Rating: 8/10
Release: 17 February 2012
Label: Trollzorn Records

Are the fans of troll metal and strange metal all here? Well, listen because this is something for you guys. The new release of Svartby, ‘Elemental tales’ entitled is, to say the least, happy.
This Russians know how to throw a party and they’ll show you with this 6th CD. ‘Impby’ is the quiet but although merry intro of the record, this changes brutally in ‘Scum from Underwater’. The speed rises and only slows down a bit with the song ‘Ash and Dust’.
After a song about water we get the song ‘Boulder Massacration’, about Stone of course. The whole record is very cosy, full of weird noises and crazy howls. The obvious theme throughout the whole album are of course the elements. Every song handles one. The lyrics are quite unintelligible, so it remains a secret what these gentlemen want to tell us about this elements.
Every now and then it sounds a little bit like Trollfest, but it has over all a very typical own ‘Svartby’ sound. I become even very happy listening to the sound these guys produce. A little bit of special attention regarding the track ‘Mushroom Rings’. When I take it, this is a song about totally nothing at all.
In my opinion Svartby delivered with ‘Elemental tales’ a very nice album.
My compliments for the cover-art, showing all these elements in very peculiar style.
People who seriously don’t take Music serious, this record is a ‘must-have’, the same goes for the fans of troll genre. I hope this gentlemen come to our neighbourhood sometime, so I can grab a pint and dive into the pit with this Russians!

Tracklist

1. Impby 1:28
2. Scum from Underwater 2:54
3. Boulder Massacration 3:34
4. Sleepy Devils 4:00
5. Mushroom Rings 3:14
6. Done with the Wind 2:55
7. Ash and Dust 2:26
8. Flaming Balls 2:53
9. Morning Wood 3:30
10. Elemental Tales 3:14
11. Imp Slam 1:03