of this track there is a one minute outro that blends perfectly with the CD, the Norwegian storyteller quickly tells us the story of one more chapter before this very strong album is finished. I am very happy that I got to do this review because I feel this really is a great album. It has atmosphere, variety and a very unique sound (especially the latter is increasingly looking at new folk-metal bands, I believe). I will definitely recommend people to listen to something of these guys. However, you are a fan of metalbands like Alestorm, don’t think this is so great, if you’re a fan of folk-metal as Eluveitie creates it, then this will not directly be your first choice. However, if you think bands like Kampfar are totally awesome, it surpasses it all your expectations of a starting band of a mountain in a forest somewhere in the North. This is only a debut album of a totally unknown band. This album is not recorded with the opportunities like the big names have them, also folk-metal is quite different from black metal, these guys also something new. They fully deserve my respect. I am sure we are going to hear a lot more of this Norwegian trolls.

Tracklist

1. Der Var Engang et Fjell
2. Faanetrollets Vise
3. Trollmarsj
4. Tre Tinner Bakom Bruen
5. Soknardalr
6. Drikkegilde i Jothunheimen
7. Slaatt
8. Hedningens Time
9. Til Kamp
10. Her Hersker kun Troll og Mörkemaenn