Darkestrah - Nomad

 

Darkestrah are back. It's been eight years since we've had a full length from the long running folk metal project. While 2021's Chong Aryk EP was a reasonable holdover, there's something to be said for the proper Darkestrah full album experience. This newest offering, Nomad is epic in scal and transcendent, full of the ancient Central Asian melodies and instrumentations that helped to make the genre so engaging for so many in the first place. Darkestrah are perhaps the most immaculate synthesis of traditional Central Asian music with metal and Nomad sees them reach a whole new level. 

Nomad excels because of the poetry of the songwriting. Darkestrah are clearly next level performers and tracks like "Quest For The Soul" are larger than life compositions that will have listeners reaching for the stars. The lyrics draw from ancient Kyrgyz epic poetry, and while most of us aren't going to understand them, they provide a sense of something greater. Usually when metal tries to be spiritual or pagan it feels... overwrought and trite. Darkestrah make it clear they are the real deal, and while it may be challenging listening, it's also incredibly rewarding, the sort of thing that leaves listeners in awe and excited for what's more to come. 

There is something wonderfully entrancing about Nomad. It's a record that has an elegance that is wholly its own and which seems to continually drive towards bold new heights. Darkestrah understand exactly what makes them special and the years of work went into this record are clearly displayed across the 45 minute run time of this record. This is compelling stuff and an album that is sure to decorate many a year end list. Pre-order a copy before this drops in March because very few other black metal albums this year are going to execute on this level.

Pre-order the album!

https://bit.ly/darkestrah-store

Arkona - Kob'

 

After five years of silence, Russian folk/pagan metal legends Arkona make their return with Kob'. In a time where embracing Russian heritage can feel complex, Arkona lean into what has always made them special and craft an album that is far reaching and ambitious, a step up from anything they've done before and a reminder that there is so much powerful music and fascinating influences yet to be unearthed. The droimg and thoughtful power of this record is transcendent and exciting. There aren't many albums that can really pull this off, but Arkona find a way.

Though Kob' is a bit of a stylistic shift for the band, dramatically ratcheting down the intensity and focusing more on delicious moments of ambient magic, as they do on the track "Ugasaya which even showcases what seems like electronic influences. No one has ever said that Arkona is a band who aren't full of surprises! They find ways to make their sound twist and turn and entrance listeners once more, even if they aren't relying as heavily on bombastic riffs anymore and more focused on crafting deeply emotional soundscapes to thrill listeners and lure them into a wonderful sense of darkness and sublime sonic poetry for the masses. 

That being said - Kob' isn't a radical departure from all things Arkona, it just feels a good bit more reflective than much of the past work. It makes for some wonderfully compelling listening and something that really ensconces the listener in sound. There are plenty of classic frills to please existing fans, but the new explorations and longer songs will certainly turn heads. Arkona are speaking their truth in a confusing world and it's hard not to be charmed by that vision they are unveiling for us humble listeners. It's pagan metal for pagan metals sake - and none other.

Pre-order the album!

https://arkonamoscow.bandcamp.com/album/kob

Varmia - nie nas widzę

 

Varmia are a one of a kind force in the Polish black metal scene. Their first album, nie nas widze comes after a potent debut EP, Prolog. It builds on the themes found within that release but goes so much further, painting visions of ancient Europe and guiding listeners into dark forgotten times. This is pagan black metal done with aplomb, elegantly fusing the throat singing and traditional instrumentation seemingly inspired by bands like Wardruna and Heilung with stunning black metal performances. It's a potent combination to say the least. 

