Huldre – Tusmørke (2016) – Review

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Landscapes shrouded in fog. Mystic swamps filled with goblins, and dark terrifying forests that start at the Danish border.

Right? 

Well, not to my knowledge. But if you listen to some of the tunes breezing over to us from Daneland, one could believe it. 

Indeed last year, the stellar, but pitch dark Black Metal contribution of Myrkur appeared out of nowhere. And now Huldre comes along with songs from the twilight. And they even perform in a woody, leafy fashion on stage to top it. So, there you go, fits the forest theme, now does it? 

The fairies start flying once you start on Tusmørke! 

That, [...] Click to raid more!

Panychida – Haereticalia – The Night Battles (2016) – Review

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At first Haereticalia – The Night Battles of the Czech outfit Panychida, just sounds like any other Symphonic Metal band trying their often frugal orchestral muscle out on the unsuspecting fan crowd.

Already the intro waltzes away like something straight from Central Europe, somewhat of a baroque classical style with a slightly Austrian touch.

Which makes sense to an extent.

Panychida are joining us from Plzeň in the Czech Republic. An area, more known for its beer, classical music (not metal, sadly), and loads of history. So, you kind of wonder where this is all going. Until the evil twins from Shining step in with a [...] Click to raid more!

Kanseil – Doin Earde (2015) – Review

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A fresh, crunchy wind blows into today’s somewhat stale folk metal scene. Reaching us from the South, no less!

The Italian band Kanseil just published their debut album Doin Earde (meaning ‘your land’ in Cimbrian dialect) a few days ago. Arguably their tune is still in need of some more polish and improvement. But frankly, the way innovation, energy, drive, and delivery go, their tune is not bad at all.

I have been following them around for a while already and I do like their refreshing style, mixing different medieval, archaic, and contemporary instruments into their metal stew.

Kanseil bring enough variation … [...] Click to raid more!

Finsterforst – Rastlos (2012) – Review

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I came across Finsterforst via their latest 2014 record Mach Dich Frei and found them forest boys of good, crunchy quality. In style, clear delivery, and technical prowess. Yet the lyrics were wanting somewhat, too much hate mail there. But by and large, their tune turns out to be pretty mature.  

Now, their magic potion Rastlos is different. Insomnium with a Black Forest Pie flavor mixed with a portion of Moonsorrow style of bleak, black winter lakes? Sometimes the similarities are quite startling and perhaps Finsterforst pushed this one a bit far in this here record. Evil tongues say that [...] Click to raid more!