The title translates to Songs Of Darkness, the sophomore effort from Danish folk metallers, each of the dozen tracks is a skald tale, many of them hundreds of years old. Lively music, almost humppa style melodies, yet with a more deathly vocal approach.

Acoustic, ‘Celtic’ rhythms intertwined with full-on electrified metal, ‘Lokkevisen’ aka The Ballad of Enticement is based around stories of men being lured into the forest by dancing elf-women, never to be seen again. Elsewhere, there are pipes, jig inducing melodies and a fairy tale atmosphere. The gruff begun ‘Paa Odden Af Ha’ (At the Point of his Pagan Sword, true story of missionary/mercenary sent from Norway to convert Iceland to Christianity) lightens up with the use of concertina. The upbeat ‘Laster Og Tarv’ (Vices & Needs) talks about a man’s actions outside marriage. Bonus edition includes a pair of extra tunes (‘Visen om Tærskeren’ aka The Ballad of the Thresher and ‘Den døde Mand’, The Dead Man). Certainly a place between the Ensiferum and Korpiklaani discs on your shelf.