1. Finntroll – ‘‘Vredesvävd’
55 out of 60 points, well well, that’s a winner for sure. The whole team had the latest Finntroll album in their top 3! Their last album dated all the way back to 2013, but what a hell of a comeback they made.
Albums like Ur Jordens Djup and Nifelvind remain in my regular rotation, soon to be joined by Vredesvavd. Singles like Mask and Ormfolk could easily nestle in either, despite being conceived a decade apart. Ever familiar entrances, interchanges and melodic aura help to forget the passage of time with supporting gang hymns teleporting to forbidden Forrest soirées.
It should also go without saying that Mathias “Vreth” Lillmåns continues to excel as frontman and vocal expert of the harsh persuasion that only gets better with time, like a yummy spicy whiskey. Not overshadowing the arrangement expertise of keyboardist-composer Henri “Trollhorn” Sorvali. Their latest creation thoroughly satisfies every expectation and scratches all folk metal itches, in complete blackened humpa abandonment.
Tag Archives: Gernotshagen
Gernotshagen – ‘Ode Naturae’ (2020)
Rating: 8.5/10 Release: 26 July 2020 Label: Independent If I had to give a one-word description to 2020 as far as folk metal goes it would be a super easy task in saying “Comeback”. Many acts have released albums after extremely long layoffs including Natural Spirit, XIV Dark Centuries and … Continue reading →
Dark Troll Festival 2015
By: Nick Bornstedt, Germany 14-5 / 16-5 2015 The most common discussion when the festival season starts is always about which festivals to visit, especially since there’s so much choice nowadays! There’s just one festival that’s been on the calendar as soon as the previous edition ended, and that’s the … Continue reading →
Hörnerfest 2014
Photography by: Toni B. Gunner – www.mondkringel-photography.de It has become some sort of tradition, the last weekend of June is, as every year, reserved for the best festival of the summer. Somewhere in a small town just passed Hamburg. As every year this small festival forms the missing link between … Continue reading →
Heidenfest 2013
5, 6 October Oberhausen and Tilburg Every folk- and paganfan knows it by now; Heidenfest. This year it was hard to escape this great feast. With a various mix between large bands like Ensiferum, Equilibrium and Turisas, and small bands like Winterstorm and Frosttide, it promised to be a great … Continue reading →
Gernotshagen, still in love with…
At the Dark Troll Festival we had the chance to talk to Gernotshagen. This German band, which were also organizing the festival, were really open and talked about who they are, their sources of inspiration, and what makes their band so special. Though the whole band was there to provide us with answers, it was vocalist Askan who took up the duty to answer our questions. You can read all our findings below.
Continue reading →Dark Troll Festival 2013
Photography: Ute Ruhmann Fotografie Location: Bornstedt, Germany Germany, the perfect country for cheap festivals. Every subgenre has their own festival, so also one for the fans of pagan/folk/blackmetal. Since yours truly is such a fan, we traveled halfway may to Bornstedt for this small festival. Too bad that there can … Continue reading →
Gernotshagen – Weltenbrand (2011)
Rating: 6/10 Release: 29 April 2011 Label: Trollzorn Records The first track of the new CD of the Thuringian pagan metal band sounds really like a revelation. Voiced with great atmosphere that we were already accustomed to of these German nature lovers, but on this CD, this is even more … Continue reading →
Ultima Ratio 2008
Location: Turbinehalle, Oberhausen (DE) 1 November 2008 A great (folk) metal festival in an old factory in Oberhausen, fast and easily accessible from the Netherlands, only an hour across the border at Arnhem. A fantastic filled stage these days, which makes a trip across the border very worthwhile. The whole … Continue reading →