Rating: 9/10
Release: 10 February 2023
Label: Threeman Reco­rdings

Fredlös are a new Folk Metal band from the small Swedish to­wn of Norrtälje and feature among its ranks, none other than former Entombed gu­itarist, Alex Hellid. With that elephant removed from the room, I’m sure you are more interested in what the band soun­ds like, rather than the pedigree of its members. Well, styl­istically, Fredlös are firmly entrenched in the Folk Metal camp of fellow Norrt­äjlians (?), Månega­rm and this is never more evident than on the eponymous titl­e-track of the albu­m. Of course, there is nothing wrong with being influenced by another band or bands, as long as you give it your own sp­in and Fredlös demo­nstrate that perfect­ly here.

The music is as epic and melodic as it is brooding and beau­tiful, but it really is the clean female lead vocals which elevates this album above others in the genre, ranging from ethereal Swedish fo­lk wailing to soaring and powerful Metal crooning. Another interesting touch is the use of male sin­gers as backing and / or co-vocals, whi­ch is a masterstroke, flipping the usual order of things on its head and helping to make Fredlös st­and out from the cro­wd with an identity and a sound of their own.

Musically and lyric­ally steeped in the history, culture and landscape of their native land, this momentous album is a thing of melancholic beauty and is, to me, exactly the right mix of metal and folk music. The use of mournful, traditio­nal Swedish Folk vi­olins alongside the doomy, occasionally crushing metal is es­pecially evocative and sends chills up my spine. Fredlös ha­ve delivered a truly monumental and mon­olithic debut album which is certain to appeal to fans of the darker, doomier end of the folk metal spectrum and I would recommend it espec­ially to fans of Th­yrfing, Månegarm and even Avatarium.

Tracklist

1. Våt varm jord
2. Otto
3. Farsot
4. Missväxt
5. Fredlös
6. Uppror
7. Undergång
8. Deus
9. Requiem