It’s not too terribly often that I find myself really swayed by folk metal despite it being one of my favorite styles given how grand and expansive it can be in even some its simplest moments. Plenty of acts have gripped my mind but it’s across this year in particular that I feel I haven’t given the style nearly as much love as I’d like. Italy has never really been a spot that I feel could produce some truly exceptional folk metal, but it’s thanks to Atavicus that the country gets the representative that it deserves.

Right off the bat, I couldn’t help but feel that Atavicus would give us something special with this album just given the cover art that is all but immaculate for virtually any given album of the style. What we’re given here is a delightful mix of plenty of what many other acts have given us from the likes of Itnuveth to Isenmor to Mongol as “Di Eroica Stirpe” does no less than dominate on every possible front that an album like this could. Whether it’s in the form of some atmospheric bits led by powerful folk instruments or an onslaught of intensity that’s far from anything to be scoffed at, Atavicus conquers everything that’s thrown their way with this album in masterful capacities. “Di Eroica Stirpe” grips you right from the beginning and knows how to keep you enraptured in every single track as Atavicus shows us true mastery over the style in such a way that we don’t get often enough, and this is a work that should not be ignored by anyone who considers themself a fan of the style in any capacity. What’s on display here is nothing short of tremendous, and I’ve no doubt whatsoever that in future efforts Atavicus will prove to be a true tour de force of folk metal that is not to be fucked with.

There are always plenty of albums in each style that come along every year that are interesting to say the least, and it’s clearly here that folk metal has gotten yet another champion in 2019 in the form of Atavicus who do nothing but justice for the style. All the way to the glorious ending, “Di Eroica Stirpe” is an excellent work of folk metal that is truly one to experience for any person who would even enjoy the thought of the style.

LISTEN to “Di Eroica Stirpe” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Atavicus on Facebook here.