It’s the taste of something larger than life that what drives many fans of fantasy to the genre as very few things is more fun to imagine up than tales that could never possibly happen that are simply rife with grand adventures and monsters like none other. Such themes are what drive a good chunk of folk metal, and it’s been far too long since I’ve heard a compelling piece from any folk metal act. Stone Sovereign did a fantastic job with just that to enable their debut to become something that I’ve been desperately needing.

To be completely honest with you, there just haven’t really been any folk releases on my radar since the last Alestorm record and it’s really only the forthcoming Isenmor and Wormwood that has caught my attention so folk metal hasn’t really been on my mind all that much, sadly. Just reading the description for “Tales of Myth & Madness” made me want to listen to it because it was in that instant that I realized I needed some good folk metal. While there aren’t the crazy instruments that I like from the genre, there’s not a single part of this record that I can’t go crazy over as Stone Sovereign did a really exceptional job with this record. From the completely original locations to the fantastic musicianship to the eye-catching flavors that Stone Sovereign constantly have on display at all time, “Tales of Myth & Madness” truly delivers the goods in a way that’s no less than absolutely enthralling. I’ve seen plenty of folk metal acts fall flat on their faces with their debut either out of shit post-production or simply not knowing what to do, but Stone Sovereign couldn’t be any further from such a travesty here.

It’s with no less than loads of talent and impeccable execution that Stone Sovereign utterly dominates here. There’s passion that really goes into this fantasy realm of sheer greatness and I’ve no doubt that “Tales of Myth & Madness” is just the beginning of all the gripping tales that Stone Sovereign is sure to bring our way with their eclectic but focused brand of folk metal.

LISTEN to “Tales of Myth & Madness” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Stone Sovereign on Facebook here.