About The Album
Northern Steel, released in December 2017, consists of 9 tracks all composed and arranged by Antti Martikainen, a Finnish composer. More information can be found about him by accessing his website http://anttimartikainen.com/ and it is highly recommend you do so as he better explains what he does.
The composition of Northern Steel was done using Image Line’s FLStudio 12 and a listener can expect crisp production values as a result. While a lot of people deride Electronic Music as a non-form, there is something pleasing about the album as a whole and the way it all fits together.
As far as the genre of the album is concerned, Antti Martikainen, on his website and various other media, labels it as “Epic Folk Metal.” That is an accurate assumption, as though there are only 9 songs present on the album, there is close to two hours worth of music to listen to. The use of a variety of digital instruments in every track adds to the epic feel of each and every song.
The Songs
1. Northern Steel
The first song off the album is the title track, “Northern Steel,” and it is an 11-minute masterpiece that would not feel out of place in Valhalla. The track does not waste time getting to the good stuff as withing the first couple of seconds, the main riff of the song kicks in and you feel yourself transported into the scene it sets. The recurring theme of a lot of Antti Martikainen compositions is using different instruments to give a new perspective on the main riff.
For this song, there are some issues to be found, but they are few and far in between. The main issue present is that in the last twenty seconds, the song has a weird and protracted ending.
Score: 9/10
2. Lords of Iron
In contrast to the title track of Northern Steel, “Lords of Iron” is much simpler yet it uses that simplicity to convey a massive scope. Each instrument is layered to near perfection and no single sound overwhelms the others. What separates “Lords of Iron” from “Northern Steel” is the use of chanting throughout the song. While “Northern Steel” draws you into the fantastical world of the album, it is “Lords of Iron” that showcases what the album is all about.
Halfway through the song, there is a break from the combat of the magnificent orchestral arrangements, tight guitar chords and frenetic drumbeats to entice the listener to imagine themselves taking a break to prepare themselves for the tour de force of the second half.
Score: 10/10
3. Heathen Sword
“Heathen Sword” is the second longest track on the album and has quite a different feel to the previous two songs. It invokes images of the calm of an encampment the night before battle. For the first minute, there is no intrusion by the metal instrumentation, and even then, they do not offer much beyond adding to the rhythm.
While the song might seem slow and bland to some, there is more than what the surface shows. It might not be a battle song like “Northern Steel” or “Lords of Iron,” but the theme shows itself the longer the music goes on, and it feels more like a progressive metal song. More rich and vibrant sounds come in the more time that passes. The simplistic yet fast nature of the guitar and drum sections as they become more prominent are something a listener can envision performed in real life.
While the length might put some people off, it would be wise to consider “Heathen Sword” as a two part song. The brief reprieve in the middle was a perfect decision by Antti Martikainen though one cannot help but feel the song would benefit if it was split into two unique tracks.
Score: 7.5/10
4. The Crown of War
The fourth track of Northern Steel starts in a less bombastic way than the first two tracks, but the metal component of “The Crown of War” is far more prevalent. As such, it is a definitive battle song and it is perfect to pump someone up. The combination of tempo and harmony provides a clear sense of what Antti Martikainen aimed for with this track.
Vocalisation plays a massive part in “The Crown of War” and that serves to the strengths of the song but also highlight weaknesses in the flow. The choral singing provides a buffer to disguise the fuzz of the main guitar and it does get a little grating without that filter.
Score: 7/10
5. Taivaantuli
The middle track of Northern Steel follows a formula similar to “Heathen Sword” and the title also suggests a counterpart to that track. Translated, “Taivaantuli” becomes “Heaven’s Fire” in English. It is an apropos name for the sprawling track. It relies on a more folk style to tell a story and it provides a fantastic insight into the sheer genius of Antti Martikainen to come up with such varied concepts that all share a theme.
While not as powerful as other tracks on Northern Steel, “Taivaantuli” is a standout effort. It combines some of the more powerful themes of the earlier songs while crafting a niche all of its own.