The biggest drawback to nie nas widze is simply that it is a very ambitious album and sometimes the production can't quite keep up. Yet this also becomes a strength because it gives the record a certain kvlt magic, as if you're listening to one of the great old demos and losing yourself in the strength of the old gods. Varmia have found a path that is wholly their own and it's far too fun to immerse yourself in the transcendent execution. I've said many times on this blog that the best black metal is the stuff that feels old, and Varmia, at their best, feel wonderfully ancient. The scope of what they've done here is thrilling, even if at over an hour long runtime it can be a bit much to digest in one sitting. 

nie nas widze is a portent of great things to come. It's black metal that really grasps some of the wonderful fundamental witchery of the genre and asks listeners to unveil some of the darkness that makes the whole thing so engaging. Varmia clearly are extremely talented and wodnerfully creative. Hearing them polish and hone their sound over the next few years is going to be a delight. Few bands have a debut LP this ambitious, and I feel that Varmia could truly be something apart, something greater.

Pre-order the album!

https://lnk.to/varmia

Heidevolk - Wederkeer

It's been five long years but the viking metal masters Heidevolk are back! Always one of my favorites in the scene, this new album Wederkeer is a step forward for the band, building on so many of the epic and powerful elements that made their past work so compelling. This is pagan metal done right, with a grandiose sense of the past but with a vision for the bleak and frostbitten magic of the Northern wastes. Heidevolk have always been a band apart with their open throated chants dominating compositions rather than leaning into the black metal elements of their peers. Wederkeer builds on that.

Wederkeer is bombastic and powerful, an album that leans into so many of the classic Heidevolk elements, but which is unafraid to get more thoughtful and even gentle than previous work. Songs like the title track, which is essentially entirely acoustic speak to the bands depth of performances and the overarching vision that they bring to the table. The production on this thing is gorgeous too by the way, these are songs that you can really immerse yourself in. You'll see the vast sonic universes of the band unfolding in front of you and reminding listeners just how special what they have being presented to them is. It's a one of a kind band. 

Heidevolk were missed in their time away from the scene. Hearing them come back in force with music that is this powerful and emotionally resonant speaks to their power as songwriters and composers. It's hard not to be charmed by the breadth of their vision and the grandiose compositions that they bring to the table. Wederkeer is a thrilling offering for those of us who have long waited to hear more from this truly excellent band. It builds on their legacy but offers something new fans might fall in love with. What more could you want? 

Pre-order the album!

https://heidevolk.bandcamp.com/album/wederkeer

Thyrfing - Vanagandr

Thyrfing have been fascinating listeners across the globe across parts of four decades now. These Swedish pagan metal warlords have established for themselves a unique position in the scene and seem to continually drive towards dizzy new heights. This latest offering, Vanagandr is the next step in the underground metal journey that has won these Swedes so much critical acclaim over the years. This is a powerful and exciting record that nicely touches on all the classic tropes of the genre whilst simultaneously pushing the band to the next phase in their journey. 

It's a delight to get lost in the amber waves of a track like 'Jarnhand.' Epic soundscapes unravel and a clear vision for a bleak future seems to come together one day at a time. There is a potent darkness behind this offering that will keep listeners coming back, eager to unveil the pagan fueled melodies and gorgeous, multilayered production. While certain elements here certainly sound a bit dated to me that's part of the appeal. this is a band who have stuck to doing pagan metal in the grand old style and any Bathory-isms or Skyclad influenced ideas are simply part of the territory. Either you love them as I do or this is not the record for you. 

Vanagandr is a potent offering and a strong next step for the vikings in Thyrfing. It's a record that honors the bands heritage and which consistently shows their growth and goals to become a force larger than themselves. Thyrfing are a one of a kind band and embracing the plodding crush of Vanagandr is a must for any pagan metal devotees in 2021. While this record isn't necessarily a world beater, it is one that devotees of the genre are going to get quite a bit out of as they delve ever further into the blasphemous past. 

Pre-order the album!

https://thyrfing.bandcamp.com/

Bhleg - Aril

I have to admit - I was not previously familiar with Bhleg. However, I was previously familiar with their label, Nordvis Produktion however. They are one of my favorites in the underground and the sort of label who I make a point of checking out everything they put out. In a crowded scene I think it's these sort of label connections that make it worthwhile in the long run. Point being - Bhleg play folk metal, are from Sweden and generally kill it with their new 28 minute long LP, Aril a release that takes the listener on a thrilling sonic journey.

