Of all the styles that are out there in the world of metal for us to lose ourselves in, folk metal has to be one of those that will endlessly fascinate me. It’s a style that feels like there’s no middle ground. Bands either go for a sound that’s quite light in the more folk-influenced instrumentation to simply wield mythological lyrics and themes while others go all in to craft otherworldly experiences that truly embody the concept of fantasy. When the latter is performed by a band with real gusto, passion, and capability, it almost always makes for a beyond-noteworthy performance. The talent from Ash of Ashes is far from foreign to crafting music of the sort that qualifies as real greatness, but it is everything brought forth in this particular album that demands to be hailed as a pillar for folk metal in 2022.

The very expanse of the world we know now is not nearly enough to encapsulate proper folk metal that seeks to go above and beyond, and it’s clear with any of the given tracks from this gorgeous effort that Ash of Ashes agrees as we’re able to tap into many of the different themes, lyrical content, and instrumental storytelling that this style has always excelled at. Pick any of the nine tracks from “Traces”. Any single one of them whether it’s a brief two minutes of self-reflection at sea or a lamentation for those who’ll never return is more than enough to stand proudly on their own as singular releases whether it be meant as promotional singles, standalone pieces, or literally anything else you could think of; there isn’t a moment of weakness for the absolute entirety of “Traces”. This is simply one of those creations that is utterly compelling right from the beginning with every minute that follows having some sort of glory that we’re constantly waiting for whether it be in the form of undeniable riffage, vocals that cannot be called anything short of striking in every instance, or being transported to lands that feel so familiar yet so foreign at the same time with Ash of Ashes constantly and consistently nailing the performance at every given turn no matter the odds they face before them. There is real magic within the depths and in the valleys that “Traces” was forged in, and it’s with every stroke and bash of that hammer with which Ash of Ashes has crafted something that, when wielded by them, is no less than a work of real mastery.

Every year, we’re graced by a select few releases out of the world of folk metal that are nigh on exceptional that manage to not only rise above a vast swathe of the competition, but continues to define the modern state of the sound no matter if we’re dealing with names that have been around for decades or those who are just rising forth from the dirt. This year has been quite lacking in that regard in my experience, but it is single-handedly here that Ash of Ashes may very well have delivered the album of its kind that this year will see. There isn’t a single facet of this magnificence that I would dare change for its all that was delivered in “Traces” that could very well earn the title of “masterpiece”.

LISTEN to “Traces” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Ash of Ashes on Facebook here.