So Canada’s Trollwar is a new act to me, but they recently got on my radar, when I discovered that Matt Sippola from fellow epic Canadians, Atavistia provided some orchestration/choirs and clean vocals for Trollwar’s latest EP.

Based on the band’s discography (2 full lengths and an array of EPs/Singles, which I immediately purchased after hearing this EP) the band started out as a more Finntroll-ish band (duh) with a seafaring/Pirate-y vibe, which occasionally resurfaces here.

Well, according to the band, they sort of reimagined themselves for this new EP, highlighted by bringing Sippola in, who brings Atavistia’s more epic, sweeping orchestration to the band’s solid folk/black/melodic death metal.

Ensiferum or Suidakra immediately springs to mind and of course some innate Atavistia, though chunkier melodeath than black metal. The 4 songs and one intro make for 24 minutes of very fun, very catchy, and of course epic metal highlighted by the sing-along shanty of  “Bane of the Underworld” and superb romp/march of “In The Fields of Frost”.

EP closer “The Offering” has a heavier Atavistia vibe, with a more urgent pace and epic clean vocal from Sippola, and shows these guys, despite being around since 2011, now have a real ‘it factor’, that should propel them forward.

Trollwar adds to the legacy of killer Canadian epic/folk metal with bands like Atavistia, Fall of Stasis, Blackguard/ Profugus Mortis, Crimson Shadows, Vesperia/Bolero, Battlesoul, Will of the Ancients, Nordheim, Valfreya, etc, and I look forward to the next full-length continuing this epic, rousing sound. 

[Visit the band's website]

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