Rating: 7/10
Release: 31 July 2015
Label: Trollzorn

What is that makes you a medieval folk metal band? Is is lyrical and musical content? Is it elaborate stage wear or set? Whatever the criteria is, Germany’s Ingrim are touted as a medieval folk metal band and they certainly look the part. There also is some merit in their sound as certainly having some medieval and folk metal aspects to it. Whatever the case, they have just released a new 4 song EP as a follow up to “Henkt Ihn!” from 2014 entitled “Ungeständig”. The title track is 12 minutes in length and opens the EP which I found a little difficult to get thru as an opening track. Their sound to me does not really fit a track of this length as tracks on “Henkt Ihn!” didn’t exceed more than 6 ½ minutes in length. The remaining three tracks (“Sag Mir Nicht”, “Stein Auf Stein” and “Vogelfrei”) all average 3 ½ minutes in length and I think this is the style and song length they should stick too…..“Ungeständig” (the track that is) just loses steam for me and while I credit the ambition, I think it seems to just not suit them. The remaining three tracks have nice rhythm changes and staccato guitar riffs, almost nu metal sounding but with the bagpipes and violin you are still in folk metal lands. This is an average EP and it certainly doesn’t hit with the impact of more recent EP’s I have listened to like Vesperia, Birds’ Way or Illdåd did which wanted me to listen to them a few times after the first listen….still a decent little EP to check out but not an emergency to run and get…..

Tracklist

1. Ungeständig
2. Sag mir nicht
3. Stein auf Stein
4. Vogelfrei