A beautiful and atmospheric take on some of the lesser-known lore of Tolkein’s world.
Category: Review
Ostara Orbits the World – United Kingdom
The folk and power metal scene in the UK is getting bigger every year, and I am fortunate enough to know and in some cases be friends with the members of several of these bands.
Vorgrum – Party in the Deep
If you want to have a folk metal workout, stick this album on and dance around for 45 minutes, it’s the perfect folk metal party in an album!
Ostara Orbits the World – Sweden
Home of fika, meatballs, Ikea and some absolutely fantastic metal, I am absolutely spoilt for choice when it comes to discovering new folk/pagan/power metal bands from this wonderful country.
Shadowrise – Shadowrise
Shadowrise I feel have a lot of potential. The mix between the RPG soundtrack style and the heavy instrumental works really well.
Celtachor – Fiannaíocht
I’m really looking forward to seeing Celtachor again live. It is not often that Irish folk metal is heard, it is more often the more Northern European folk metal that fans are more familiar with.
Cruachan – Nine Years of Blood
This is certainly an album I will be listening to again, and if you haven’t had the chance to check these guys out yet, you should!
Sojourner – The Shadowed Road
Each song on this album is its own story, its own journey. Sojourner have a unique sound in their own right.
Tengger Cavalry – Cian Bi
An unusual folk metal album which deviates from the normal European style. It flows really well and the composition is fantastic.
Armored Dawn – Barbarians in Black
Barbarians in Black is a hard-hitting, heavy power metal album which you should really add to your collection.
Accursed Years – Oaken Weave (Single)
An acquaintance of mine (also in Sköll) asked me if I’d be kind enough to have a listen to his other band’s (Accursed Years) single
Kalmah – Palo
With hard hitting riffs and folky melodies, this is certainly a contender for my album of the year!
Kamelot – The Shadow Theory
I really, really want to like this album. I really do. I’ve heard great things about Kamelot and on paper they sound like exactly my kind of band, but this albun really didn’t meet my expectations. I can tell the music itself is really well written and thought out, but at times it almost seems like it’s too well thought out at times.
Borealis – The Offering
If you enjoy punchy power metal with heavy drums and symphonic elements, The Offering is an album you need in your collection. It will definitely be joining mine.
Adavant – The Unyielding
This album is a great mix of power, folk and symphonic metal, with heavy Ensiferum influences. If you enjoy these genres, Adavant is a band you definitely want to be keeping track of in the future!
Auri – Auri
If you love the folk melodies in metal, this is a pure, stripped down version and it is every bit as beautiful you would expect.
North Hammer – Stormcaller
Overall it’s a great folk metal album, and if you like your folk metal on the heavier side it’s definitely an album you need to check out, and North Hammer is definitely a band you need to keep your eye on!
Hiidenhauta – 1695
This album really makes you feel the struggle and hardships of the Finnish people. When you don’t speak the language the lyrics are written in, the power of the music and expression in the voice becomes even more important, and this album really captures the concept of the entire album.
GIG REVIEW: Grimner plus Support at The Angel Microbrewery, Nottingham
On a cold March evening in Nottingham, as the snow began to fall, a small group of metalheads gathered in the upstairs chapel of a brewery and pub, waiting for a folk metal party to warm their souls. The legions of YYLVA, Atorc, Isarnos and Grimner gathered, and the lights went down.
Iahsari – Shrine of the Ancient Gods
If you like your tracks with long instrumentals, then this is definitely an album you want to be checking out, and a band you want to be keeping an eye on in the future.
Ostara Metal 