There is a depth to the sound on Aril that keeps me almost obsessed. Even now as I sit on my third or fourth listen the sort of droning magic of the record has me mesemrized. The band very much pull from second wave of black metal tropes but strip them back so that when the folk stuff is layered on top you get something wholly different. Bhleg are band that are wholly their own, grandiose, powerful and unafraid to try to change the world. The artsy magic of these songs speaks to the depth of the songwriting. The traditionally inspired passages merge perfectly with the more black metal derived portions making for a compelling listening experience.

Aril is a release that hints at mastery. While at times the execution is lacking and the production is a bit bare bones, that is as much a part of its charms as it is a part of its failings. Bhleg are sort of the logical continuation on a lot happening in black metal right now, however they haven't reached the level of refinement to craft something truly great. Still - for those of us obsessed with pagan rites, earthy sounds and returning to our roots then the folky black metal majesty of Bhleg is something to stay deeply connected with.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/bhlegofficial/

Pre-order!
https://nordvis.com/bhleg-a-4

Cruachan - Nine Years Of Blood

It's been four long years since the last offering from Cruachan one of the most consistently highly rated bands in the folk metal genre. These Irish pagans have crafted something truly potent over their many years at this, with rich soundscapes coming face to face with powerful riffs and guiding the listener towards a sense of sonic absolution that can only come with the sort of music that is as emotionally powerful as it is historically significant. This isn't exactly an album that you can cast away lightly.

Nine Years Of Blood is a fascinating listen to say the least. It's a record that dances between all sides of the genre and which routinely visits exciting new facets that we might never have experienced otherwise. Beyond that, this feels like one of Cruachans most ambitious projects to date with a broad variety of musical stylings encapsulated as we traverse from peak to peak, continually reveling in the increased viking glory of this band. There is a strange and ample sense of poetry that makes Cruachan thrilling here. Beyond all of that, the massive riffs and primal melodies conjure up something wonderfully human and downright inescapable.

There is something wonderfully transcendent that runs through all of Cruachans greatest releases and this is certainly one of them. Now that the folk metal bubble has well and truly burst only the best examples of the genre have continued to shine through and it feels like Cruachan have the balls to continue as they always have, transcendent and glorious, reminding us time and time again of how this music can grow and refract upon itself. Getting lost in this record is a rare treat and one that inspires time and time again.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/cruachanclan/

Katla - Modurastin

There is a strange appeal to Icelandic pagan metal. Katla is one of the freshest bands on the scene, but features old heads, including a former member of Solstafir and members of Fortid and Potentiam. This debut album Modurastin is a deep dive into ethereal musical voyages and twisted sonic landscapes. Katla is a band who understand the power of both Icelandic folk music and black metal. Their multi-layered approach to the twisted beauty of this music can't help but to charm and to fascinate.

The brilliantly orchestrated and tightly composed magic of Modurastin can't help but to capture your imagination. Katla is the sort of record that takes you on a journey, and the lush soundscapes, compounded by the rich cultural heritage unveiled throughout this record makes for a mesmerizing experience. Everything about the execution of Modurastin is stunning - my favorite moments coming in the tail end of the last song, Dulsmal where a beautifully put together send off helps to cement the record in your memory. With this release Katla have driven towards something transcendent and beautiful we can never properly escape.

This is obviously the end result of an immense travail and represents the forward motion of a scene that has never been willing to fall into complacency. Instead Modurastin shows us a band who have distilled the art of pagan metal into something greater. Sure they tend to err more on the side of pagan than metal, but that's the entire point. The metal side of the music only serves to ground it - everything else drives us towards mesmerizing bliss and an answer to the burning questions our search for culture instill in us.

