Falconer began with the split of viking metal band Mithotyn in the late ‘90s. Guitarist Stefan Weinerhall wanted to continue making folk influenced metal music, but with clean power metal vocals instead of the harsh style used in Mithotyn. One would be hard-pressed to find many groups that blend power metal and the various forms of folk-inspired metal groups. Falconer smoothly blends keyboard and acoustic guitar melodies that genuinely resemble their Norse heritage with meandering, Blind Guardian-type guitar harmonies, classic heavy metal riffs and power metal.

Falconer’s Mithotyn past proves they aren’t posers when it comes to creating folk metal. Musically, Among Beggars and Thieves recalls many of the herald groups of this fold such as Amon Amarth, Ensiferum, Tyr, Storm, Isengard. Each song reveals parts that remind of many of these said acts and others.

Although Falconer hails from Sweden, the rhythms found on “Pale Light of Silver Moon” recall the speed metal infusions by Finnish groups such as older Children of Bodom and Ensiferum. “Boiling Led” begins with an ethnic-slanted acoustic guitar in the vein of early In Flames. The chugging guitar rhythms of “Skula, Skorpa, Skalk” that follow subtle percussion bring to mind Turisas. “Carnival of Disgust” really pushes the boundaries of heaviness for a power metal group, moving with the kind of full-body-armored heaviness that Amon Amarth displays.

Where Falconer separates their selves from the other groups of this fold is with power metal changes. Today it seems that a power metal group can’t put together an album without at least a single nod to the progenitors of the style, Helloween. Complete with soaring vocal choirs, simple, straight forward drum beats and uplifting vocals, “Field of Sorrow” includes a text book Helloween chorus line. And as stated above, many of their melodic solos have a meandering nature that aptly recalls Blind Guardian.

The problem with Among Beggars and Thieves, at least from a metal fan standpoint, is not Falconer’s skill—this group pulls off both the Viking and power metal styles exceptionally well—it is the vocals. Mathias Blad (who also plays keys) doesn’t don the harsh tones so common with folk metal styles. His clean voice may prove a bit difficult to swallow for many fans of black and death metal. However, his vocals should be more palatable to this crowd because he doesn’t reach the shrieking peaks associated with some of the genre’s best. He is at his best when he assumes the tongue of his native language, but his lack of range hurts him to an extent. Falconer would stand head and shoulders above the pack with a bold, clean crooner like Garm (see early Borknagar).

All things considered, though, fans of Viking and power metal will find favor with Among Beggars and Thieves.

www.falconermusic.com