1. Baldrs Draumar ‘Magnus’
Baldrs Draumar pulled it off. Grimner managed to receive this title in 2016 and 2018, the first band who managed to get the title twice. Baldrs Draumar did this as well. In 2017 they won this title with their acoustic album ‘Fan Fryslâns Ferline’, this year they released a new Metal album ‘Magnus’ and it was chosen as the best album by again two voting members, but they received a few points more from the rest and they ended up with 40/70 points. Truly a great achievement for an independent band.
“Bone breaking riffs, perfectly placed vocals of primary clean, heavy and choral variety (a lot of really cool choral stuff), driving and tasteful rhythm choices, acoustic instrumentation….I can’t find a single negative. There are a lot of up-tempo tracks on here as well which never sound sloppy or out of control but methodical and well planned. The lyrics are in Frisian, which I still feel is the best choice they have made since switching back after “Forfedres Fortellinger” which was in English. For those of you concerned about the “new” sound do not fret….there is enough of the more familiar mixed in throughout while they branch into some new territory. The overall sound is gnashing and smooth with a subtle bite to the overall sound, both being heavy and inviting at the same time.  Let the naysayers be damned for this is Baldrs Draumar at their finest. Lest you think we are rooting for the home team here at the site, I live in the US and know this is the real deal. For those waiting for the next slew of metal albums from whoever in Scandinavia, eastern Europe or the US for that matter, you need only travel to Dokkum on the North Sea to find the best folk metal album of 2019. “

Congratulations Baldrs Draumar!!!