These days the band resemble the cast of actors who didn’t quite get the part of Gimli in Lord Of The Rings. They’re a swampy, dreadlocked assembly going hell for leather in forest settings. That said, when delivering fast-reeling jigs like Leväluhta and the celebratory Huolettomat, there’s enough crunch and power to keep matters not just alive, but interesting as well. There may not be enough for non-Finnish speakers to identify with when it comes to the slower material, but the rich timelessness of it all, the sense of a lost art being rejuvenated, makes Jylhä an engaging mystery.
Verdict: 3/5
For Fans Of: Eluveitie, Turisas, Leaves Eyes
Jylhä is released on February 5 via Nuclear Blast.
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