Having reviewed Grave Pleasures‘ Plagueboys for Ghost Cult earlier this year, as a Mat McNerney fan I was excited to see he had another record out, this time via his folk-orientated project Hexvessel.
Tag Archives: Folk Metal
ALBUM REVIEW: Varmia – nie nas widzę
Varmia is a tough nut to crack, but that might be the point: nie nas widzę (M-Theory Audio) is the fourth piece to the Polish pagans’ puzzle and it introduces a plethora of both traditional ethnic musical elements and standard-sounding black metal techniques.
PODCAST: Episode 251: The Steve and Keefy Power Hour, April 2023 Edition
Time for another edition of The Steve and Keefy Power Hour! Senior Editor Steve Tovey joins Chief Editor Keefy, recapping March 2023 Rock and Metal Releases and previewing April’s essential new heavy music! Two white guys and music nerds pontificate on the music you love. Also, will we have new music soon from Ghost, Slipknot, Foo Fighters, and Iron Maiden? Shoutout to our amazing team of reviewers worldwide. Also, also, RIP Mat Davies as always. Hosted by Ojaay!
CONCERT REVIEW: Eluveitie – Omnium Gatherum – Seven Spires Live at The Majestic Theatre
The snow had finally tapered off right when the doors opened for the night’s event at the historic Majestic Theatre. This beloved spot is one of Detroit’s preferred venues to catch a heavy show. Continue reading
PODCAST: Episode 235: The Steve and Keefy Power Hour, March 2023 Edition
Two bald guys and former metal bassists (at least one of us is still a legit vocalist) Senior Editor Steve Tovey joins Chief Editor Keefy for their Monthy Power Hour podcast to discuss a recap of February 2023 Rock and Metal album releases and a discussion of the March hopefuls! UK vs US in a mental steel cage match of metal music nerdom! Shoutout to our amazing team of reviewers worldwide, and you for listening!
ALBUM REVIEW: Heidevolk – Wederkeer
Wederkeer (Napalm Records) is the seventh album from Dutch folk metal outfit Heidevolk. The record’s title means “return” or “revive”, and indeed the accompanying press release pitches Wederkeer’s “bombastic folk and pagan metal” as Heidevolk’s “glorious return”.
ALBUM REVIEW: Feuerschwanz – Todsünden
Exactly a year on from the release of Memento Mori (Napalm Records), German medieval folk metallers Feuerschwanz return with a collection of previously recorded cover versions. Releasing material lifted from bonus discs might seem a little superfluous to anyone without a tendency towards rampant completism but Todsünden is filled with surprising choices and no lack of creativity.
ALBUM REVIEW: Frayle – Skin and Sorrow
Skin & Sorrow (Aqualamb) is the second full-length release from Cleveland, Ohio’s “heavy, low and witchy” duo Frayle. The band consists of multi-instrumentalist Sean Bilovecky and singer Gwyn Strang, who between them cite the influence both doom metal (Black Sabbath, Kyuss, Sleep) and avant-garde pop (Björk, Portishead). Frayle’s stated aim is to create “music for the night sky”.
ALBUM REVIEW: Blind Guardian – The God Machine
2019’s fully orchestral concept album Legacy of the Dark Lands aside, it’s been seven long years since Blind Guardian‘s last proper full-length release. Seven years, which more recently included a global pandemic and lockdown periods that for much of the music industry meant nothing but frustration and turmoil, but actually afforded the German power metal act time to concentrate on where to head nextContinue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Saor – Origins
Andy Marshall is the poster child for harnessing the random beauty of nature and threading it together with the limitless opportunity atmospheric folk/black metal presents. His Caledonian imprint (a fancy, old-fashioned way of saying Scotland) isn’t foreign to the scene, but the coming together of his various musical arrangements is second to none. And that’s a hill I will die on.Continue reading