So we have another slab of music from Falconer, a band that has been rocking around with other second/third tier power metal acts since about their debut. Theirs is the viking/folk approach which comes across as a nice and solid concept, delivering epic, melodic, innocent and emotional songs we all know so well from our German neighbours, with a touch of the Mithotyn approach (former band of the guitarist Stefan Weinerhall). The sad thing is however that the music on Northwind is tepid, trite and sometimes simply boring.
Starting with a bunch of very predictable tracks it`s not before the fifth song, ‘Catch The Shadows’, that the album becomes even vaguely interesting. After a brief moment of catchy lines and hooks the music sinks back only to peak one more time at the melancholic ‘Himmel Sa Trind’.

Don’t get me wrong, the musicians all know how to master their instruments, write songs that aren`t really crap and even manage to surprise a few seconds with their power-goes-viking/folk style. In the end however, the music lacks everything all the great bands abound in: atmosphere (Dragonland), humour and parody (Helloween) and sheer technical prowess (Sonata Arctica).

Maybe if you consider the power metal of Hammerfall as the greatest music that ever shook this planet, you might just enjoy Falconer. If you`re looking for that infectious combination of power, melody and good song writing, proceed directly to the new Firewind album, reviewed by my colleague Ralph elsewhere on this site, as you might just find something to your tastes right there....