Cardinals Folly are a Finnish doom metal band and this is their sixth album.
It’s always a treat to hear some new music by Cardinals Folly. Live by the Sword boasts 41 minutes of the band’s charismatic doom metal. Cardinals Folly have established themselves as a quality act over the years, so there’s nothing to do when a new release appears but to buckle up and prepare for the ride.
These new songs showcase what Cardinals Folly are capable of very well; the album’s performances, songwriting, and production values are all elevated, making Live by the Sword effortlessly agreeable. The band’s classic, old-school approach to doom metal is packed with riffs and heavy metal thunder. The music feels energised and fresh, despite being of such a well-worn style.
Across different paces and moods do Cardinals Folly triumphantly tread, dispatching foes left and right with slow crushing doom, galloping spiked grooves, bright sharpened melodies, and riffs the size of mountains. The vocals are idiosyncratic and full of personality, just as I like them from Cardinals Folly; the singer puts in a strong performance once more.
The band’s rich personality comes out strongly, no matter what each individual track is doing, and I can’t help but just really enjoy this. Live by the Sword is a collection of killer, fun doom tunes, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
Live by the Sword is a strong album from Cardinals Folly, quite possibly their best. It’s satisfying and enjoyable, delivering slabs of tasty doom topped with lashings of metallic might. Cardinals Folly know what they’re about, and Live by the Sword delivers what they do best.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 