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The new album from Swedish blackened folk veterans Månegarm, Edsvuren, marks their 11th release in 30 years. It follows Ynglingaättens öde, which I found decent if unremarkable. Solid but overly safe. Edsvuren largely continues in the same vein, blending foot-tapping folk melodies with Viking/black metal riffing and harsh vocals.

One thing Månegarm do well is varying mood and tempo. You get throat-grabbing assaults like "En Blodvittneskrans," slower Bathory-style stompers such as "En Nidings Dåd," and straight-up acoustic folk numbers like "Rodhins Hav." This mix makes for a dynamic, sing-alongable listen, full of melody and hooks. But it also risks losing momentum, particularly with a slight overreliance on the folk interludes. This drag is felt most between the opening trio and "Skild Från Hugen."

Even so, there's enough strong material here to outweigh the pacing issues. Edsvuren is a worthy addition to their catalog and one fans should enjoy.