FOLKEARTH „A Nordic Poem”

Music: Melodic Folk/Viking Metal
Website: http://www.folkearth.cjb.net
Country: Sweden (international)


Cool songs: Wolfsong In Moonlight, Rhyming With Thunder, Storm Ravens Come, Gaelic Valor

It all started in February 2004. One idea was brought to life – to unite musicians from different countries, who play folk and pagan metal. After some brainstorming, in Spring 2004, an international team of musicians began recording the material. They managed to create over 60 minutes of music, although because of some objective and subjective reasons, only 40 were released. Where did those 20 minutes disappear? Only the gods know. The recording sessions were accomplished in different countries, so maybe the musicians lost the material during the journeys. All of the mixing and mastering was made in Sweden by Magnus Wohlfart, in his own “The Dungeon” Studio. Bands involved in the recording were from all over Europe (Greece, Lithuania, Switzerland, England, Austria, and mostly from Sweden).

The album starts… as most of the folk bands start their albums: with an intro, played on pipes. “Pipes Are Calling” has a simple melody, creating the mood and idea – the idea of what is waiting for us in the centre of this piece of plastic. And “Wolfsong In Moonlight” is an astonishing composition. Delicate guitar solo at the beginning, combined with solid drums line is magnificent. Two types of vocal: deathish – creates a demonic mood; another one – warrior style – makes this song sound noble. And those wonderful pipes and flutes. Almost as good as those by JETHRO TULL. Another song, “Horned Trolls And Mystical Folk” also starts delicate. Retro-intro and keyboards create the main theme of this song. Fleshy although rhythmic riff, nice violin parts and that demonic vocal, create cool team. Drums often remind us that this is pagan metal – strong and fast motifs are enough. “Rhyming With Thunder” is a little gem in the crown. Excellent epic story – a poem about the gods. Church-organ intro is misleading at the beginning, but later on, the listener knows exactly what music, he or she, is listening to. Pace changing and the variety of instruments in the middle of this song, make it unable to be boring. And the vocal line – man versus woman. I had an impression that I was sitting with a bunch of Nordic warriors, around the bonfire, and they were telling stories. “Eldritch Sorcery And Faery Runes” is similar to the previous song. Strong riffs, pagan drums, various kinds of vocal. It sounds nice. And the ending is an injection of energy. Fast guitar, dynamic drums and that delicate voice. Contradictions like to go together. What is good about his album is the variety of compositions. They not only vary in some way, one from another, but also they are varied inside. What I mean, is that each one has some cool elements which free the mind. And each song has different elements. “In Odin’s Court” starts very gently with an acoustic guitar intro, to move heavily through the rest of the song. “Storm Ravens Come” begins with an acoustic guitar and violin intro, supported by a sweet vocal (a la BLACKMORE'S NIGHT), to go smoothly into heavy guitar solos. It is like a chain, where every link differs from another. At the end it goes even faster, again deathish vocal and pagan rhythm. And that sweet female voice.
“Gryningssl’ng” also starts in an acoustic way and stays this way till the end. And it sounds marvellous. It has its own style and climate. I could almost see and smell the Swedish highlands. The lyrics are in Swedish, but this does not destroy the atmosphere. Thanks to this operation, the folk climate gains strength. And the last heavy composition “Gaelic Valor” – has a powerful riff, speedy drums from the beginning, and those noble voices. Now that is what I call a perfect finish. Finish, because the next composition is an outro – “Outro” – which is instrumental. “Gaelic Valor” is also filled with pace changes, which make it very dynamic.

The first LP by FOLKEARTH is a little international masterpiece. Despite the fact, that they sometimes batten on high format stars like: JETHRO TULL, BLACKMORE'S NIGHT and BATHORY. The last one is audible in many compositions. But it is the late BATHORY, the one we know from the “Nordland” saga. Some will say, that FOLKEARTH are copying. I will say: yes, because folk music is rather schematic. But on the other hand, they do it in a fantastic way. Each song sounds different. There is no place for boredom at all. And this is what metal maniacs like the most.

note: 8.5/10

Tracklist

1. (Intro) The Pipes Are Calling
2. Wolfsong in Moonlight
3. Horned Trolls and Mystical Folk
4. Rhyming With Thunder
5. Eldritch Sorcery and Faery Runes
6. In Odin's Court
7. Storm Ravens Come
8. Gryningssĺng
9. Gaelic Valor
10. Outro

Total playing time 39:41

Line-up

Marios Koutsoukos – Keyboards
Nikos Nezeritis – Acoustic Guitar
Stefanos Koutsoukos – Bass Guitar
Ruslanas – Spoken Vocals
Athelstan – Drums, Guitars
Wulfstan – Guitars, Bass, Vocals
Chrigiel Glanzmann – Uileann Pipes, Tin Whistle, Bodhran
Hugin – Keyboards
Magnus Wohlfart – Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Mouth Harp,
Vocals
Jonas Froberg – Keyed Fiddle, Vocals
Kristofer Janiec – Violin
Jeremy Child – Drums, Vocals
William Ekeberg – Cello, Vocals
Michelle Maas – Female Vocals