Fredlös – Fredlös

Fredlös – Fredlös
Threeman
Release Date: 10/02/2023
Running Time: 60:00
Review by Rory Bentley
10/10

Alright let’s cut to the chase, you’ve seen the score at the top of the page and it’s now my job to justify it in writing. In my opinion all I should actually have to do is encourage you to push play on the link below while I stand back with my hands in the air and a smug ‘told you so’ look on my face, but if you absolutely insist on me waxing lyrical about this album then strap in my friends, because I have plenty to say.

Once in a while an album comes along from a brand-new band that does exactly what you want other albums in that style to do while adding a whole plethora of elements you didn’t even know you wanted. This is how I felt when I first heard Oceans of Slumber’s “Winter” album and Code Orange’s “Underneath” 4 years later. There’ve been plenty of amazing releases in between and after those seminal works that have been just as gratifying but I can’t think of any off the top of my head that have managed to tread the fine line between providing something comfortingly familiar and entirely new at the same time without a single misstep. Until now!

Although I’ve been very vocal about my love for (nearly) all things Nordic and Folky, I’m still pretty damn shocked that a Folk Metal release is looking absolutely nailed on to be my album of the year. Nonetheless Fredlös seem to have come with the right songs at the right time, providing the soundtrack for cold winter mornings driving by frozen country landscapes to work as well as acting as a  soothing blanket during the dark nights, transporting me from my (admittedly lovely) suburban life to the Mediaeval Swedish countryside with tales of struggle, sorrow and ethereal darkness. I’m always cautious about being a prisoner of the moment when I first hear an album I really like, particularly as my biggest pet peeve with other music writers is the tendency so hand out huge scores to things that are clearly flawed or just lacking in innovation, but after playing this record way into double figures in the six days I’ve had it, I really do feel this is as fantastic as I initially suspected.

Those of you balking at the thought of anything Folk-related because it conjures images of trolls and accordions need not fret- this is far more on the Myrkur, Darkher end of the spectrum than the dancing with the goblins side (which I also like!). One playthrough opener ‘Våt varm jord’ should be more than enough to convince that Fredlös are a whole different proposition, with mournful Folk  instrumentation pulling you into another realm as the earthy, melancholic vocals of Liv Hope glide over the top. There’s something rustic and wild in her delivery that gives her the feel of a grizzled storyteller which adds an undercurrent of menace to her beautiful melodies. By the time the throat-shredding male vocals and pounding drums have given way to a hypnotic bassline and Tool-like psychedelic guitars,  it should be clear that we’re dealing with different gravy here.

Still not convinced ? May I present to you the sprawling majesty of ‘Otto’. Throwing in some Doom guitars bolstered by strings that sound like they’ve been fashioned out of deer bones, the song waltzes sullenly to a huge chorus that you can imagine dejected peasants singing round a campfire as they plot to overthrow their douchebag land baron. Once again Liv Hope is on fire, bringing a sense of drama to each line as the traditional instruments envelop the song like a pissed-off version of Wardruna. I also got some cool My Dying Bride vibes off this one, albeit delivered with a little less melodrama (I’m not slagging the melodrama off, I like MDB, this is just different!)

‘Farsot’ then comes along and shows that the band can pick up the pace when they want to with a punchier number that chugs along like mid-period Opeth, switching tempos with ease and anchored by an evil sounding riff and a punchy chorus. At this point things get next level Nordic as a clap of thunder and the sound of ravens provides the intro to the robust, marching guitars of ‘Missväxt’, a song that bristles with ominous tension, almost dipping into Post-Rock territory. 

If you’re going to complete the holy trinity of having a self-titled song on your self-titled album then you’d better have penned an absolute rager. The groovy, driving guitars that kick off the title track are the riposte to that, lead by a full-throated guest vocal from Erik Grawsiö. This feels like a super-melodic Bathory song, never quite going full Black Metal but maintaining an intensity that will satisfy fans on the heavier end of the spectrum. It’s probably the closest thing on here to a ‘banger’ and I can see this one going over fantastically in the live arena.

Every great album needs a great closer, fail to stick the landing and that 10 quickly drops down to an 8 no matter how great the previous tracks have been. Closing things out with a near 13 minute epic on a fairly long album is a ballsy move indeed, but Fredlös make it look easy.  As grand finales go, ‘Requiem’ is a gorgeous, widescreen masterpiece. It brings all the disparate elements of the album together and still adds extra surprises on top. Not least the most luscious string arrangements yet and some truly spine chilling kulning vocals, which for those at the back is an ancient Scandinavian herding call that sounds phenomenal on every song I’ve ever heard it employed on. The song contracts and expands majestically, fluctuating between mountainous tremolo picking and tear-jerking balladry that strays into Prog territory without ever feeling indulgent. A truly jaw-dropping curtain call.

I’d normally nit-pick and try to find a few bits of constructive criticism at this point, but for perhaps the first time ever I’m coming up empty. This is an album so good in fact,  that I’m only just telling you that the band features former Entombed guitarist Alex Hellid. If this record  was bang average I’d have padded this review out with a paragraph on “Wolverine Blues”, but in reality this uncharacteristically sycophantic rant I’ve served up has only scratched the surface of this magnificent opus.

“Fredlös” is an album bursting with ideas and pastoral charm, sounding both ancient yet  timeless, serene yet furious and bound together by masterful composition. Don’t you dare let this one pass you by, this is one of the first truly great releases of 2023.

‘Våt Varm Jord’ Official Music Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. Våt Varm Jord 
02. Otto
03. Farsot
04. Missväxt
05. Fredlös
06. Uppror
07. Undergäng
08. Deus 
09. Requiem

LINE-UP:
Robert Lindgren – Bass Guitar
Tomas Karlson – Guitar
Liv Hope – Lead Singer
Fredrik Danielsson – Guitar
Victor Dahlin – Keyboards
Alex Hellid – Guitar

LINKS:

• Facebook
• Spotify
• YouTube

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Rory Bentley and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.