Find them on Facebook! 
https://www.facebook.com/katla.band/

Ivar Bjornson & Einer Selvik - Skuggsa

When I first found out that Ivar Bjornson of Enslaved and Einar Selvik of Wardruna where coming together to create a project I thought it must be some kind of joke. It couldn't possibly be that two of my favorite Nordic musicians of all time had been able to find the time to work together on something. And yet they have, their debut release Skuggsa is a masterful album that covers a breadth of exciting soundscapes and hints at great things to come from a duo who have made a massive mark on Scandinavian music.

Skuggsa leans more heavily on the folk side of things - which is really more or less what I had expected all along. That being said, the record is not without its more black metal moments, with the track Makta og Vaneara (I All Tid) featuring riffs that wouldn't feel out of place on an Enslaved record. That being said - the fusion of ideas here is very tastefully done, and represents both musicians bodies of work nicely. Suffice to say - Skuggsa is really everything I could have wanted from these guys. It's epic in scale and paints clear sonic images of a world that many have forgotten. It allows you to get lost in hyperborean soundscapes and realize that there is absolution even in neverending winter.

As you delve into this record it is hard not to be continually impressed by the level of musicianship represented here. There is so much to pick apart here and the deeper you go the more you find. Skuggsa is a sort of triumph for both of these artists, showing them both at their finest and creating music that reflects the harsh beauty of their homeland. Overwhelming and oftentimes sublime the darkness found within Skuggsa is a blessing in and of itself. Rarely do I find records that are as nicely articulated as this one, ultimately reminding us that the old gods still hold power.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/SkuggsjaNO

Manegarm - S/T

Longtime fans know that I'm kind of a folk metal dork - I love everything with galloping rhythms and a triumphant dedication to the gods of the north. That's why I was pretty stoked when I lucked into getting the new release from Swedish stalwarts Manegarm. Wonderfully brutal but also full of sublime and light moments Manegarm have simply added to the legend with this latest piece, yet another gem in the bands crown. Soaring loud and proud Manegarm speaks to the magic of the north and rings forth in our hearts.

The duality of this record is a huge part of what makes it so gosh darn enjoyable for me. The moments of acoustic and melodic magic are perfectly balanced against warlike riffs and epic vocal lines. Beyond that - Manegarm are fully aware of their own bombast - which only makes this album all the better. There has always been an inherent drama in folk metal but it is only the truly excellent bands who capitalize on it, Manegarm is one of those bands. Riding forth with Manegarm is a pleasure, not just because you get a sense of times forgot, but also because it gives us a chance to escape from this reality and fall in love with one that Manegarm paint with ease.

Manegarm have always impressed me with their years of evolution, every album ends up stronger than the last. Very few bands have been doing this for as long as Manegarm and they are lords in their own right. This new record is ridiculously enjoyable and devilishly addictive - both hallmarks of what makes folk metal so special. Manegarm have created a record that is cinematic in scale and easy to fall in love with. If you, like me, have always been in love with the magical songs of the north then you too might find yourself unable to escape Manegarms grasp.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/Manegarmsweden?fref=ts

Draugul - Chronicles Untold

Draugul have long been one of my favorite black metal projects - truly despairing and powerful - gloriously heavy and wonderfully dedicated to the magic of the north. Now with Chronicles Untold the genius behind the band is back and putting out some of his best material yet. Brilliantly composed and epic in scale Draugul provide fifty five minutes of Bathory-level madness on this record. Fully aware of its own triumph and endlessly interesting Draugul seems ready to become a world renowned act.

What's always captured my imagination about this band is the sheer quality of the songwriting. Though, yes, Draugul relies heavily on traditional black metal ideas there are also folk elements brought in to give the entire thing a sort of primeval power. It's hard to deny the fact that Chronicles Untold reaches deep within the listener and allows their heart to sing the song of a time forgot. As the victorious battle cries ring out in songs like ...In Dreams you find yourself increasingly lost in the beautiful sense of majesty encapsulated by this record. It carries you off to a distant land and has a very human power that resonates within all of us.

