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It's amazing how many Metal bands there are today that are inspired by more Folk-ish sounds. Finland alone is a prime example of all this, having an endless stream of Folk-orientated Metal bands, which can be both good and bad.

Vetten Äpärät, a six-piece act founded in 2007, have finally got their debut album, titled Syntyi Talven Kyynelistä, recorded and released on a small and independent Finnish label, Inverse Records. Vetten Äpärät (which is Finnish, and roughly translates to 'Bastards of the Waters', or something similar), name such bands as Korpiklaani, Eluveitie, Ensiferum and Finntroll as their main inspirations and influences, which pretty much encapsulates what their music is all about. I mean, these lads' debut album sounds almost too familiar to me when it comes to the aforementioned influences, especially Korpiklaani and Ensiferum whose names seem to be popping up out of this material more than just occasionally. Whether this is a good or bad thing is up to the listener. However, I do like what I hear on this album. The influences are absolutely there, sticking out from their songs – sometimes stronger than others – but nonetheless, the Vetten Äpärät camp still sounds very entertaining and ready to invade our lands ruthlessly to spread their joy-filled paganism to each and every one of us.

Syntyi Talven Kyynelistä is very well-crafted and ambitious, even if probably a bit too safe sounding and teeny-weeny faceless all in all, but it still manages to make a good bunch of us convinced of their undisputed skills on these fertile lands of Folk-inspired Metal, which is something that most of us seem to love and adore.