Category:
Metal / Folk

Try if you like:
Dropkick Murphys, Ensiferum, Enslaved, Opeth, Tyr

• Inis Mona

I don't think I've actually listened to "pagan metal" actually knowing it. So you may imagine my slight hesitation when Eluveitie's sophomore album, Slania, landed in my mailbox. But after only one listen I am sold on this wonderful fusion of metal and folk. It really is awesome! How fun is it to hear classic medieval instruments on a furious metal album? Some may write off Eluveitie off as novelty but there really is something to this. Fitting in wonderful tin flute harmonies or even a hurdygurdy in the background behind ripping guitars and guttural vocals is awesome. Think of them as a Dropkick Murphys only exchange the punk with metal. 

The group is made up of 8 members but when you have that many instruments involved it's not really surprising. I believe it is Chrigel Glanzmann that handles most of the vocals. He's got a really cool nordic death metal style for the most part but then the girls kick in with their goth style vocals and it adds a completely new dimension to the sound.

There are not very many metal bands that would dare throw in a traditional sounding instrumental on an album like "Giamonios". But Eluveitie remedy this with a pounding rebuttal called "Tarvos". Huge, fast and loud. The track that demands attention from the metal masses is the breakneck "Bloodstained Ground". Amazing stuff. 

There is a reason that Nuclear Blast has signed this Swiss group. Don't miss out on Slania. It just may be one of the most interesting metal albums this year.