Folk metal has long been a genre that I’ve been very entranced by, but it’s also one of those styles that I find very difficult to find excellence out of simply because I like my folk metal to go above and beyond in every aspect from the themes to the instrumentation. A lot of times bands put up a solid effort, but it’s been a while since I’ve been dazzled by a piece of folk. Thus, I stumbled across the debut full-length from Battle Tales, and it’s practically everything I could ever ask for from a folk album.

Realms of fantasy, war, and beer tend to make for the best places for any and all topics of folk metal simply because it brings out the best of the genre. It also allows for the group in question to really do what they please when it comes down to the instruments to convey the high fantasy setting. Battle Tales teased me with that very well done cover art for “The Ire of the Condemned” and upon hearing the intro track I knew I found the exact kind of folk metal that I had been looking for. These nine tracks offer for a very astonishingly good time for a debut full-length from this Swiss act the likes of which many bands wish they could’ve created on their first go, and “The Ire of the Condemned” shows that Battle Tales isn’t just a pretty name but also has the talent and power to back themselves up. From the gripping vocals, glorious anthems orchestrated confidently by tasteful instruments, a magnificent variety in instruments that shows the true musicianship behind Battle Tales, a cohesive flow from track to track to really allow the album to breathe like few others, and a sheer sense of enjoyment, it’s the fun that comes out of “The Ire of the Condemned” the likes of which hypnotises many a listener as they go into the record.

I’ve been lucky enough to witness many debut albums of folk metal in recent years, and ever since hearing Sojourner’s initial release I’ve been looking for the next piece of excellence that the genre could produce and I think I’ve found it with Battle Tales. “The Ire of the Condemned” is a spectacular record of that I have no doubt, and I feel very confident in saying that I firmly believe Battle Tales will soon return to us with another piece that will surely stun us much like this slab of magic.

LISTEN to “The Ire of the Condemned” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Battle Tales on Facebook here.