Tag Archives: folk

ALBUM REVIEW: Weft – The Splintered Oar

Posted on by

Embodying a whole lifetime of exploration, growth, and the ever-dynamic passages of life’s trajectory, debut album The Splintered Oar by Weft, which was released via Bindrune Recordings, is a meticulous construction well-crafted by Panopticon’s Charlie Anderson, influenced by a vast range of names and references. While the core foundation of its soundscapes revolves around Atmospheric and Death/Black Metal undertones, Weft also incorporated influences from Prog, Country, Americana, Folk, and other means of passages that aren’t strongly inclined towards distortions and belligerent beats– and it distinctively shows in the wide range of the vocal palette that Weft presented on this album; that dynamic shift from intricate, harsh growls, to choir-inspired clean singing that appear ethereal and enchanting.
Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: THE MON – Songs of Abandon

Posted on by

In a way, every album has a story. In the case of Songs of Abandon (Supernatural Cat Records) though, the latest release from solo project THE MON, the story is a specific and unique one. Several years ago, Urlo (bass player and vocalist for doomy, heavy-rock unit Ufomammut) decided to try writing nine songs, each one in a day—just himself and an acoustic guitar. Fast forward to 2025 and Songs of Abandon comes as the first part of a two-album concept: Embrace The Abandon (to be followed by Songs of Embrace in the new year). The result is an intimate and eerie collection that favours subtlety over sonic extremes, while maintaining an understated power.

Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Novembers Doom – Major Arcana

Posted on by

Best known for combining belligerent heaviness with emotionally charged atmospheres and in-depth progressions, Chicago Death-Doom unit Novembers Doom have always been one to produce sounds that are difficult to categorize into certain binaries– to define is to limit, after all!Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Amorphis – Borderland

Posted on by

Despite thirty-five years in the business, Finnish sextet Amorphis’ fire has not dulled. Borderland (Reigning Phoenix Music) is the melodic Death Metal group’s fifteenth album, and it is the same multi-layered mix of Death, Folk, and Symphonic, only this time there is a greater emphasis on melody, and it is not as heavy and bombastic as Halo.   

Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Marissa Nadler – New Radiations

Posted on by

Marissa Nadler’s 10th album, New Radiations (Sacred Bones Records), finds her stripping down to a more minimalist yet cinematic feel. It feels spacious, yep, with an intimate yearning. Her vocals are produced in a similar reverb-heavy manner. Her approach to vocals continues to expand the well-layered vocal harmonies. The harmonies are more prominent in the mix time, adding more depth in the absence of more Rock-oriented instrumentation. Continue reading →


PODCAST: Episode 741 – Ava Maybee at BottleRock Napa

Posted on by

Up-and-coming Pop and Rock singer Ava Maybee just released her debut EP, “Orange Drive!” We caught her fiery opening slot on Saturday of BottleRock Napa 2025, and she killed it, followed by a quick interview with Keefy! Even though she comes from Rock royalty 9her father is Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and she was on American Idol, she is a totally DIY artist. In addition to her new release and BottleRock Napa, she is undertaking her debut tour and will also appear at Summerfest and Warped Tour this summer!Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Steve Von Till – Alone in a World of Wounds

Posted on by

Steve Von Till probably needs little introduction to most Ghost Cult Magazine readers. His hugely influential work with post-metal icons Neurosis needs no further elaboration here. What people may be less aware of, though, is that Von Till has been releasing solo records since 2000. Indeed, Alone in a World of Wounds (Neurot Recordings) is his sixth solo offering to date.Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Eluveitie – Anv

Posted on by

When it comes to musical acts, Eluveitie is a bit of an anomaly.

Created nearly twenty-five years ago, the Melodic Folk Metal band has a literal laundry list of former members and only has one musician who has been there since day one. Yet despite these factors usually causing the act to fizzle out, it instead enabled Eluveitie to constantly reinvent themselves while also somehow retaining a very clear and very likeable common thread.Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Bloodywood – Nu Delhi

Posted on by

With a pair of studio albums under their belt (including 2022’s magnificent work Rakshak), Metalcore/Indian-inspired Folk/Hip-Hop standouts Bloodywood have both carved out a bit of a signature sound whilst also leaving room to continue experimenting and injecting flair and originality into their work.Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Jaye Jayle – After Alter

Posted on by

Jaye Jayle went from being Evan Patterson’s solo project that explored sounds outside of what he did in Young Widows and has now become a full-fledged band.Continue reading →