The metal scene is full of Finnish bands. They are so many that it’s hard to remember them. The worst thing is that most of them do not offer anything new, and the absence of good ideas is the main reason for a band’s bad luck. As I say this I should insert that Finntroll are one great example for absolutely unique image - not only music wise, but visually, too. With only four albums recorded, they are one of the most respected Scandinavian extreme bands around. Their live performances are desired everywhere in the world; they also attract with their professionalism subordinate to the unchanging troll conception. And if trolls did actually exist, their music would definitely be the same as Finntroll’s. The imagination goes in this direction after hearing their first records, and the sense of fairy-tale atmosphere is mostly established in 2004’s “Nattfödd”. After that kind of adventure through legends and mysterious stories, it is hard to imagine what a continuation could contain, but now, after the fourth album is done, one thing’s for sure - “Ur Jordens Djup” lives up the expectations, putting some new nuances to this powerful music of the North. The album is up to the mark of the already well-known folk metal genre. This time it’s been emphasized to the power of sound, which gives a special charm to the songs, and the guitars are more powerful and darker than ever. The long intro “Gryning” (“Dawn”) demonstrates what to expect from the rest of the CD: With slow and enigmatic melodies we jump in the severe reality of the North... Mighty bass meets us in “Sång” (“Song”), gallimaufry with the striking guitars in “Slagbröder” (“War-brothers”), and for dessert we get fascinating piano melodies in the other compositions. And because we shouldn’t forget one of the most important characteristics of Finntroll’s music, there’s this happy sound of “Korpens Saga” (“The Raven's Saga”) and “En Mäktig Här” (“A Mighty Horde”). The language of the songs, by tradition, is Swedish for its “damn trollish sound”, as the band members add. “Ur Jordens Djup” ends in the proper manner, just like it started - with a 13-minute folk metal attack, and the sounds of trolls talking are not forgotten.