Havukruunu - Tavastland
Rating:
8.7
8.7
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Rating:
8.7 |
Havukruunu mark their 20-year existence by honouring the ancestors of Tavastland in the most epic way possible, with what could prove to be their finest offering yet. Read more ›› |
Staff pick by
Baz Anderson
Found in 57 lists
Baz Anderson
Black / Folk metal
Feb 28, 2025
As the voting for the 2024 Metal Storm Awards draws to a close, the band who are without a doubt my favourite discovery through these Awards (topping the Folk category in 2020) release their fourth full-length album. Tavastland doesn't break the Bathory-inspired, folk-infused black metal mould Havukruunu have established over the last decade, and with good reason. An authentically solid album, that will surely be in the running to top their Awards category again this time next year.
Top lists
| AndyMetalFreak | Andy's Top 2025 | #2 |
| Vellichor | My Favorite Albums 2025 | #113 |
| musclassia | 2025: Jan-Jun | #35 |
| Ch'ti | Ch'ti 2025 | #237 |
| Languedocian | 2025 Top 20 | #1 |
| ChrisWinther94 | Top 50 Albums Of 2025 | #5 |
| Anghellic67 | 2025 Album & EP Ranking | #1 |
| jet_cba | 2025 - Top 50 Albums | #8 |
Comments
Comments:
18
Visited by
551 users
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Posts: 12  |
Posts: 12
Wooo got mine a couple days early. Rules  Only nitpick would be moving Yönsynty down the line up. It is good, just a small tumble in pacing out the gate.
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 Posts: 7913 |
Posts: 7913
Waiting for the official release. It got me excited the moment it was announced last year.
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Album Release day (February 28, 2025)
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Album Release day (February 28, 2025)
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Posts: 352  |
Posts: 352
Slow start but with "Havukruunu Ja Talvenvarjo" it starts to move a little more. The title track is very good, for me it's the highlight of the album. I would also like to mention the last track which is not my favorite but it ends the album better than it started, which leaves me on a positive note. Overall, it's an appreciable experience, but I didn't fall under the spell either.
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 Posts: 8673 |
Posts: 8673
Kuu Erkylän Yllä wasn't really a proper album; as a true successor to Uinuos Syömein Sota, this is very much on the right path. As mentioned by Ch'ti, "Havukruunu Ja Talvenvarjo" and "Tavastland" are standouts
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Posts: 179  |
Posts: 179
Easiest 9 this year. Feels to me like an ancient, joyful celebration of the summer solstice, rather than the usual winter walks of BM. Four albums and two EPs of this quality within 10 years is an exceptional output.
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Posts: 474  |
Posts: 474
Very impressive release with beautiful songwriting and production. Literally all the performances are standout.
---- 2025 Death Metal
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 Posts: 693 |
Posts: 693
Great but a bit samey, It seems I'm only uplifted by the same choirs and chord progressions
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Posts: 265  |
Posts: 265
I think this is quite a lot more progressive than previous albums. Some interesting and fun details here and there. It'll take more time to appreciate it fully but might end up being their best. Even though no track standout that much, I think this is more interesting as whole album. Also, I actually live in Häme (Tavastia) so this is kind of personal. 
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 Posts: 1263 |
Posts: 1263
Sounds pretty run of the mill to me, liked the production though.
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Posts: 1176  |
Posts: 1176 Written by 24emd on 05.03.2025 at 03:26 Yeah that’s how I felt too
---- 2026 Favorites
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| Posts: 7913 |
Posts: 7913 Written by 24emd on 05.03.2025 at 03:26 No, Havukruunu created its own niche by superbly blending the Bathory-style bm with Finnish (not Swedish!) folk essence. Unlike many folk metal bands that lean heavily on overly symphonic elements, Havukruunu blends a sound that's primal, evocative, and deeply rooted in Nordic mysticism. So is this album - another good release which needs more playing from my side. I'll keep under the microscope for weeks now.
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Posts: 4935  |
Posts: 4935
This is such a comfy album. I don't know if it's run-of-the-mill, maybe, but I'm not looking for them to reinvent the wheel.
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Posts: 319  |
Posts: 319
Very pleasant listen, very well blended elements in the songwriting.
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Posts: 6  |
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Posts: 259  |
Posts: 259
Thus far, this is album of the year for me. OUTSTANDING performance. As stated previously by Cynic Metalhead, I think they have established their own unique sound with their excellent blend of bombastic folk-metal elements and bathory-esque black metal with a Finnish flavor on the folk compositions. I'm sure Tursas would approve 
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Posts: 99  |
Posts: 99
Current AOTY and nothing else is remotely close. They get better with each album. And the production is absolutely perfect - black metal where you can not only hear the bass but the bass parts are some of the best moments on the album.
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Posts: 2578 |
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Posts: 1068  |
Posts: 1068
I tend to go through mini obsessions when it comes to bands or sub-genres and I'm really, really into Havukruunu at the moment. I'm not sure if they've played the UK before but if they have, they must be due another visit soon. I NEED to see them live.
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