Folk Metal

Ironwood – Storm Over Sea Review

By Angry Metal Guy on January 5, 2011 in 2010, 3.5, Epic Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Unsigned Bands, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 1 comment

Well, now that the top 10 is posted and all of that is out there, I’ve received a record that I had no idea even existed and that is super cool. Of course. I said I was nervous about missing cool December releases and now I have been galvanized. I just thought I’d point that out. But I will not deny you the joy of a review of some very cool new music from this Australian progressive outfit by the name of Ironwood (not to be confused with the pornographic comic that I discovered while searching the Googles for the band’s website). This is the band’s third release and second full-length and it is available for your perusal at the band’s website.

Things You Might Have Missed 2010: SIG:AR:TYR – Godsaga

By Steel Druhm on December 15, 2010 in 2010, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, Morbid Winter records, Reviews, Things You Might have Missed 2010, Viking Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Viking Metal, 1 comment

The one man Canadian black/folk/viking metal band known as SIG:AR:TYR came out with a really great new album this year but did anyone hear it? (sounds of crickets chirping and wind whistling across the frozen wastelands). Sole band member Daemonskald (you think it says that on his drivers license?) has continued to refine his vision […]

King of Asgard – Fi’mbulvintr Review

By Angry Metal Guy on September 20, 2010 in 2010, 3.0, Black Metal, Death Metal, Folk Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Folk Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Viking Metal, 1 comment

Few names rate as highly among fans of “viking metal” and melodic death metal as the classic Swedish act Mithotyn, which sadly went defunct in 1999 after three excellent full lengths (In the Sign of the Ravens, King of the Distant Forest and Gathered Around the Oaken Table, all of which come highly recommended). Since then, they have gained a near cult status as one of the leaders in the genre and one of the best to ever touch the folk-viking metal legacy. For fans of the band, or at least for this fan of the band, Falconer was never an appropriate replacement for what was a unique and fresh band that went sadly under the radar during their tenure. So you can imagine my excitement upon receiving a copy of Fi’mbulvintr (which, btw, shouldn’t this be FÃmbulvintr?), from the new incarnation containing the former guitarist from Mithotyn as well as the band’s drummer.

Galar – Til Alle Heimsens Endar Review

By Angry Metal Guy on June 30, 2010 in 2010, 3.0, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Folk Metal, Reviews, Folk Metal, 0 comments

It would seem that Angry Metal Guy is actually forming review themes, like some sort of ongoing process wherein I discuss the ups and downs of the metal scene while reviewing records, and even debate them with some of the other reviewers. Because reviewing is an ongoing process here, often times things get lumped into groups in my head that others might not see. But what’s interesting is how during this big debate about whether or not bands should really be striving for an original and unique sound I am basically reviewing NÃ ttsol’s new record and Galar’s new albums side by side. Like NÃ ttsol, Galar is a young Norwegian band that is working in the footsteps of Ulver. Released by Dark Essence Records, Til Alle Heimsens Endar (“Until the End of All Worlds”) is the second album from the band, whose first record Skogsvad was released in 2006 and I, incidentally, have never heard it. The record itself is based on the work of Snorri Sturluson’s “Heimskringla”.

Equilibrium – Rekreatur Review

By Angry Metal Guy on June 15, 2010 in 2.0, 2010, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Folk Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Power Metal, 0 comments

Equilibrium hit the world right in the face when Sagas was released a couple years ago and they really became a folk metal (pagan metal, viking metal, whatever the fuck you want to call it) sensation. And sensational is really how many people experienced that record. It was like a cross between Finntroll, Ensiferum, Turisas and Rhapsody of Fire: unceasingly melodic, over-the-top, ridiculously happy and engaging as hell. In 2010, now, this elite German act is returning with a follow-up to what is already considered to be a classic in the genre, with their third record entitled Rekreatur. How could it possibly live up to all the expectations?

Istapp – Blekinge Review

By Angry Metal Guy on June 4, 2010 in 2010, 4.5, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 4 comments

Sweden’s Istapp (translation: icicle) was a big surprise for this Angry Metal Guy. A Swedish melodic black metal from Blekinge LÃ¤n (which is basically the far south of Sweden) I had never heard of them. They’ve been around in the scene for a while, apparently, having released several demos and then a demo compilation (with practically the same track list as Blekinge). More surprisingly, the band’s vocalist is reported to have been in Spawn of Possession until 2009, which is a strange connection given that the band is at almost the opposite side of the spectrum from the well known and worshiped tech-death band. But while Istapp isn’t going to win any awards with the hardcore fans of black metal with their clean vocals, their pristine production and their melody, they are certainly going to win a lot of fans who like their metal fast, melodic and, more importantly, awesome.

October Falls – A Collapse of Faith Review

By Angry Metal Guy on June 1, 2010 in 2010, 3.0, Black Metal, Debemur Morti, Finnish Metal, Folk Metal, Progressive Death, Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 0 comments

Depressed Finns are really no surprise in metal these days. It seems like Finns are a pretty morose bunch in general. A country famous for bands like Poisonblack, H.I.M., Sentenced, Insomnium, Black Sun Aeon and Swallow the Sun, it shouldn’t be terribly surprising that some pretty bleak and depressing stuff comes out of Finland. And let me be clear, that’s not even naming huge groups of bands that I’m sure others could probably come up with. But October Falls isn’t your standard “depressed metal” band from Finland. There are no silly ESL lyrics about being buried in a plastic bag or any of that jazz. Instead, October Falls is a “depressive” black metal band with folk sensibilities.

Helfahrt – Drifa Review

By Lord Doom on April 28, 2010 in 2.0, 2010, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Reviews, Trollzorn/SMP Records, Folk Metal, 0 comments

Folk and pagan metal seem to be the new melodic death these days, where every band with a fiddle or flute and a fondness for Renaissance Faires can produce “epic” songs of long-forgotten lore and jump on the bandwagon that trails behind genre leaders like Finntroll and Moonsorrow. After the recent whirlwind success of fellow Germans, Equilibrium, I had high hopes for Helfahrt and their third full-length album Drifa. Yes, the band’s name reads “Hell Fart” in English (though the english translation is roughly “the journey to Helheim and the land of the dead”). Now that that’s out of the way we can continue. You in the back, stop sniggering!

Skyforger – Kurbads Review

By Angry Metal Guy on April 24, 2010 in 2010, 4.0, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Folk Metal, 1 comment

Skyforger is Latvia’s answer to folk metal and they’ve been giving it a go for quite a while. Despite having been around since 1995, however, they’ve not produced a terribly huge discography. In fact, Kurbads is the first Skyforger album since 2003, when they self-released a folk album that was mightily well-received by their fanbase, even, apparently, more so their metal album from the same year Thunderforge. The band, for the record, has also been involved in a bit of controversy surrounding the use of, what the band calls a thundercross, and what the rest of us call a swastika in their logo. But it seems the band has worked very hard to distance themselves from any of the controversy surrounding this and should be approached from a non-political stance.

Otyg Live Videos Posted Online

By Angry Metal Guy on March 29, 2010 in Blog Posts, Napalm Records, Folk Metal, 4 comments

Some ancient live videos of folk metal icons, the defunct Otyg has been posted online and I just thought they were too cool to pass up. I loved these guys at the time (and still do, really, both full lengths are folk metal classics) and wish I could’ve seen them live myself. But I guess […]