REVIEW OF THE EP LAND OF OLD BY ELDERTALE

Eldertale is a melodic folk metal band from Ukraine formed in 2005 but being more active since 2012, releasing their first EP in June 2014, they deliver a pure folk pagan metal, adding some neoclassical drippings and powerful moments, creating in general rich structures in terms of composition as melodic instrumentals and growling vocals are the common strategy for this headbanging EP.

The band break the ice with Exile, as the choirs mark the powerful entry of complex drumbeats and melodic background with an excellent composition on the verses, really intense and good crescendo part at the end; this track defines perfectly the band's sound.

Land of Old might be one of the best tracks of this style I've ever listened, it starts with an instrumental orchestrated melody, the composition is outstanding. Then this intense shot goes increscendo, adding army marching rhythms on drums, to literally explode in a headbanging anthem, vocals and instrumental are in perfect harmony and the transitions between changes virtuously made, the lyrics also are powerful and the melodic growling voice are the best in the EP, also remarkable rhythms on the drums with drippings of power, thrash and death metal, bass is also excellent on the solo; the perfect highlight of what this band is capable of.

Finally the EP closes with Time of ancient, mid tempo traditional folk pagan metal, as seen on the rest of the material, this track follows the path of adding melodic power metal structures, piano and orchestrated parts are, again, amazingly well composed.

Eldertale first EP got a crystal clear production, it's headbanging from start to finish, the compositions are sophisticated including catchy melodies and awesome orchestrated parts, drums should have more presence next time, but the final result is overwhelming, just can't wait for the full length!

9 / 10

Line up 

Alexander Desyatnichenko Drums

Eugene Belozertsev Guitars, balalaika

Josh O.Berg Keyboards, choirs

Kirya Vocals, guitars, bass, choirs

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Post by Daniel Ortiz from Metalheads Union and Metalheads Union FB

REVIEW OF THE ALBUM ELDERSLIED BY INCURSED

Incursed is an epic folk metal band formed in 2007 in Bilbao, Spain. The band released three full lengths, debuting in 2009 with Morituri and followed by a great title called Fimbulwinter in 2012; then two years later, last december 2014, Incursed released their last and best album up to date, Elderslied.

Incursed style comes from the melodic pagan and folk sounds in its essence, using orchestrated parts all over and developing really intense epic power metal compositions with instrumentally complicated structures,the vocal parts swaps from clean melodic style to growling sections; got influences from bands like ensiferum or Caladmor, guitars deliver the powerful melodies with technical sections brilliantly combined with sophisticated drums.

Song of the ancient takes us to this melodic folk metal journey, as an orchestrated instrumental intro that evolves metalized in Heart of yggdrasil, being a perfect highlight of the band's style, remarkable compositions on the verses and powerful chorus made with clean vocals, following the act with the acoustic notes of Raging wyverns, soon to be epically transformed in a highly intense slow-mid tempo anthem highly accelerated at some parts.

The wild hunt heralds one of the best riffs of the album, with a remarkable job on the vocals, going high pitched growing and clean style on the chorus, amazing also on the double pedal drums and followed by Beer bloodbath, forging another catchy melodic riff of those of headbanging and moshpiting, awesome job at the end with the in-crescendo rhythmical bomb leading to Tidal waves, good riffs and headbanging pace in growling vocals, followed by Jötnar, with ascending composition, adding nice violin background melodies in one of the best created songs of the band, theatrically brilliant.

After the instrumental interlude of A fateful glare, the action literally explodes with Lady Frost, another lesson of the band's sound in full power, fast paced headbanging bomb with breathtaking compositions on the verses and melodic chorus, the guitar performance is remarkable combined with the keyboard solo, followed by The undying flame, forging some classic folk melodies, in an intense slow mid tempo ballad of well performed growling vocals and clean styled chorus.

The classic opera tunes of Sauren Lurraldea are suddenly boosted with symphonic power metal soul, good rhythm changes and beautiful melodies, with good details on the background keyboard as the next track kicks in, One among a million, increscendo patterns with good harmony on the instrumentals, excellent details on the drum performance and really intense vocal sections, following the same good strategies used previously, finalising with an astonishing ending.

Promise of hope gives the final touch to the album in a instrumental melodic anthem, including orchestrated sections and choir backgrounds crafted at perfection, simply epic.

Incursed really worked hard to create an excellent album, Elderslied is sophisticated and perfect instrumentally, combining very well folk and pagan with power metal including symphonic, neoclassical drippings and also death metal shots, really well elaborated album that, without innovating, will be one of the best of the year on their genre.

