folk metal

Album Review:  Zelenaya — “Folk Songs”

AngelaLeave a comment


Combining powerful harmonies of Eastern European polyphonic folk vocals with sludge, doom, and death metal, Zelenaya brings a unique and compelling debut album, Folk Songs. Songs are derived from Ukrainian village polyphony, southern Poland, the general Pale of Settlement, further east in the Balkans like Serbia, and even the Caucasus region. Not only are the songs diverse and impressive, but so are the musicians in the band. The bio of each person is inspiring and it is no surprise that this collection of individuals have found their way to each other and joined forces to create this magical album. Having roots in the arts, education, mysticism, non-profits, and more, these four individuals are making the world a better place with everything they do including sharing their gifts together as Zelenaya.

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Receiving the Evcharist: Rankarumpu and Monogatari

IanLeave a comment
Receiving the Evcharist 2018


If you really thought there was any other way for us to celebrate the release of a new Korpiklaani album than with an alcoholic beverage, you must be out of your goddamn gourd.  Drink from the cup of heresy, indeed, friends.  This week’s offerings: Korpiklaani’s Rankarumpu and More Brewing Company’s Monogatari.

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Album Review: Vansind — “Mørket”

Angela1 Comment


Imagine combining killer riffs, tin whistles and bagpipes, impressive drumming, and guttural Viking vocals mixed with beautiful clean vocals that sound as if Shakira was Danish…all done with incredible precision.  Amazing, right?  Vansind does all of the above and more in their debut full length release Mørket.  The melodies are catchy, and the array of instrumentation makes for a very lively album.  There are pure folk moments, pure metal moments, and plenty of the two combined.  Vansind is a newer band having formed in 2019, but they already have an established presence with a few singles and a successful EP that released in 2021.  Continuing to build their sound and cement their mark in folk metal, Mørket is an impressive debut and not to be missed.

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Album Review/Retrospective: Agalloch — “Pale Folklore (Deluxe Reissue)”

ColinLeave a comment

When revisiting albums that were highly formative — either on a personal level or to the development of a certain sound — there’s always the chance that they don’t hold up to your own memories, or the pedestal they’re put on by the scene at large. One such album that fits both types of formative is Agalloch’s 1999 debut full-length, Pale Folklore. I recall that this was always my favorite Agalloch release, and it was definitely a big first step in defining their signature blend of black, folk, and doom before post-metal became the standard. It’s been a bit of a dry spell for new music catching my ear recently, so when this hit our promo list, I figured there’s no better time to revisit this album for the first time in well over a decade. Does it hold up in the ways I thought it might? Not necessarily, but it was still a nostalgic and refreshing listen.

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Album Review: Änterbila — “Änterbila”

Colin1 Comment

With varying degrees of economic, social, and political turmoil occurring all over the world, it’s no surprise that a growing number of metal artists have used struggles of the past in order to craft heavy music for the present. The latest among this group is Änterbila, who help us bring 2022 to a close with their self-titled debut album of rip-roaring black metal about Swedish peasantry from the 18th – 20th centuries. Folk-inspired elements top off Änterbila to present a short but solid introduction that is hopefully just a taste of what’s to come.

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