Wilderness of Hearts

A further killer release, next to efforts by Deadline, Eternal Champion, Master Sword, Oath, Seven Sisters and Nightstryke, entails Finland's Lord Fist (despite suggestive moniker), with its exquisitely crafted, not to mention melodic as Hell, Wilderness of Hearts, released Friday on CD & 12" vinyl, courtesy of High Roller Records aka Gods.

Lord Fist has always possessed a real sleek and breezy, uber-harmonious penchant for wickedly synergic twin-guitar riffs & solos devoid of bluster, albeit conforming to a rigid, tell-tale discipline iconic to fellow Finn trad metal acts such as Chalice, the aforementioned Nightstryke and grittier, more "chthonian" Satan's Fall (a younger, related pair of which reserves first spot dominion prizes, soon enough, for us tornado-winded rivet headz). Traces of frontman/guitarist Perttu Koivunen (of Orphan Devil) and buddy ax man Niko Kolehmainen (Scumripper, Sonic Poison)'s fluent dexterity and technique are found on 2012/'13 demo/EP, as well as much improved full-length debut from 2015, Green Eyleen - for which an erudite MA colleague did excellent justice. Only, now, the entire outfit appears to have fully come into its own.

Also, the rhythm section of bassist Pekka Lampinen (Faustian Pact) and drummer Eetu Orbinski (Faustian Pact/Sonic Poison), solidly delivers, making each of the ten tracks - aside a brief and conducive midway instrumental - cut from similarly eldritch, however modernized, iron cloth. Notably, the explosive, rainbow-hued geysers of air-brushed notes making up most of the main, primary "starter" riffs invariably yield slick, syncopative power chord breaks which imbue a lush crystal logic. At any rate, the electric spark inherent to Lord Fist's quirkily arcane temperament is recognizable, without preamble, filling our brainpan's first available vacancy (not vagrancy). Plus, dude's keen, androgynous vocals and mystical, fantasy lyrics, on both albums, meet the mark, if their groovy covers are any indication.

Alongside the many mid-tempo, dual driven tendencies - evident off cymbalized cracks of opener "First Morning - Collapse" and successor "Arkona Cross" (anyone who dug Green Eyleen highlights "Master of the Witches" and/or fav "Road Ravens" will instantly cling to these first two) - are Lord Fist hallmarks consisting of fuzzily distorted, but perceptibly fresh and salubrious guitar tones which lean heavily on treble, in addition to downright thespian upper range vocalist in Koivunen, whose epic, oft spectral, cries appoint hot rocking catharsis to 2020 classics such as clean-up batter "Flying Over Tiprinith" or further trophy piece, "Princess of the Red Flame".

Alhough all tracks rock, allow fawning praise regarding former's stark use of poignantly verbalized gerunds, over ridiculously gripping, hard-driven battle axe riff, while the rangy and pyrotechnic "Princess of the Red Flame" and "crème de la crème", most elaborate titular swansong perfect band's take on eclectically revved up musicianship.

At just thirty-four minutes, Lord Fist's Wilderness of Hearts is so jam packed with intricately polished developments, I'd have even forgiven any ballad-ic tendencies. In effect, the next release promises potentially greater tidings. Devotees of Nordically nuanced nwothm veering on highly accessible side owe this a whirl...or twelve!