Simply put Draugul seems pretty much unstoppable at this point and y'all better start paying attention because sooner or later this guy is going to put out the black metal record of the year. It seems almost inevitable - this band is simply too good not too. You find yourself getting lost in Draugul's immortal power and reaching out to face a brave new day - this is a band that will carry you back to an older and perhaps nobler time as long as you are willing to open your eyes and realize hope for tomorrow lies on a distant shore.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/draugul?fref=ts&ref=br_tf

Blood and Sun, Falls of Rauros, The Flight of Sleipnir, and Velnias at St Vitus Bar

St Vitus Bar is rapidly becoming one of my favorite places in the world to see a metal show. With solid mixing, a great vibe and stellar bills (Locals included!) most nights of the week it's hard not to appreciate what those guys have done for the scene. Yesterday evening evidenced some of the supreme glory that this bar has come to represent with four of the most exciting bands on America's bleak folk/viking metal scene. There was a distinct sense of ritual as I entered the venue and I couldn't help but smile - this is what metal is all about.

Blood and Sun - who opened up the show weren't actually a metal band, but like many other downtempo projects from dudes like Mike Scheidt and Scott Kelly they explore a metal-esque sonic space using exclusively acoustic instruments. They have a wonderfully rich and deep sound that is hard to ignore. It reflect the internal power that this kind of music can have and allows the heart to ring out as you find yourself lost ever deeper in their doomy and quasi-apocalyptic sounds. The thing is Blood and Sun are wonderfully iconoclastic and their sound is wholly their own - reflecting an ancient time and forgotten powers that resonate within us all.

Up net was the immortal Falls of Rauros who have perfectly constructed a sonic space where they can toss in guitar solos into black metal, folk elements into triumphant doom riffs with an overwhelming sense of vocal slaughter reigning high above it all. Falls of Rauros speak to the essential power of American black metal and invoke all sorts of ancient rites into their incredibly epic sound. I was impressed at the sheer quality of the musicianship that these guys represent too - they are wonderfully talented and dedicated to their craft - a key part of what helps to make their live experience so incredibly powerful

The Flight of Sleipnir though were my most anticipated band of the evening and the highlight of my night. They bring their A game with an incredible sense of pagan magic seeping from every chord. There is a jarring and tormented magic to the Viking odes of The Flight Of Sleipnir and these dudes truly get the essential power of the genre and you see that in their performances. Simply put - the organic and profoundly resonant sounds of The Flight Of Sleipnir are impossible to ignore because, as with every other band on the bill they have a very particular way of resonating within the human psyche. It shows that they have unlocked a path forward in a crowded scene and it makes me curious for what is to come from these Colorado geniuses.

When Velnias took the stage I was emotionally drained, but I stayed simply to appreciate the vibes of what they do. Their melodies are impressive and carry a minor key madness to them that only the greatest bands can invoke. Their stage presence is potent and provided a nice sense of majesty to the entire affair. As bizarre as it may seem - Velnias in their forty odd minute set managed to transport the gathered die-hards to a far off land and make them look at reality in a whole new way until the time came for us all to leave - explore our separate ways into the night and hope for a better tomorrow.

And so the memory of last night starts to fade away - but the potent magic remains within. All four bands who played at St Vitus last night had a distinct awareness of the epic nature of their craft and that made it all the better. As I enjoyed some drinks at a rooftop party back at my apartment I found myself unable to re-enter reality and instead sat back, talked to some homeless dudes and reveled in the strange power that the pagan forefathers imbued their music with. Pagan metal is alive and well in the New World and it is good.

Find the bands on Facebook!

