Havukruunu - Tavastland (2025)

Quickly taking the Pagan Metal Scene by storm, Finland’s Havukruunu have graciously evolved their sound in the last couple of years and with “Tavastland” they almost achieve perfection. With a very regal and explosive nature, the band’s fourth full-length release features eight tracks and over 53 minutes of lush and dynamic music that will have you marching towards battle while also headbanging until your neck hurts.

Starting with the ravaging “Kuolematon laulunhenki”, the band creates a very effusive atmosphere with crafty guitar work, captivating vocal arrangements and an overall very explosive and engaging vibe. The band continues to showcase their masterful songwriting skills as “Yönsynty”, “Havukruunu ja talvenvarjo”, and “Tavastland” roll around with excellent melodic passages, an hypnotic tempo, and a plethora of epic atmospheric elements, just think of Ensiferum-meets-Thyrfing with some Bathory sprinkles.

The overall lively style of songs like “Kuoleman oma” really pumps the listener, while the more reserved and even Doomy nature of “Unissakävijä” showcases the band’s ability to weave in and out of different genres while creating some truly memorable songs. Other seemingly straightforward tracks like “Kun veri sekoittuu lumeen” and their ripping guitar leads keep things interesting and dynamic, as the band continues to shake things up and keep the listener always guessing.

Closing with the 10-minute epic “De Miseriis Fennorum”, Havukruunu has managed to deliver one of the most engaging and dynamic releases of 2025. There is plenty of melodic, folkiness, and aggression in this release to keep any fan of the genre entertained, while some of the crushing guitar leads will turn heads from the old-school Heavy Metal fans as well. Overall, “Tavastland” showcases a band at the top of their game, and hopefully this is still not the best they are going to be.

Label: Svart Records

Release: February 28th, 2025

Genre: Pagan Metal

Country: Finland