WIND ROSE
Trollslayer

Released on October 4th 2024 (Napalm Records)

For all its epic moments, there are points where Trollslayer feels a bit too familiar. Tracks like “Home of the Twilight” don’t quite rise above the already high bar Windrose sets for themselves.

Windrose returns, delivering their dwarven battle anthems with Trollslayer, a record that’s as heavy as a warhammer and twice as loud. If you’ve ever wanted to soundtrack an underground banquet or a troll-hunting expedition, this might just be the album for you. Full of high-energy riffs, booming choruses, and, of course, that unmistakable dwarven bravado, Trollslayer will satisfy most Windrose fans—though it doesn’t quite reach the top of the mountain.

The album opens with the atmospheric “Of Ice and Blood,” a brief but brooding intro that sets the tone for the adventure ahead. The energy ramps up with “Dance of the Axes,” a true fist-pumper with rhythmic, powerful guitar work that gets you ready for the album’s core. From here, Windrose blends their signature symphonic elements with driving power metal across tracks like “The Great Feast Underground” and “Rock and Stone.” Both songs capture the grandeur and toughness of the dwarven lifestyle in equal measure.

A major highlight is “To Be a Dwarf.” It’s an anthem about identity, pride, and legacy, balancing the band’s sense of humor with their dedication to telling larger-than-life stories. Windrose really hits their stride here, with Francesco Cavalieri’s vocals leading the charge, backed by soaring melodies and the ever-reliable, hammering percussion.

“Trollslayer,” the album’s title track, delivers a tight, focused blast of aggressive riffs and thunderous vocals, paying homage to the band’s fantasy roots. “Legacy of the Forge” keeps the pace strong, but it’s “No More Sorrow,” the seven-minute epic, that closes the album with a grand finale. This last track builds with intensity, layering in symphonic elements before exploding into one final, defiant battle cry.

Yet, for all its epic moments, there are points where Trollslayer feels a bit too familiar. Tracks like “Home of the Twilight” don’t quite rise above the already high bar Windrose sets for themselves. The musicianship is solid, but they occasionally fall into predictable patterns.

Overall, Trollslayer hits many of the notes fans of dwarven metal will expect and love. It’s not quite a Rifftastic! masterpiece, but it still delivers with enough power and heart to earn a solid 5/7. A worthy addition to the Windrose saga, even if a few of the tracks don’t quite live up to the promise of the album’s towering title.