Folk Metal

Parody metal powerhouse NANOWAR OF STEEL turns to the musical roots of their homeland, bringing heavy new life to traditional Italian music on their new album Italian Folk Metal (out July 2 on Napalm Records)! Filled with references to Italian folklore, NANOWAR OF STEEL puts its own comedic metal twist on the various traditional sounds of their beautiful country. Each song on Italian Folk Metal is performed in a distinct style of Italian folk music: Napoli-based sounds of musica neomelodica clash with melodic guitar sweeps on “Scugnizzi of the Land of Fires“ and speedy accordions (prominently known from northern Italy‘s mazurka) are layered with dizzying guitar solos on “La Mazurka del Vecchio che Guarda i Cantieri“. The powerful blast beats and violins on Italian Folk Metal‘s album opener “L'Assedio di Porto Cervo“ prove that NANOWAR OF STEEL are absolute aficionados of both Italian folk music and heavy music.

Battle Metal is the debut full-length album by the Finnish folk metal band Turisas. It was released on July 26, 2004 by Century Media.

"Rankarumpu" is the 12th studio album by Korpiklaani offering a perfect mix of old school up-tempo catchiness, brilliant folk elements by Olli Vänskä (violin) and Sami Perttula (accordion), Jonne Järvelä's impeccable hooks and lyrics, resulting in refreshing, feel-good songs about going to the sauna, Finland's blue skies and snowy fields, and the band themselves in the title song. Supported by massive touring, 2024 is going to be a triumph for Korpiklaani.

The origins of Agalloch date back to 1995 and the disintegration of the band Aeolachrymae. As that group died, three phoenixes emerged from the ashes, Sussurrus Inanis, Nothing, and Agalloch. Mixing black metal with atmospheric textures, gothic doom, and neo-folk and post-rock touches, the Portland, OR-based group quickly developed a rabid cult following.

Mysterious. Powerful. Magical. On March 26th, 2021 the new cracker album "Monster Mind Consuming" by the mystical folk-rock sensation Manntra will finally be released. It is already the band's second English-language album. Even the first single "Ori Ori" is a real thunderstorm of sound. Croatian folk influences merge with metal and industrial to create a perfectly staged, highly independent musical symbiosis. The songs all have what it takes to reach a new dimension in the dark circus.

From Afar is the fourth studio album by the Finnish folk metal and melodic death metal band Ensiferum, as well as the first to feature keyboardist Emmi Silvennoinen. It was released on September 9, 2009, on Spinefarm Records. The album was produced by Nightwish producer Tero Kinnunen and Victory Songs producer Janne Joutsenniemi. It was mixed by HIM producer Hiili Hiilesmaa.

The “Pirate Metal Drinking Crew” is back to show all the filthy landlubbers what they’re made of. ALESTORM’s sixth long-player, Curse Of The Crystal Coconut, will be released on May 29, 2020, via Napalm Records! Eleven tracks presented in ALESTORM’s typical unadulterated, chaotic fashion will pull the rug out from under your feet. Adding to that are guest performances from musical greats like Ally Storch of Subway to Sally (violin on the entire album) and Captain Yarrface of Rumahoy! A must-have, riff-laden anthem at any party, “Treasure Chest Party Quest” takes the listener onto a journey into the depths of Tortugas darkest taverns and Christopher Bowes’ unique sense of humor. The smashing, lively track “Chomp Chomp”, featuring vocals of Vreth of Finntroll, may make you never want to enter the open waters again, but will definitely entice you to dance along with its addictive melodies. “Pirate Metal Drinking Crew” is yet another foot-stomping anthem on the album that excels with a catchy rhythm and indelible hook.

Many of KORPIKLAANI’s songs come directly from the annals of the Finnish folk archives, but are activated with a fierce twist of metal. This constitutes the major difference between KORPIKLAANI and other folk metal bands, which usually use folk music only as the impulse in metal. KORPIKLAANI’s music is very Finnish and the band does not fear to be labeled “yokels“, living in the middle of the forest. Following the release of “Spirit of the Forest”, KORPIKLAANI added a second guitarist, Cane, to the line-up. They began work on their follow up, “Voice of Wilderness” at the end of the 2004 summer. Recording under the guidance of Samu Oittinen (Fantom Studio), the band smoothly laid track for track. With the recording of “Voice of Wilderness” complete and awaiting its 24 Jan 2005 release, the members of KORPIKLAANI concentrated on finding a permanent accordion player. Juho joined the band in the fall of 2004 enabling them to more easily transfer the energetic melodies and Folk Metal atmosphere to the live stage.

FEUERSCHWANZ are set to release their new album Memento Mori on December 31, 2021. The new album will continue the success story of the medieval rockers from Germany / Franconia! On Memento Mori, FEUERSCHWANZ finally take a step away from the simpler humor of earlier days to become one of the most important bands in German folk rock. Fans of the band can look forward to an extensive deluxe edition of the album, which extends the running time of Memento Mori by almost double! Two additional CDs feature instrumental versions of all eleven tracks as well as the cover CD Die Glorreichen Sieben (The Magnificent Seven), which includes seven epic reissues from Amon Amarth to Die Ärzte and The Weeknd.