Finntroll's debut album was the result of random experimentation by a few drunken musicians, but they have managed to form a whole career out of it. If you don't already know, Finntroll mix Finnish Polka with Black Metal, and sure enough, it works.
Weighing in at just thirty minutes, 'Midnattens Widunder' is short and to the point. Featuring a far more prominent use of keyboards than the follow-up, 'Jaktens Tid', this album may not be the most serious thing to come out of the Black Metal scene, but who cares? It's fun! Album highlight "Rivfader" is a fantastic amalgamation of all these elements, Trollhorn's keyboards playing just as big a part as the guitars of Skrymer and Somnium, whist the title track is Finntroll's greatest song to date, featuring a great keyboard riff and some insane babbling from Katla.
Whilst this will not be to everyone's taste (elitist Black Metallers stand up), this is something everyone can enjoy, not just extreme metal fans. With this record, Finntroll both set the foundation for what will (hopefully) be a long and successful career, and also recorded the best debut of 1999.