Folk Metal

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    Bhleg & Nechochwen - Split (2019)

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    We rarely review Split releases and EP’s, but with this one we had to make an exception. Featuring two extraordinary Folk Metal artists, Nordvis Produkt unleashes one hell of a split release that will captivate the listener. One band hailing from Sweden, the other from North America, however there is an unwritten cohesion behind both band’s approach at making lush and engaging songs.

    Side A of this split contains “Sorlande Sky”, a 7 minute song that expertly crafts a very intense and misty atmosphere. The harsh screams are nicely contrasted by dreamy clean vocals and as the song delivers punishing riffs and fast drumming. The track ends on a very hypnotic note and it seems to very nicely bleed into Side B’s music.

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    Eluveitie - Ategnatos (2019)

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    Unleashing one of the most lively and engaging Folk Metal releases of 2019, today we have the legendary Eluveitie with “Ategnatos”. With the ‘new’ band members settled, this release delivers a more cohesive and in a certain way exploratory sound that further improves the band’s catchiness with more upbeat and exciting elements. Featuring over 60 minutes of music, this is a release that all fans of the band will love and enjoy.

    Leading with the album title track, the band quickly starts telling their story and sets a very ‘medieval’ mood with their lush instrumentation, rich vocal arrangements and powerful distorted guitars. The band’s uncanny abilities to perfectly mix their Melodic Metal side with intricate arrangements of folk instruments is top not as we can hear in the multi-faceted “Deathwalker”. For those looking for the folkier side of things, this release does not disappoint with excellent tracks like “Black Water Dawn”, “The Silvern Glow” and “Trinoxtion”.

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    Týr - Hel (2019)

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    Unleashing the first candidate for album of the year, today we Týr and their mesmerizing eight full-length release “Hel”. Featuring nearly 70 minutes of superbly catchy and yet very intricate and crafty music, this album elevates the band’s sound to new heights and further cements their legacy as one of the best in their genre. Perfectly combining their signature elements from their early releases with more playful and free flowing elements, this release appeals to fans both old and new from this Faroese band.

    Opening with “Gates of Hel”, the band’s charismatic front man, Heri Joensen, unleashes the perfect balance of guitar wizardry and catchiness to create a very engaging and heavy track. We are fans of the band’s usage of multiple layers of vocals and the opener nicely blends them with some harsher screams. As “All Heroes Fall” rolls in, we can instantly feel the band’s traditional proggy magic, mastefully paired with tight drumming patterns and blistering solos. For those looking for the Folkier side of the band, “Ragnars kvæði” has that “Hold the Heathen Hammer High” epic vibe, but on a more somber and dramatic tone.

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    Korpiklaani - Kulkija (2018)

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    Unleashing one hell of a catchy and organic Folk Metal release, today we have legendary Korpiklanni delivering “Kulkija”. As their longest release to date, over 70 minutes of music, this release feels more intimate while having the band’s signature playful and engaging songs. This album instantly moves into the top Folk Metal releases of 2018, so be sure to not miss out.

    Slowly building up momentum with “Neito”, the band wastes no time to unleash their characteristic lush sound with rich traditional instrumentation and heavy guitars to build a very catchy contrast. Tuomas Rounakari’s violin and Sami Perttula’s accordion brilliantly give the music that subtle playfulness that we love from the band while delivering dramatic and catchy songs like “Korpikuusen kyynel” and “Allon alla”. The band’s sound in this release feels a bit more barebones and manages to deliver more emotions and craft darker songs like “Harmaja” and one of our favorites: “Korikonnut”.

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    Primordial – Exile Amongst the Ruins (2018)

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    Perfectly aging with time, today we have Primordial and their latest opus “Exile Amongst the Ruins”. Unleashing over 65 minutes of superbly crafted music, the band builds up on their legacy with eight incisive tracks that are both catchy and undeniably effective. Featuring the band’s signature style, this release will captivate the attention of timeless fans of the band, and shall get them hordes of new fans.

    Opening with the mysterious “Nail their Tongues”, there is a certain folky and yet mystical atmosphere crafted since the first note. Led by the charismatic Alan Nemtheanga, the band’s sound is instantly recognizable with his mixture of clean leads and harsh passages, creating a very dark and yet haunting contrast. With songs like “Where Lie the Gods” and the album title track, the band slowly warms up with incisive riffs and determined drumming.

