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:

1. Orphaned Land – Sapari
2. Amaseffer – Slaves for Life
3. Arkan – Deus Vult
4. Pentagram – Lions in a Cage
5. Myrath – Merciless Times
6. Almana Shchora – Elohim
7. Nervecell – The Taste of Betrayal
8. Khalas – Haz El Adala Mayel
9. Nile – Kaffir
10. Melechesh – Grand Gathas of Baal Sin
11. Ahl Sina – Fountains of Muses

Melechesh, included on the above compilation, have release news of their own as well, in the form of digital EP, Mystics of the Pillar II. 'Mystics of the Pillar' was originally written and recorded for the band's 2010 album, The Epigenesis, but two different endings were recorded and mastered. This EP contains the alternate ending as well as instrumental versions of 'Sacred Geometry' and 'The Epigenesis'.

Many bands have been announcing further album news lately, including an avalanche of new album artwork.

Kicking things off are American band, Northsong, who have revealed the artwork for their upcoming album, The Final Journey. The artwork was designed by Valhalla Promotions, who specialise in promotional materials for folk, Viking and pagan metal bands.

In similar fashion, their compatriots Blodravn have also released new artwork for their forthcoming album Sæmd, which is currently being recorded. However, with the album still in production, this is not necessarily a finalised album cover.

Dutch thrashers Chain of Dogs have announced the tracklist for their upcoming EP, Deathworld. Consisting of three tracks featuring guest musicians from Finsterforst, Viatora and 'one other famous folk metal band', this release could be one to watch.

1. D'r Zjwarte Hond va Krapoel (The Black Dog of Krapoel)
2. Ich Bring d'r Droeëd (I Bring Death)
3. Deathworld

Russians Kalevala are ready to release their new live acoustic album Osen v Stile Folk later this month and have also revealed the album artwork. Two songs ('Yarilo' and 'Plakali Verby') from the album are now available to listen to on the band's MySpace.

Eluveitie's new album Helvetios has met with commercial success around the world. The album sold 4242 copies in its first week of sales in the United States, according to Neilson Soundscan, placing it at number 143 on the Billboard top 200 chart and number 3 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart – Eluveitie's highest chart position ever. The album also met with chart success in Canada (#74), Switzerland (#4), Germany (#27) and Austria (#34).

German industrial folk metal band Tanzwut have released a video for the song 'Rückgratreißer'. This is the second video from the band's 2001 album Weiße Nächte and consists of live footage of the band in action.

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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 the epic title track, to the sinister 'Nidhoggr', there is plenty here to keep the listener interested throughout. Every track is competently written as well, and though a few of the tracks feel slightly uninspired, every song is perfectly listenable.

The album begins with 'Fire and Ash', a solid but unspectacular opening track, which acts as a gentle introduction to the band and gives a flavour of what to expect from the rest of the album, with harsh vocals over energetic Viking metal that is reminiscent of Ensiferum. The following track, 'Nidhoggr', veers in a completely different direction, its black metal stylings giving the track a far more sinister edge than most of the other material on the album. Third track, 'Heathen Blood' again signifies a change of tone to a typically high-tempo, folky drinking song. Again, it's competently done, featuring all you would expect from a typical folk metal by-the-numbers song, with folky keyboard melodies overlayed on top of speedy, driving metal. It lifts the pace nicely after the rather ponderous 'Nidhoggr', though it brings little in the way of actual innovation to the table.

Title track, 'In the Shadow of a Mountain' is a hulking beast of a song, sounding epic despite its low-fi production, but the real highlight of this album is 'The Return'. Full of energy and packed with instantly catchy riffs, the bludgeoning verses give way to lighter acoustic sections seamlessly, before returning to pummel the listener once again. A word also for what is effectively the album's closing track, 'We Live'. In truth, much of this song is fairly average – not poor, but nothing particularly special. However, it is the middle section of this song (from about 2 minutes, 40 seconds onwards) that really excited me. Such a simple riff but ever so catchy, it begins with a lone accordion before gradually building to epic proportions. This section alone is worth getting the album for.

As a self-funded release the production is understandably rough, but this hardly detracts from the music at all. There are of course times when it feels as if the songs would have benefited from a more professional production but I've heard plenty of releases from more established acts with lower sound quality than this and it is unlikely to spoil your enjoyment of the album.

