TROLLFEST – KAPTEIN KAOS (2014)

True Balkan Norwegian Metal. That’s how the Norwegians from Trollfest define themselves. During the 8-year history of the band, they’ve been including all kinds of rhythms in their work, and as their self-defined style points – even Balkan ones which can be felt in most of their songs.
But let’s focus on the new album – „Kaptein Kaos“ which comes out on the 28th March – very soon!

The recording tells the story of Kaptein Kaos– a scientist who invents a time machine and travels far and beyond, sightseeing and seeking a „new sensibility“ as the band describes the concept. Here the typical „screaming“ and fast, plowing intstrumental sounds are replaced with more subtle and delicate ones, heavily borrowed from different parts of the world. There is a strong presence of elements from all over the Earth – Latin rhythms, and ones from the Middle East, and again – Eastern European ones (aka Balkan influenced).

The sixth album begins with a typical intro – „TrollTramp“, which introduces us into the mystic environment with many touches from around the world. The following song is the eponymous „Kaptein Kaos“. Starting with seemingly complete chaos and a bunch of sounds, the song itself and its melody quickly set out the story of the quirky scientist and brings us slowly, but gloriously in this wonderful illusory world of trolls.

“Vulkan“ is a song that a person needs to hear several times in order to see her beauty. And the last part of the song – at first hearing again just random sounds – is actually a brilliant transaction to the next one, „Ave Maria“ that tells us about a woman who the main character meets in Jerusalem. Seducing her with a song, 9 months later (and after departure of the master-troll) the woman is left in a very delicate situation. She slyly slips away from it, claiming that the child is a gift of God. „Filzlaus Verkundiger“ – a gentle transition between various world styles ingeniously woven in the album. After each listening I am left with the impression that I am in any English church in the deep middle ages. „Die Grosse Echsen“ somehow has a touch of festive mood in itself and makes you feel like at a party – it makes you giggle calmly to the sides while enjoying beer. We now come to „Seduction Suite No. 21″ – the amazing instrumental piece in the album – with pronounced Latin rhythms. It’s as like the instruments themselves are singing and the absence of vocals is totally understandable.

Until now, the songs had somehow ascending gradation, so the next two serve as the climax. „Solskinnsmedisin“, as described by Jonne Jarvela from KORPIKLAANI himself – is really something unheard of before. Brilliant work, revealing the extent to which the band is innovative in the use of different styles of world music. My favorite one, „Troll Gegen Mann“, is in typical Trollfest style, gripping the listener immediately with its rapid tempo and catchy rhythms. As someone who is not usually occupied by the sound of drums, I can’t but mention that here the band had done more than a perfect job. The four remaining songs are so well intertwined in one another that their quick passing by is not even felt.

After the first listen through I was left with utter disappointment. … because it ended so quickly and unexpectedly. I wanted more! But I always have wanted more from Trollfest – the band that with its music describes people from all around the world better than any other, even if the musicians themselves do not realize it. Their music is filled with uniquely intertwined world rhythms, and when you listen to it, you feel it painting a world– just like ours – different in many aspects, but also very similar in others.

With hand on heart I say that „Kaptein Kaos“ is a wonderful album and fittingly deserves the score:

9.5/10

„Kaptein Kaos“ is coming out on the 28 March via Noise Art Records.