Metal Underground.com

Ditching the evil and deciding to just let loose and have fun, Trollfest's “Kaptein Kaos” is a riotous party where metal, folk, and other genres all got a little too drunk and ended up in bed together. If you're the sort of metal head who prefers how Finntroll was less dark and more amusingly bombastic in ages past, then the insane riot of Trollfest's latest album is exactly where you'll want to be.

To give you an idea of how unrestrained (or perhaps “out of control” might be a better term) the Norwegian band goes on “Kaptein Kaos,” one need look no further than the opening track. The intro skips between circus keyboards, a lawnmower playing in the background of a ridiculous cacophony of sounds, and then includes people clapping and cheering alongside laser sound effects. Everything from accordions to wind and string instruments can be heard in the album's run time.

Eighth track “Solskinnsmedisin” is also just silly nonsense loaded with meringue salsa music (why doesn't Zumba use this soundtrack in it's workouts?), but it's amusing and fun silly nonsense, although not all metal heads are going to be laughing when the band starts chanting “I want to go to the cabana party tonight!”

Don't let all that tomfoolery lead you into thinking this album isn't constantly heavy however: the vast majority of “Kaptein Kaos” delivers on the metal front. Despite all the craziness, the album is fairly well balanced. There's loads of energy and fun, but then there are also tracks like “Seduction Suite No. 21” that go for a more somber and serious folk music approach.

The vocals are nice and varied, including folksy chants and singing along the lines of Alestorm that definitely fit the music, but the fast paced screams don't quit sit as well. The incredibly fast clip they come out at unfortunately brings to mind a little dog yipping, and it has more of a punk or maybe even grind feel than something aligned with folk metal.

For the most part, Trollfest's endless party of metal is a rocking good time that can't help but make a grim metal head smile. The bombastic silliness is more amusing than annoying, except perhaps with the squeaking end to “Vulkan.” Whether the oddity works for any given listener or not, you've got to give Trollfest props for being willing to go full throttle in the direction it want and not care that its going to turn off fans without a sense of humor.