While there is plenty of cause for optimism, Trollband's biggest task will be finding a way to stand out in an increasingly crowded genre. In the Shadow of a Mountain is a decent album with moments of brilliance, rather than simply an exceptional album. If Trollband are to break out of the underground they will have to harness their considerable potential to sustain those brilliant passages over the length of a whole album.

VERDICT

The album is available to download for FREE here.

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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 the recording of new album, Brumblebassen and have begun the process of mixing it at Strand Studio. The album will consist of 12 tracks in total, but no release date has been confirmed yet.

Upcoming Spanish metallers Northland are to begin recording their highly-anticipated sophomore effort, confirming on Facebook that they are to enter the studio on March 5^th. This is an album we're looking forward to hugely, having included Northland on our list of bands to look out for in 2012, so expect to hear plenty more from them on this site over the rest of this year.

With Ensiferum soundalikes Northland due to start recording, the originals themselves have been hard at work on their follow-up to 2009's From Afar. With recording well under way at Petrax Studio in Finland under the watchful eye of Hiili Hiilesmaa, Ensiferum announced on their website that the legendary Die Apokalyptischen Reiter will appear as special guests on the album, as well as Finnish singer Vesa-Matti Loiri. The new album will contain 10 tracks, but we'll have to wait until later in the year to get our grubby mitts on it!

If Celtic folk metal is your thing, then this from French band An Norvys is worth checking out. The band have released 'Jack the Giant-Killer' from their new EP, One and All. Based on the Cornish fairy tale of the same name, the song tells the story of a young boy who slays the the fearsome giant Cormoran.

Many of our featured bands have been busy filming new videos recently, it seems. Italian folk metallers Folkstone have been whetting the appetite for their forthcoming release Il Confine (due on March 16^th, as reported back in December). New song 'Nebbie' (Mists) was first previewed on Italian website Spaziorock ahead of the release of the video, which can be seen below.

Heidevolk have marked the release of their new album Batavi with this video for 'Als De Dood Weer Naar Ons Lacht'. The album tells of the struggles between the Germanic Batavian tribe and the invading Romans, and the video continues this theme.

And finally, Russians Troll Bends Fir have released the video for 'Ave Celia!', from their latest release Brothers in Drinks. 

 

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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 record.

This being the case, it was probably an intelligent decision to change their course slightly for the release of Helvetios, by recording their first ever concept album. Concept albums are viewed in a different light to the conventional release, and when assessing this album I have judged it by a slightly different set of criteria than I would usually have done. Having said this, I found it difficult to buy into the concept of Helvetios as a continuous narrative. There is little sense of overall coherence and as such this album sounds like just another collection of songs, rather than a true concept album.

That said, there is plenty of excellent material here and anyone who has ever enjoyed Eluveitie's previous work will find plenty to keep them satisfied. Songs such as 'Havoc', with its twisting melodies, and 'The Siege', which features some absolutely stunning violin work, fit right in with the very best of the band's catalogue.

Though musically the album is quite similar to their previous efforts, it does seem that Eluveitie have tried to branch out slightly on Helvetios. Title track 'Helvetios' and 'Meet the Enemy' both tend to stick closer to the metal end of the spectrum, their folk elements uncharacteristically toned down, perhaps representing an effort from the band to demonstrate a wider appeal and cater to fans of standard melodic death metal.

Also, songs like 'Luxtor' and 'A Rose for Epona' are clearly more catchy and easily accessible. The cynic in me suggests that the latter of these two was intended as a radio-friendly single release, with its catchy, singable vocals, and though it is a decent and reasonably addictive commercial metal song, it's also the type of song that will grow stale with repeat listens. And, of course, that's without even mentioning its uncanny resemblance to Blood Stain Child's 'Metropolice'.

Some of the commercial elements aside, the highlight of the album for me is undoubtedly 'Meet the Enemy'. Preceded by the spine-chilling 'Scorched Earth' it is one of the only occasions on the album that truly evokes the visceral horror and chaos of the war that has inspired this album.

At this point I should admit that I have been quite harsh in my analysis of this album, because there really are plenty of brilliant moments here, and again a remarkably and consistently high standard throughout the album. If anything, this harsh judgement is a result of the high standards Eluveitie have set with their previous releases.