That being said, though it uses the same instrumentation as the other songs, it would not be right to neglect to mention the fact that “Taivaantuli” is more an experimental piece that builds into the second portion of the album. The metal breakdown in the middle of the song is a progressive masterpiece and worthy of being labelled as one of the best on the album.
Score: 8.25/10
6. Mead Hall Mayhem
The shortest track on Northern Steel is the one that tells the best story. In it, one can envision a tired and weary wanderer stumbling upon a long refuge filled with jovial souls. The moment the door opens, the din dies down and the entire inn breaks into a rocking number, perhaps in celebration.
The length of “Mead Hall Mayhem” does not provide any detriment to it. In fact, the blazing speed of the rhythm is what makes the song memorable. The blend of sounds not used before in Northern Steel are a wondrous exercise. The acoustic banjo in particular stands out and even receives its own solo!
There is little to fault in “Mead Hall Mayhem” and, though it is not the best track, it makes its presence felt on an already stacked album, which is a difficult thing to do.
Score: 9.5/10
7. Final Kingdom
“Final Kingdom” does not try to distinguish itself in any way from the rest of Northern Steel. It does convey the image of a climactic battle and would feel right at home in the middle of Ragnarok.
The lack of uniqueness is what makes “Final Kingdom” a fantastic composition. The way the notes all work together and the harmonies generate the story from an Invasion, all the way through to the end of warfare simply work well.
The issue with “Final Kingdom” comes down to how bland it sounds compared to the rest of the album. It is still a fantastic piece in its own right, but with songs like “Lords of Iron” and “Mead Hall Mayhem” present on the same album, this gem is overshadowed by those compositions. It is entirely possible to envision “Final Kingdom” being the title track of its own album, but it feels like a little bit of a let-down on Northern Steel.
Score: 7/10
8. Wolfheart
The penultimate track seems like a direct carry on from “Mead Hall Mayhem” and it is plausible that is the intent of Antti Martikainen. Northern Steel has this strange dynamic where the even number tracks seem to share a story and the odd tell a different tale. Of course, “Wolfheart” has a much more folk style, particularly with the main instrumentation.
“Wolfheart” is a song that the listener can lose themselves in because the pacing is so perfect, it feels like it takes far longer than it does. There is the plot of an entire novel hidden within this track.
With that said, the rehashing of what made “Lords of Iron” and “Mead Hall Mayhem” work does detract a little from the novel. What makes “Wolfheart” distinct is the vague Russian Folk theme that recurs throughout the piece and that makes this a track worth listening to.
Score: 8.5/10
9. Kalevala
The average listener is not familiar with Finnish folklore to the extent Antti Martikainen is, but “Kalevala” is an epic 25 minute musical journey that Antti Martikainen crafted to represent the Finnish National Epic of the same name. Martikainen’s work is the latest in a line of works based on the work and it could easily be performed in a concert environment by a full orchestra.
The piece is composed into distinct sections, much like the source material and starts out in a very mellow fashion. Almost like a father relating an epic tale to his children on the porch of their thatch roof house as the sun sinks below the horizon in a snowy valley. It is very serene and tranquil and sets the scene marvelously for the rest of the composition.
The second section is a seamless transition from the first section and introduces the metal instrumentation of the main riff. It is no less engaging than the melodic introduction and the way Antti Martikainen constructs it shows the prowess and ear for detail that he possesses.
The third part of “Kalevala” continues the progressive buildup and it is a rare thing to make a song sound distinguished from those on the album it is from, let alone compared to itself.
Kalevala is a mighty accomplishment and the highlight of Antti Martikainen’s composing career.
Score 11/10
Album Score
Not without some flaws, but an undeniable masterclass in music production by a master of his craft.
Overall Score: 86/100
Personal Score: 94/100
The Featured Artwork and all content contained in the above Review is copyrighted and trademarked to Antti Martikainen. I do not own any of the material nor do I post this under any kind of endorsement. This is a free review to promote a truly great artist.
You can find Antti Martikainen on:
Fenrir's Lair 
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