Blood And Sun: https://www.facebook.com/bloodandsunfolk

Falls of Rauros: https://www.facebook.com/Falls-of-Rauros-197095916993311/timeline/

The Flight of Sleipnir: https://www.facebook.com/THEFLIGHTOFSLEIPNIR?fref=ts

Velnias: https://www.facebook.com/VelniasCult?fref=ts

Khors - Ashes

As I sit here on the plane to sunny Florida in order to celebrate a glorious pagan tradition that has since been re-appropriated (Perhaps rightly so) I figure, why not listen to some good old fashioned pagan black metal? While I'm still not entirely sure if Khors are pagans, I can certainly tell you that that they are damn good musicians. With synth heavy tacks that use blazing guitars and burbling vocals to drive their sound home, their new record Ashes is a memorable black metal tribute to the great old ones. Prepare to take the journey of a lifetime with a band who could very well rock your world.

Though Khors certainly pay heed to most black metal tropes they certainly have succeeded in honing their own specific sound. These tracks have a distinct flavor to them that asserts the fairly iconoclastic nature of bands in this genre. There is a crushing sense of confidence and dismal reality that guides you through songs like Garnet, even as minor key piano lines ring out on top, casting the listener into a coldhearted abyss. That being said, Ashes sees plenty of black metal bombast, with its fair share of exciting solos and images of 'riding hells stallions bareback and free' even as it fits within a much more somber and emotional context.

There is something strangely comforting about records like Ashes I think that they show us that even in the depths of chaos and despair we can still find a sense of hope and light. As the songs crash upon your ears like waves onto the shore its hard to deny the overarching power that this kind of music has. Sure it's often denied by peers and rivals, but Khors are turned onto something much deeper and more profound than most would dare romanticize about. What I'm trying to say is that Ashes is the sort of black metal that guides you to sublime salvation.

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/Khorsband?fref=ts

Skyforger - Senprusija

Skyforger have always been a little grimmer and angrier than many of their pagan metal peers. They have the touches of Northern epics, but that is not the only key element in their sound. It's not necessarily for every fan of pagan metal, yet over the years they have started to hone it into to something truly special and their latest offer, Senprusija due out April 6 sees the band at their finest. A group who have a wholly satisfying sound, digging into this latest work from Skyforger is a grand and noble adventure.

Perhaps the most notable thing about Senprusija is the powerful guitar lines that add mighty melodies under gritty vocals that are almost reminiscent of old school Teutonic thrash bands. Songs like Divi brali see Skyforger at their finest, bringing in the darker black and thrash metal touches that makes their music so unique while also using folk-derived melodies to keep things sufficiently grim and biting. There has always been a confluence of styles in Skyforgers music, and that's part of why I never got to deep into them, this new record though seems to suggest that they have found their path creating masterpieces that carry you away and then punch you in the gut.

No longer reliant on any real tropes and not afraid to make daring musical moves, Senprusija is worth many a listen. The viking cries and danceable melodies interact with more stripped down tracks that are almost straight up thrashers. There is a sense of power to Skyforgers music that shows how far they have come. Rewarding and yet also fairly accessible, Skyforger have proven themselves worthy of a place in the pagan metal pantheon and I have never been more excited for the future of these Latvian longhairs.

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/skyforgerofficial

Fortid - 9

So I saw Enslaved last night, suffice to say my expectations for black metal at this point in time are pretty goddamn high. I am happy to report though that with their new record 9 Fortid have been ale to put together something that starts to touch on Enslaved's might with an esoteric and highly intellectualized little gem that speaks to the eternal magic of black metal. Featuring some stellar production and poignant grooves, Fortid manage to speak to the heart with these songs of innocence and experience.

While a touch atavistic, the sense of tradition that dominates this record is not alienating. From the first there are lush soundscapes that one can easily fall in to. Fortid speak to a much grimmer reality, one that is at times hard to grasp, yet always easy to admire. 9 is definitely a record that takes a few listens to get but Fortid do a good job of making sure it will never be too difficult for a fan of heavy music to dig in too. Yet the deeper you go the more layers you find and the more you realize that these guys have the talent to do something truly special. As is 9 sort of stands as a testament to where the band is in a certain time and place, and hints at even greater things to come.