Though I don't feel Helvetios quite lives up to its billing as a concept, it's still an impressive effort and is undoubtedly one of the better albums I'll review this year. Moreover, it should see Eluveitie maintain their status as one of the top folk metal acts in the world. However, if you're new to the band, while you would undoubtedly find plenty on this album to satisfy you, I'd advise you turn to some of Eluveitie's earlier releases to get a truer picture of what this band is capable of.

VERDICT 

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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 18^th in Finland and July 20^th 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 made the video for 'A Rose for Epona', and consists mostly of footage of the band performing in a dungeon. 'Havoc' is the 10^th track on new album Helvetios, which was officially released last week.

Shangren continue to release a trickle of previews for upcoming release Rise of the Dynasty, this week teasing fans with a new preview trailer, 'violent strings from the Morin Khuur' – a traditional Mongolian bowed stringed instrument.

As well as the aforementioned release from Eluveitie, there were several other new folk metal releases this week. This week saw the release of an intriguing album from French Antiq Label, D'Anjou en Vasconie, la très grande Chasse d'Hellequin. This three-track split release from pagan metal bands Anceisural Eritance, Hanternoz and Ilbeltz features a different interpretation from each band of a traditional Breton story telling of the demonic hunting party of Hellequin (more commonly known as Harlequin in English), seeking the damned souls of evil men. 

This week also saw the release of the highly-anticipated new Leshak album, Pustosvyat. You can download a free three-track taster at Leshak's Bandcamp page.

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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 apart from the pack. The Middle Eastern influences really bring a unique and completely fresh feel to the band's familiar black metal stylings. Everything you would expect from a black metal band is present – harsh vocals, fierce blast beats and that whining guitar tone that is particular to this strain of metal – however its dark and otherworldly atmosphere is enhanced by the Arabian instrumentation and arrangement. Long after the earliest black metal bands terrified listeners with their new demonic sound, it is rare to find a band today that still sounds genuinely frightening. Satan simply isn't scary any more. The Middle East, on the other hand, most certainly is and it is this – that uncomfortable unfamiliarity – that makes Kitab Al-Awthan such a spine-tingling experience.

It is very easy to label albums that mix different styles as little more than a novelty piece (indeed, there are some who believe that all folk-inspired metal is simply a novelty, rather than a mature and nuanced genre in its own right), but it is an accusation that would be harsh to level at Al-Namrood. This album is far more complex than simply overlaying Eastern-inspired melodies on top of traditional black metal, Al-Namrood's entire approach to making music is clearly influenced by traditional Arabian music. The clearest example of this on Kitab Al-Awthan is the penultimate track 'Bani La'em', which is driven mostly by its guitar and drum work and yet still maintains its Arabian flavour just as strongly as any other song on the album, while its more understated use of traditional instrumentation make it more accessible to those who prefer more straightforward black metal.

Kitab Al-Awthan is a challenging listen and is at first slightly overwhelming. The familiar black metal influences are instantly recognisable, but often the unfamiliar melodies and song structures are surprising and, at first, slightly confusing. This album is an ideal introduction for listeners, not only to Al-Namrood, but also to Middle Eastern metal in general. However, those who are already familiar with the band are unlikely to find anything they haven't already heard on previous releases. As a display of brutal, Arabian black metal Kitab Al-Awthan is a compelling proof-of-concept, however the lack of variety on display may discourage repeat listens.

I found Kitab Al-Awthan to be a genuinely refreshing listen and one that is highly recommended for anyone for anyone who is seeking an original and interesting album, especially if your tastes are suited to the more brutal end of the metal spectrum.

VERDICT

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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 11^th 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 snippets of each song that is to appear on the album.

Dråpsnatt have also been previewing their new album, Skelepht, which is due for release in the coming months. The preview contains samples of each song on the album, lasting just under a minute. Speaking back in October, the band said that the theme of the album is 'religiosity, lightheartedness and insipience as a decomposing drop cloth behind which all the futility and anguish of the human experience is poorly concealed'.

In other news, British medieval metallers Northern Oak have begun preparing material for the follow-up to 2010's Monuments. A statement on the band's website states that they have begun writing and intend to release the material – most likely as an EP – later this year. Dutch power metallers Conorach have announced that they are 'ready to record', while Serbians Eskhata have begun recording their forthcoming EP Tales of Old, which will consist of five tracks.

Finally, veterans Suidakra have released a video for the song 'Balor', taken from their latest release, Book of Dowth. 

 

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