FOLK METAL NEWS

Exciting news for Ensiferum fans! The band have announced that their new album, to be titled Unsung Heroes, will be released on August 27th. Clocking in at over an hour of metal, Unsung Heroes will feature 10 tracks – including the epic, 16-minute 'Passion Proof Power'. In a statement on their official website, the band said: “We've tried to push the different aspects of what we do as far as we can, the sonic scope is wider than ever. The folk...

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FOLKSTONE - IL CONFINE

Before we even get properly started with this review, a quick word of warning for people who hate bagpipes: stay away! I know some people who simply can't abide the sound of bagpipes and if you're one of them Folkstone will be your idea of hell. Il Confine is all about the bagpipes, and they generally dictate the main melody of the songs. Fortunately for me, I quite like bagpipes, and I quite like Folkstone too. If the sound of bagpipes initially generates...

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SVARTBY - ELEMENTAL TALES

Svartby have in the past been derided as simply another derivative folk metal by-the-numbers band, a kind of budget Finntroll. On this, their third full-length, they have finally begun to answer some of those critics, and though Elemental Tales will win few awards for originality, it is the work of a band that is at last showing some desire to branch out and forge their own path. Gone are the broken Swedish lyrics, replaced instead with broken English....

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FOLK METAL NEWS 19/03/12

Here's another bumper news roundup from folk metal bands around the world! Century Media have announced the forthcoming release of Oriental Metal, a collection of Middle Eastern and Oriental-inspired metal compiled by Orphaned Land's Kobi Farhi. Clocking in at 52 minutes of metal, and featuring some of the biggest names on the scene, the tracklist is as follows: Orphaned Land – Sapari Amaseffer – Slaves for Life Arkan – Deus Vult Pentagram ...

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TROLLBAND - IN THE SHADOW OF A MOUNTAIN

Recorded on a shoestring budget in a Vancouver apartment, one could be forgiven for having low expectations of Trollband's debut album, In the Shadow of a Mountain. However, those expectations would soon be confounded, as this is an engaging and mature release, and a very enjoyable listen. The most striking aspect of In the Shadow of a Mountain is the fantastic variety in the songwriting. With songs ranging from the folky 'Heathen Blood', to...

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FOLK METAL NEWS 04/03/12

The folk metal bands of the world have been busy since our last update. Swedes Dråpsnatt have begun preparing for the upcoming release of their new album Skelepht. In a post on the band's MySpace page, the band explains the title of album (named after their hometown Skellefteå and the Skellefte River which flows through it), as well as giving a track-by-track rundown of the forthcoming album. Consisting of 8 tracks, the album's lyrical themes centre around the meaningless of existence, and the local mythology and culture of their hometown. It is due for release later this month. Trollfest have announced on Facebook that they have finished...

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ELUVEITIE - HELVETIOS

Over the last few years, Eluveitie have established a reputation (rightly, I should add) as one of the best folk metal acts on the scene. Their last album, Everything Remains (As It Never Was), represented probably the ultimate refinement of the sound they had been crafting over their previous three releases. Having reached this point, the band inadvertently found themselves in the unenviable position of having to pen a follow-up to that seminal...

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FOLK METAL NEWS 12/02/12

Finnish folk metal giants Korpiklaani have announced release dates for their forthcoming album, Kunnia. The album is due for release on July 18th in Finland and July 20th for the rest of the world. Exciting news is coming thick and fast from the band, following last week's announcement of the title of their new album, which is still in production. Making their now-customary appearance on our news pages, Eluveitie have again made headlines this week. Having recently released a video for new song 'A Rose for Epona', the band have released a second video – this one for 'Havoc'. The video was again produced by Polish studio Grupa 13, who also...

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AL-NAMROOD - KITAB AL-AWTHAN

Folk metal at its best is a fantastic form of escapism and certainly the most evocative of all of metal's kaleidoscope of genres. It's this quality that makes Al-Namrood's Kitab Al-Awthan ('The Book of Idols') such an engaging and intriguing listen. From the first jarring note of 'Mirath al Shar' the album transports the listener through a particularly menacing vision of the band's native Saudi Arabian culture. It's this that really sets Al-Namrood...

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FOLK METAL NEWS 05/02/12

Work on Korpiklaani's new album continues, with the band recently announcing that guitars are almost finished. Most significant, however, is the announcement of the new release's name – Kunnia. The word 'kunnia' is Finnish for 'honour'. Leshak have previewed several tracks that are to appear on their new album Pustosvyat (Пустосвят ), which is due for release next week – February 11th to be exact. Two new songs from the album have been made available in full, including instrumental number 'Мельница (Windmill)' and their adaptation of traditional Russian folk song 'Яблочко (Apple)'. Furthermore, the band have released a sampler featuring...

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SWORDBEARER - HONOR

Swordbearer continue the good work they began on debut effort Inspired by the Trees, with their sophomore release, Honor. A far more mature album than its predecessor, Honor is that rarest of albums: unashamedly low-fi, but maintaining an epic feel throughout. As a relatively low-budget, self-produced album, this is some achievement and demonstrates the quality of the songs. The album feels epic not as a result of its production and arrangement,...

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FOLK METAL NEWS 22/01/12

Following on from last week's unveiling of new song, 'A Rose for Epona', Eluveitie have unleashed their new music video for the song. The video was produced by Polish company Grupa13, who have worked with many established metal acts, such as Behemoth, Sonata Arctica, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter and Amon Amarth and also previously worked with Eluveitie on their video for 'Thousandfold'. The video features clips of the band playing in woodland and...

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5 BANDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2012

2012 has arrived and is beginning to get into full swing, with a veritable avalanche of new music due for release in the coming months. Some of the genre's biggest bands are represented and no doubt they will make headlines on this particular blog and while plenty will undoubtedly be written about those bigger bands, there will always be those young, up-and-coming bands who make waves as well. So with that in mind, here is a list of five bands we think you should keep your eyes on this year, because 12 months from now they could be the genre's leading lights....

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FOLK METAL NEWS 15/01/12

The folk metal bands of the world have been busy lately, with a whole host of announcements to report on. Firstly, British Viking metal band Oakenshield have released a steady flow of new information about their upcoming release, Legacy, slated for release on the 17th February. The band have released the album artwork (left), as well as announcing the tracklist, revealing the traditional British and Scandinavian songs that have inspired their...

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FOLK METAL NEWS 01/01/12

Månegarm are currently working on a new albu...

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