Epic in scale, and conceptual in scope, Fortid have never been a band who just write songs (Even though the tracks on this record could certainly stand as songs in and of themselves) instead, Fortid create epics. 9 is the sort of record that you need to listen too in one sitting to even scratch the surface. It takes you on a musical journey, and one you won't soon forget. So let your hair fly and body dance to the triumphant rhythms of the north, these Icelandic warriors are here to open your eyes.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/fortid

Árstíðir lífsins - Aldafǫðr ok munka dróttinn

Well, I have found the black metal record of the year. It's as simple as that, audacious, daring, stunning and simply genre breaking, With an album title I can't spell without copy/paste and a band name I can't pronounce, yet just reading the promo material for this record told me all I need to know. At 81 minutes long this entire record is sung in Old Norse-Icelandic with added Skaldic stanzas depicting the brutality of life, and the conversion in Iceland around the year 1000. It's as if someone tailored a record exactly to my tastes. 

The thing is though, with  Aldafǫðr ok munka dróttinn the band do something that feels natural. While oftentimes violins and chants can come across as over the top and pretentious Árstíðir lífsins manage to make it flow nicely. There is a sense of the sublime that dominates this record, you feel yourself falling into a unique soundworld and it is impossible to deny the majesty of this band. From the initial chants, to the viking metal progressions and utterly magical attack, this band have managed to put together something that will break your brain and require far too many listens to fully understand, it's simply that good.

It gets better, Árstíðir lífsins actually have a few other albums out, so once you've fully explored the adventure put together on Aldafǫðr ok munka dróttinn you can go explore the rest of their very distinctive approach to pagan metal. These guys are proving the eternal majesty of a genre that most cast aside. This is a band who promise to transcend metal and maybe even change the world, taking tried and true formulas they bring the music to its logical extreme and give me a sense of hope for the future honor of the pagan gods. 

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/arstidirlifsins

Heidevolk - Velua

Heidevolk have always fascinated me. The bands epic chants and powerful guitars inspire vision of fjords and travels in the north. There is a very profound atavistic beauty to their music, free of aggression but instead beautiful and heart rending. I've been fascinated with Batavi for years and always meant to get deeper into the bands discography. It seems that Velua has given me the chance to explore the bands sound a bit more, and all I can say is that not only are these guys geniuses, but they just might be able to bring back viking metal.

The bombastic sound that Heidevolk flaunt is remarkable because it never feels silly or over the top. Instead as Heidevolk guide you forth with chants of times forgot they take you on a journey, allowing the listener to experience the power of the true north along side them as you ride the storm. Compositionally this is perhaps Heidevolks strongest yet with wonderfully executed atmospherics and touches of synths, and violins, padding out the sound to keep things fresh alongside some of their juiciest riffs yet. For a band who rely primarily on chants Heidevolk is remarkably emotional. Velua can make you cry, pump your fist, or even charge into battle, there is a lot to digest in these 13 tracks.

Stunningly beautiful and finely crafted Velua, like every Heidevolk record before it, is something of a masterwork. It will guide you down a path of death and glory and allow you to feel the might of the old men of the north running through you. There is something transcendent about Heidevolk that speaks to the greater human condition, Velua sees the band reaching out and giving us a glimpse at who we truly are. Let the majestic sounds of this record wash over you and perhaps you can find your true self.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/heidevolkofficial

Finsterforst - Mach Dich Frei

There is something decidedly poignant about folk metal, something that speaks to the soul, especially in the case of powerful, emotional and occasionally atavistic folk metal bands like Finsterforst. Here is a band who are crafting something that isn't just grim, but great. It speaks to a certain teutonic magic in epic choruses, majestic compositions, and soundscapes that seem to soar across the listeners ear as they find their way forward, Finsterforst have found something that goes beyond the everyday punishment of this world and give us all the strength to rise.

