Folk Metal

Primordial – How It Ends Review

Primordial – How It Ends Review

By Ferox on September 27, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 50 comments

“”Is this how it ends?” “We are devoured by time.” The latter phrase is the first lyric on Primordial’s How It Ends; the former is one of the last. The champs of epic metal return with their first album since 2018’s Exile Amongst the Ruins and tenth overall. The new batch of material obsesses over endings and the concept of finality, filtering this preoccupation through Primordial’s long-established formula of galloping rippers and stately marches. The slab’s title and its themes reflect both the state of the world and, inevitably, the state of Primordial.” Glory fades.

Skálmöld – Ýdalir Review

Skálmöld – Ýdalir Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 22, 2023 in Reviews, Folk Metal, Viking Metal, 21 comments

“Though Skálmöld does possess a weirdness with their hundred-guitar lineup and varying vocal styles, they combine the storytelling of Týr with the savagery of Fintroll. The result is some rather adventurous music with flailing riff changes, mead-swigging layers, and unexpected transitions from barks, rasps, and cleans. As one would expect, sometimes all this sorcery falls flat or straight-up doesn’t work. And after engaging with 2019’s Sorgir, I fear the band might be stuck in a well with great performances but incohesive songwriting and flow. Once I find the link to this fucking stream, I’ll let you know how Ýdalir fares.” Black möld? Comeback möld?

Dun Ringill – 150 – Where the Old Gods Play – Act 1 Review

Dun Ringill – 150 – Where the Old Gods Play – Act 1 Review

By Grymm on August 11, 2023 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Folk Metal, 35 comments

“I’ve always been supportive of bands branching out a little bit from their comfort zones to stretch their limbs, check out new haunts, or just freshen up their catalog a tad. Sometimes, some peanut butter needs to be added to your chocolate to make things lively and exciting. So when Swedish doom metal sextet Dun Ringill, a band I’ll admit to never having heard before, decided to add some progressive elements to their particular brand of folk doom, well… I was intrigued.” Dun and done.

The Devil’s Trade – Vidékek vannak idebenn Review

The Devil’s Trade – Vidékek vannak idebenn Review

By Kenstrosity on July 13, 2023 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Folk, Folk Metal, Non-metal Metal Things, 14 comments

“Hungary’s The Devil’s Trade never fails to challenge my ability to fairly evaluate music. There are two reasons for this: firstly, this darkest of folk music is so effective in its emotional gravity and genuine sorrow that it consumes me and often clouds my judgment; secondly, those tangible qualities that I typically critique in the music I listen to most play different roles and have different effects in this environment. It’s what made previous release The Iron Peak tricky to rate, too, and I’m grateful to see that in challenging my abilities as a reviewer, The Devil’s Trade hasn’t changed a bit.” Devil in the details.

Craving – Call of the Sirens Review

Craving – Call of the Sirens Review

By Doom_et_Al on May 29, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 22 comments

“Craving have been around since 2006, managing to fly under just about everyone’s collective radars. After the release of their third album in 2016, the band basically split, leaving guitarist and vocalist Ivan Chertov to reform things. Which (surprise!) he did. Although you’d be hard-pressed to notice, given the band’s aesthetic has barely changed over the years. Craving play an entertaining blend of hyper-melodic black metal, mixed with folk and more than a hint of power metal.” Attractive nuisances.

Fimbulvet – Portale Review

Fimbulvet – Portale Review

By El Cuervo on May 2, 2023 in Reviews, Folk Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 11 comments

“Promising Paganistic black metal, and a single that at least piqued my curiosity, I had hoped that Germany’s Fimbulvet might execute on the rousing, fist-pumping feel of my favorite Viking and folk metal bands. I was surprised to find that their new record, Portale, is released close to the band’s 20th anniversary, being their fifth full-length but first in 9 years. There’s a lot to be said about a storied band but equally a lot to be said for a storied band that I’ve not encountered.” Unknown and unknowing.

Olde Throne – In the Land of Ghosts Review

Olde Throne – In the Land of Ghosts Review

By Carcharodon on April 5, 2023 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 34 comments

“A little over a year ago, New Zealander Harrison McKenzie dropped his debut full-length album as Olde Throne. It was a tight 39 minutes of harsh, cold atmospheric black metal delving into the horrors of An Gorta Mór, the Great Hunger, which took place in Ireland between 1845 and 1852 (better known, outside Ireland, as the Irish Potato Famine). Uncompromising and bleak, An Gorta Mór was a strong debut from the then-one-man project. For Olde Throne’s sophomore effort, McKenzie is joined by ex-Tainted drummer Quentin Forster and, together, the two Kiwis traverse the Irish sea, alighting In the Land of Ghosts,” Atmo-boo.

Fredlös – Fredlös Review

Fredlös – Fredlös Review

By Maddog on February 14, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Folk, Folk Metal, 16 comments

“The medieval hellscape on Fredlös’ cover caught my eye at once. The scene would be peaceful and pastoral, if not for the gruesome executions, the demon, and the burning buildings. Then I noticed the dancing skeletons, the shallow graves, the corpses on the border, the apocalyptic background, and the skull and crossbones; there isn’t a glimmer of hope anywhere. Intrigued, I dug deeper. Fredlös is a side project of Entombed’s Alex Hellid, and the band’s debut attempts to narrate the late Middle Ages with a mix of folk elements and metal. The music matches the cover art to a T.” The dark rages.

The Privateer – Kingdom of Exiles Review

The Privateer – Kingdom of Exiles Review

By GardensTale on January 25, 2023 in Reviews, Folk Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Power Metal, 69 comments

“I am generally a defender of themed metal. If Viking metal is considered a valid genre, then so should pirate metal. It’s just a shame that the latter is spearheaded by a band (which shall remain unnamed) that has gone from a mixture of comedy and epic to full meme-lord. It has cost the entire genre in legitimacy, and it now seems as if pirates can be nothing but silly cartoons. The Privateer stages a mutiny on that school of thought, however, aiming for a return to the adventurous and dramatic seafaring tales of yore.” Booty raiding.