For a long time, the world of neofolk has been a good way to put me in a good mood. Yet, I haven’t really gone far into that little corner of music for no real reason in particular. I simply haven’t, but today I was determined to change that. Incidentally, I happened upon Kreiviskai whose name has been mentioned in whispers whenever I peer into the neofolk realm and I wanted to see what the act was all about. This new album is in no way what I expected, but it’s incredibly welcome!

For us metalheads, innovation and merging different styles together to create something much more massive is something that bands have been doing left and right for decades. Naturally, I knew it was gonna appear in the realm of neofolk, but I wasn’t expecting Kreiviskai to pull it off with expert precision no less. Calling “Nonregnum” a pure neofolk album would an absolute insult to the grand beauty and wonder that this 63-minute long sophomore effort embodies. These eleven tracks bring together folk, ritual, and ambiance heavily influenced by ethnographic themes executed by traditional instruments in a fashion that allows for truly beautiful music that knows no bound and continues to make “Nonregnum” delicious from start to finish. There’s no piece of what Kreiviskai has crafted here that feels boring or not quite as fleshed out as the rest of the release, and then enables “Nonregnum” to feel even, well-sorted, and executed wondrously so you’re constantly entranced by the majesty that’s on full display here.

Neofolk can often be given shit as being boring if the listener doesn’t have a real taste for it or simply doesn’t know how to appreciate it, but boring is the exact opposite of what’s on display here. Every inch of “Nonregnum” is everything that I could ask for from a style such as neofolk, and it doesn’t disappoint! Should there be any rising act that could become one of the new faces of neofolk if, given the chance, I firmly believe Kreiviskai has the capability of doing just that.

LISTEN to “Nonregnum” on Bandcamp here.