See, a lot of the time, for me at least, music sung in languages other than English or French (My own native languages) feels to foreign for me to really appreciate it. Finsterforst manage to circumvent this by latching on to something so beautifully human that none can deny its might. Mach Dich Frei is beautiful because it speaks to a sort of greater Indo-European heritage that many of us share. It will capture your imagination and guide you on an epic quest, a journey from the abyss to a land where we can respect our ancestors without shitting on others. Finsterforst is music that reminds us of the beauty of the human race.

So at the end of the day, let the freedom of this music be what guides you through. There is hope in all the darkness that surrounds us and Mach Dich Frei is here to show us the beauty of the free world. Finsterforst are German masters, men who are pulling together something that could very well change the world. My favorite record to come out of the country in years this album has spurred me to go back and relisten to this bands discography. Finsterforst have done something truly brilliant with this latest release and it speaks to a bold future to come.

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/FinsterforstOfficial

Promethean Horde - Ashes of the Empyrean

Boxing Day is a weird day every year. It's like we still have the collective hangover of Christmas but have yet to embrace the true demented madness of the New Years celebrations. What better way to get jarred out of this than some harsh black metal in the form of Promethean Hordes new record Ashes of the Empyrean? Eleven tracks of blazing fury tempered with touches of pagan metal and even a little death metal here and there, Promethean Horde have created something truly interesting and memorable with their latest release.

The pagan touches help to make this record far more enjoyable. Though the basis is definitely black metal, the way that some of these grooves come together in black metal fury to get something wonderfully distinct is very tasty. Tampa Bay is usually more known for black metal, but the distinctly atavistic touches that these guys bring into their music show that the region deserves to be known for much more. Simply put, Promethean Horde are a blast to listen to and will keep your head banging for many a spin. These songs are wonderfully crafted and prove the sheer dominance these guys deserve to have over their genre.

As you head into bleak songs like Ordogszereto it is possible to get a glimpse of the truth. Promethean Horde are building towards something great and their sound, replete with bass frills and unholy grooves, is fairly unique. I get the sense that as they gallop into the sunset, the new dawn will see them rising above their peers and proving their mettle. I predict big things to happen for this band Ashes of the Empyrean, while not quite a masterpiece, is damn good, and I get the sense these guys will only get better from here.

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The Flight of Sleipnir - V.

The Flight of Sleipnir have long been held up as one of this generations greatest Coloradoan doom metal bands. Their latest release, the dreamy and powerful V. is no exception to that, providing nearly an hours worth of crushing riffs and beautiful acoustic sections that will capture the imagination and get you digging into the incredible power that these guys have. V. takes you on a veritable musical journey and by the time you reach the stunning a cappella coda of Beacon In Black Horizon you realize that you have come full circle, returning to the glory that is found in the opening bars of the albums first track, Headwinds.

I get the sense that V. is a clear step forward for The Flight of Sleipnir. Whereas before they may have had a distinct sound something didn't feel wholly right, now they seem to be fully embracing it and have put out what is easily their best record to date. This album feels incredibly natural, like falling into a dream and realizing that in this dream world anything is possible. V. proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that The Flight of Sleipnir belong in the doom metal pantheon. These tracks are epic in scale and beautifully constructed. Simply put, the amount of work that must have gone into making this album as good as it is must have been phenomenal.

This album marks a winding path into the soul. With its oftentimes eerie acoustics and incredibly heavy guitar parts there is a lot to latch on too, showing that ultimately there is some hope in this demented little world of ours. V. is captivating, once you start listening it's impossible to stop. There are seemingly infinite layers here and I get the sense I will be listening to this record for years to come. The Flight of Sleipnir have really done it, and it looks like that they just might have written the best doom metal album of the year.

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