Rating: 8.5/10
Release: 12 July 2015
Label: Stygian Crypt Productions

I am sure you have all come across a band that you say to yourself “Why are they not more popular?” or something along those lines. After listening to the new Fferyllt I said that myself a few times because they should be gigantic with a capital G.
Delving a little further it seems there really hasn’t been a solidified line up from day one, even two new members have been added since their last release in 2012 “Прорицание” (“Soothsaying”) including new vocalist Ekaterina and guitarist Alexey. On a musical level, I would say Arkona is a fair comparison along with a more symphonic oriented Eluveitie especially on this new release. Opening track “Call Of The Wild” will certainly give you the FFeryllt sound in a nutshell….layered folk instrumentation, female vocals with grunted doomy male vocals and mid paced arrangements all very catchy. Tracks like “Black Sails” show they can really cut loose while “A Spengisani” and “Defenders Of Tanelorn” tend to push a little more symphonic and less folk. I think the other major factor that will help propel them forward is songs (not all of them) sung in English as opposed to their native Russian. This shouldn’t be a deciding factor in popularity necessarily but will certainly open up more listeners to the songs and lyrics. The production is nice and tight with vocals enveloped in music and not smothered and everything in its proper staging for listening, heavy where necessary and reined in where necessary as well. There is a little bit of everything on here stylistically to really catch every sort of folk metal listener, whether you tend to like the more traditional tracks or heavier ones. While I don’t think it is vastly different from “Прорицание” it feels that FFeryllt just has more cohesion with this release which I know maybe be a bit intangible but that is just what it feels like to me here. If you liked “Прорицание” then you will definitely be into this new album. With the proper push and drive, marketing, etc. FFeryllt could really be Gigantic……see I use the capital G there? Great release.

Tracklist

1. Call of the Wild 04:47
2. Disciples of War 03:35
3. A Sprengisandi 05:19
4. The Final Sunrise 06:41
5. Black Sails 05:32
6. Into Oblivion 03:49
7. Defenders of Tanelorn 04:26
8. One Stranger’s Fate 04:51
9. A Missing Page 08:01
10. Wolf’s Heart 04:14
11. Achanterez 03:56