ALBUM REVIEW: Skáld – Huldufólk


Steeped in Nordic mythology, France’s Skáld draw extensively on traditional folk music and employ the Old Norse language for many of their lyrics. Huldufólk (Decca / Universal Music) is the group’s fourth full-length release and is themed around the subject of its title: huldufólk, or “hidden people” is the name given to the mythical beings — elves, dwarves, trolls — that populate Nordic folklore. Moreover, according to the press release accompanying this record, the work honours “an entire people in whom many Scandinavians still believe”.

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CONCERT REVIEW: Wardruna – Live at Kings Theatre 


 

After three long years the wait is finally over! Wardruna has landed on American soil once again, touring with new material from their 2021 release Kvitravn (Sony/By Norse Recordings). Wardruna, modern ambassadors of ancient Norse music, culture and lore tour with a full load of historical and traditional instruments including deer-hide framed drums, Lur, Tagelharpe, Kraviklyra, Tungehorn, and Jaw-Harp… just to name a few. This, combined with the stunningly unique venues they play worldwide ensures a live performance unlike any other.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Heilung – Drif


 

Experimental folk collective Heilung (which means Healing in German) rather aptly describes their sound as amplified history; they’ve often taken inspiration for their music from ancient texts and documents. Old world instrumentation and techniques, coupled with ancient texts form the basis of their rituals.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Crippled Black Pheonix – Benefyre


 

Banefyre (Season of Mist) is the twelfth album from Crippled Black Phoenix, the category-defying collective centred around Justin Greaves, a former doom metal drummer (for bands such as Electric Wizard and Iron Monkey) turned multi-instrumentalist songwriter. The current studio lineup of the band has Greaves joined by longstanding vocalist Belinda Kordic, plus more recent recruits Helen Stanley (keys, synths, trumpet), Andy Taylor (guitars), and new second vocalist and third guitarist Joel Segerstedt.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Wardruna – Kvitravn – First Flight of the White Raven


Kvitravn — First Flight of the White Raven (ByNorse / Sony / Columbia Germany) is a special release for Norwegian dark folk outfit Wardruna; it follows in the footsteps of 2021’s studio release Kvitravn  (“white raven”) and documents a live-streamed lockdown concert that took place in the same year. The live album’s setlist contains only four tracks from Kvitravn itself, with the remainder of the 74-minute record comprising pieces from Wardruna’s earlier output.Continue reading


Midgardsblot Returns in 2022 with Wardruna, Heilung, Rotting Christ, Myrkur, Zeal and Ardor, Borknagar and More!


The intersection of Norse-Pagan culture, ancient dark folk music, and metal will take place once again at this summer’s Midgardsblot. Taking place in Norway, 17-20th of August, Ghost Cult is happy to see the return of this essential festival we have covered in the past. Among the headline acts this year are acclaimed acts such as Wardruna, Heilung, Rotting Christ, Myrkur, Zeal and Ardor, Borknagar, Primordial, Einherjer, Arkona, Lindy Fay Hella, Ragnarok, Helheim, Djevel, Urgehal, Koldbran, Konvent, Nytt Land, Kælan Mikla, Gaerra, Lucifer’s Child, Eivør, and more artists to be announced. The festival also includes actors and historical reenactments, seminars, and more! Tickets and camping accomodations are on sale at the link below. 

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CONCERT REVIEW: Wardruna – Jo Quail: Live at Manchester Albert Hall


It’s a sight to behold the lengthy queue of hairy Viking looking metalheads snaking around Manchester Albert Hall, assuming of course the snake in question was quite hairy and dressed like a Viking, which I feel is probably stretching the metaphor a bit too far. You’d assume that said hairy, mead quaffing snake (alright, I’ll stop now) was going to be finding its way inside to some sort of very loud and very metal sort of gig. You’d be wrong, as indeed despite the roots of the headliners in Black Metal group Gorgoroth the queue is in fact for the mesmerizing solo cellist Jo Quail, and Nordic Folk legends Wardruna. 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Gaahls Wyrd – The Humming Mountain


Having been involved in making underground music for nigh on thirty years, vocalist Gaahl has amassed a body of work ranging from high voltage Black Metal with Gorgoroth and the less polished Trelldom, to the traditional folk stylings of Wardruna, ramping up his progressive blackened leanings with God Seed, before releasing GastiR – Ghosts Invited (Indie Recordings), the debut offering of current vehicle Gaahls Wyrd, in 2019.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Iron Maiden – Senjutsu


When every superlative known to man has already been used a hundred times over, it’s difficult to find something to say about Iron Maiden that hasn’t already been said. Every lyric, song, album and music video has been rated and evaluated to within an inch of its life. Business dealings and interviews are scrutinized in microscopic detail, and the minutiae of every record cover examined and dissected like a hairy art project. The moment anything regarding the band is released, the global hive mind that is Maiden’s information-hungry fan base not only know about it but have already expressed their opinion.

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