“I am semi-proud I have been lasting on this earth as long as I have, in contrast to all the times I have faced the potential demise of my mortal shell, or faced the option to snuff out the candle of life.” -Havukruunu frontman Stefa
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It takes a certain amount of chutzpah to guarantee that an album released in the first half of a year will likely land on many a top 10 list come December. But this writer is prepared to make such a declaration: Tavastland, the fourth full-length from Finland’s pagan black-metal troupe Havukruunu, is one of the very best metal records of the year thus far.
Tavastland dropped in late February after Havukruunu made a big move by switching to Svart Records from Naturmacht Productions, the Finnish black-metal label that issued the band’s first three LPs. To the extent that Havukruunu perhaps moved to Svart to start a new chapter in its career, Tavastland showcases the band members exploring new versions of their quintessential black-metal sound—and enhancing their musical abilities. Further proving the eight-song affair is Havukruunu’s ballsiest record to date, Tavastland is not only an invigorating listen but also a concept album.
The history lesson at issue revolves around how the Tavastians (a Finnish tribe) rose up in the mid-13th century to brutally rebel against the Kingdom of Sweden and the Catholic Church. Tracing that uprising to the modern day, Tavastland is, in essence, a record about fighting for freedom and transcending solitude in our increasingly alienating world.
Havukruunu consists of guitarists Stefa (who also provides vocals) and Henkka, drummer Kostajainen and bassist Humö. The Bad Penny recently had the privilege of picking Stefa’s brain about the massively ambitious record, which appears like a mountain in contrast to previous releases that now resemble hills. Stefa, who writes Havukruunu’s songs, eloquently and transparently (in the truest sense of the term) provided us with many an insight into Tavastland.
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