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    Ensiferum – Two Paths (2017)

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    Returning after two years since their last release, today we have one of Finland’s finest Folk Metal exports: Ensirefum, and their seventh full-length release “Two Paths”. Delivering over 53 minutes of epic Folk Metal, the band showcases both their maturity and their excellence in this killer release. Filled with epic passages and a cheerful vibe, this album is exactly what fans of the band have been waiting for.

    Setting the stage with a grandiose intro track, the album really kicks off with the extreme catchiness of “For those About to Fight for Metal”. In this anthem, the band quickly delivers their signature vocal arrangements paired with intricate guitar work and the perfect tempo to get the listener fired up. This upbeat mood continues as the band ravages through catchy tracks like “Way of the Warrior” and the album titled track.

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    Eluveitie – Evocation II – Pantheon (2017)

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    With a few central members of the band leaving, we were quite curious to see how Eluveitie would move forward. It is safe to say that with “Evocation II – Pantheon” the band continues its well-defined path with another brilliant release filled with memorable moments and catchy songs. Not losing a step, this release delivers over 50-minutes of intoxicatingly catchy Folk/Melodic Metal music that will appeal to any fan of the band and the genre.

    As a continuation of their 2009 release, “Evocation I - The Arcane Dominion”, this album kicks off with “Dvressu” by showcasing the talents of new vocalist: Fabienne Erni. Replacing the talented Anna Murphy seemed like a nearly impossible, but the band has done a great job as we can hear in the very upbeat “Epona”. This track has the band’s signature style of delivering lush arrangements and catchy song foundations.

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    Vintersorg – Till fjälls, del II (2017)

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    Only a few bands manage to write a follow-up to a legendary album and succeed at it. Today we have Vintersorg blowing people away with their follow-up of the seminal “Till fjälls”. In this double release, the band unleashes over 75 minutes of classic Vintersorg music that will never leave your record player for the remainder of the year (possibly a few years). Going back to the basics, this is one release you can’t miss.

    The album sets the tone with the intense opener “Jökelväktaren”, filled with soaring vocal arrangements and uber catchy guitar work, this perfectly sets the mood for what is to come. For any fan of Vintersorg, the brilliant combination of epic clean vocals and harsh vocals is one of the best features of their releases, particularly in epic tracks like “En väldig isvidds karga dräkt” and the crushing “Fjällets mäktiga mur”.

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    Cellar Darling – This is the Sound (2017)

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    Formed by ex-Eluveitie members: Anna Murphy, Merlin Sutter and Ivo Henzi, Cellar Darling perfectly combines Folk elements with Metal and Rock to create a very lively and unique sound that will captivate audiences. Led by the charismatic vocals of Anna Murphy, this release delivers 14 tracks of superbly catchy and engaging music that will stick in your head long after you stop listening to it.

    Opening with the killer “Avalanche”, this track features one of the catchiest chorus sections of 2017. The band keeps minor Eluveitie influences with their folk elements, but they focus on making killer vocal melodies and playful instrumentations that perfectly define their own identity, as we can hear on tracks like “Black Moon”, the brilliant “Challenge”, and the hard rocking “Hullabaloo”.

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    Panopticon – Kentucky (2017)

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    Originally released back in 2012, Panopticon’s “Kentucky” is the band’s seminal release in which they mix both Black Metal and Folk/Americana/Bluegrass elements in a brilliant way. Just as when it was originally released, this release will certainly catch a new wave of people by surprise as the genres are not intuitively easily combined. Multi-instrumentalist Austin L. Lunn certainly pulled of one of the most unique releases of all times, and this is you latest chance to get a copy of it.

    The album instantly raises eyebrows with the Folky/Americana-inspired “Bernheim Forest in Spring” as it leads into the explosive and very aggressive “Bodies Under the Falls”. With this transition we are back into more familiar territories with harsh vocals, punishing riffs and tight drums. This track masterfully weaves back and forth between heavy passages and lush banjo-led sections that work perfectly with the flow of the song.

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