For the last five months I’ve been seriously deprived of this magnificent and magical drug that I’m a known junkie of: folk metal. I’ve heard and loved but 3 folk bands in that time (Whispered, Manegarm, and Black Kirin) that, … Continue reading Romuvos – Infront of Destiny
I think we can all agree that samurais are pretty metal, no? Imagining samurai themed metal sounds like an over the top, ridiculous pipe dream that sounds like it would be a real mess with way too much shit going … Continue reading Whispered – Metsutan – Songs of the Void
I’m one of those people that since I don’t live in China and haven’t been in that culture for all my life, I am absolutely enthralled by it. Chinese themed movies, stories, music, folklore, and all that good stuff are … Continue reading Black Kirin – National Trauma
I’ve been meaning to get around to satisfying my recent fix for folk metal, and right now Månegarm has put out one of the best albums this year to satisfy you’re need for folk metal, viking metal, pagan metal, or … Continue reading Månegarm (self-titled)
It would appear to me that the tiny record label that is Blackened Death Records has got a compilation series going on, and I enjoyed the first entry to the “Hammer Smashed Faith” series so why the fuck not check … Continue reading Blackened Death Records Presents: Hammer Smashed Faith II
The one thing that I could never have seen coming no matter how much I thought about the possibility of it being a thing is melodic death metal mixed with epic metal that is heavily Japanese influenced. Now, that right there just sounds like a big fucking mess as a band trying to merge two cool things together to make each more badass and it would be too good to be true if it worked. Well, it does work and is too good to be true because Whispered have made a name for themselves along with their niche group of fans (of which I’m now … Continue reading Whispered – Sakura Omen (single)
There’s nothing quite like a folk metal album done in a unique way, if you ask me. The genre always manages to amaze me as different bands implement different instruments depending on its sound and/or if it’s influential from their culture, and in this case it’s the latter of the two. Nathyr’s debut album, “As the Legacy Unveils”, is an amalgamation of progressive, death, and folk metal that are all blended together amazingly without any one genre overpowering the other. “As the Legacy Unveils” is also representative of Nathyr’s Egyptian origins as the instruments used on the album are instruments … Continue reading Nathyr – As the Legacy Unveils
Korpiklaani is without a doubt the undisputed kings of folk metal bands that play about beer. Very deep, meaningful beer. Anyways, I saw that they released “Noita” and immediately hopped onto this album because this is the band that first got me into folk metal so it never hurts to return to your roots and check out what’s gone on. “Noita” is a very solid album for its genre but it didn’t really feel like folk metal until the fourth track. For whatever reason, the first three just didn’t feel folk metal-y albeit they were nice they just weren’t impressive … Continue reading Korpiklaani – Noita
I’ve definitely heard of combining folk metal with power metal and working out very, very well with bands like Elvenking being one of few that pop into my mind instantly. But with bands like that finding such success in that type of music then there are always other bands that wish to do the same with a genre and become something more. That’s exactly what “Over a Mountain Peak” by Polish power/folk metal band Open Access is doing with a sound that I can’t say is 100% unique to my ears, but the raw quality of it overall was really … Continue reading Open Access – Over a Mountain Peak
I’m an absolute sucker for epic (or folk) metal and atmospheric black metal when they’re both done right, but I’ve never imagined how good they might sound if someone smashed them together into one song with both parts being done extremely well. That’s exactly what Sojourner’s debut single has done for me! A 9 and a half minute track with elements of atmospheric black metal along with epic metal elements like a flute worked amazingly well together and only because Sojourner knew exactly the kind of sound they wanted and they fucking knew exactly how to get that sound perfectly. … Continue reading Sojourner – Heritage of the Natural Realm (single)
Head-Banger Reviews 