8,5 / 10

Line up

Juan Sampedro Bass

Narot Santos Vocals, Guitars (rhythm)

Jon Koldo Tera Keyboards, Vocals (backing)

Asier Fernández Guitars (lead)

Asier Amo Drums

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Post by Daniel Ortiz
Metalheads Union
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TOP 20 METAL ALBUMS OF 2014 BY METALHEADS UNION

Remembering this 2014 we can see a year of great albums, from traditional heavy metal bands that  have released albums to be influence for new generation to new bands releasing EP's and demos, or debut albums that will be the key for the true path of heavy metal, from the classic and early styles of heavy metal to thrash and death metal, this is the list of the best 20 albums of the year by Metalheads Union, you can click on the links to read the reviews.

Also now you can vote for the best album of 2014 by Metalheads Union readers! Poll closes the next 2nd of February so make your choice!

 20 - Repulsor - Trapped in a nightmare

20

19 - Caladmor - Of stones and stars

19

 18 - Stud - Rust on the rose

18

17 - Space Vacation - Cosmic Vanguard

17

16 - Skálmöld - Með vættum

16

15 - Edge of thorns - Insomnia

15

14 - Grave Digger - Return of the reaper

14

13 - Bandemonic - Fires of Redemption

13

12 - Stallion - Rise and Ride

12

11 - Sylvatica - Evil Seeds

11

10 - Striker - City of gold

10

9 - Mausoleum Gate - Mausoleum Gate

9

9 - Alltheniko - Fast and Glorious

8

7 - Skull Fist - Chasing the dream

7

6 - Divine Chaos - A new Dawn in the age of war

6

5 - Nothgard - Age of Pandora

5

4 - Judas Priest - Redeemer of souls

4

3 - Dust Bolt - Awake the riot

3

2 - Cobra - To Hell

2

1 - Air Raid - Point of Impact

1

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015



Thanks to all the bands and record labels for making this year a true metal year 2014!

 

 

REVIEW OF THE ALBUM EVIL SEEDS BY SYLVATICA

Sylvatica is a melodic death metal band with elements from thrash and black metal with folk metal roots, formed in 2010 in Denmark by Jarden Schlesinger on guitars and Pelle Buch Hansen on drums, and they released the first EP after bassist Thomas Haxen and Jannik Ravn on second axes joined the band. After Jannik Ravn left the band, Martin Hamann replaced him and also left in 2013, Richardt Olsen joined the band with the album almost finished and to be released the next 1st of July.

Evil Seeds is a mix of folk metal based heart, with touches of thrash, death and black metal played at perfection. Lost is the acoustic piano introduction, creating the atmosphere with a raising epic feeling that explodes in Psychopatica, where everyone will bang the heads with this combination of epic folk and death metal, with excellent instrumental, strong growling vocals and astonishing ending! to follow with Winds of decay, a mid-tempo strong pounding heavy metal track keeping their folk metal roots and giving the dark sign of the band as The ascension begins following the epic death metal executed amazingly well and also driving between death and thrash rhythms; of course headbanging and moshpiting to the end in one of the best composed pieces of the album.

But hold your breath now with the tittle track, Evil seeds, as they follow the mix of epic thrash metal and death melodies, adding strong chorus made to scream in every concert. Remarkable the good harmony this band creates in every track, like the instrumental Gods of the Gallows, begins as a slow mid tempo folk metal rhythm mixing electric and acoustic parts creating a really intense piece.

The pure sophisticated drumbeats take you to the top in Hate Quest, forceful guitar riffs and strong growling vocals in one of those battle songs essential for every true metal maniac and always following their folk identity.
Admirable changes of style between the roots of death metal and thrash is one of the strong points of the band, Lucifer is one of those tracks that better demonstrate that and also offers a really catchy folk metal chorus, the best of the album; the second half of the track called my attention due to the outstanding inspiration of these guys, truly enjoyable as hell.

Reanimated and The sludge soup follow similar patterns with thrash metal influence in a mid-tempo pulse with aggressive vocals and headbanging folk metal chorus; in the Slude soup they develop a really awesome instrumental at the second half with sudden changes of rhythm mixing death metal and neoclassical guitar touches, great job!

The last track is Sect of Sleep, developing an in crescendo structure from the folk acoustic to the mid- tempo headbanging verses, outstanding guitar riffs in perfect harmony with the vocals creating a powerful epic composition.

Sylvatica is now credited that they created a masterpiece of epic folk metal, mastering multiple true metal genres like death, black or thrash metal, and also offering some melodies of symphonic and neoclassical in the compositions of the tracks, with crystal clear superb production also. This album surprised me straight away, and I can say, as many of you will, that I enjoyed this Evil seeds from beginning to the end. Such virtue they demonstrated in every track will impact the folk/ death/ thrash metal scene, Sylvatica released an atomic bomb exploding in your brains!

9 / 10

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Review by Daniel Ortiz from Metalheads Union and Metalheads Union FB

REVIEW ALBUM "OF STONES AND STARS" BY CALADMOR

Caladmor is an epic folk metal band from Switzerland formed in 2001 (under the name Pale) and releasing their first album in 2010 called Midwinter and finally this album "Of stones and stars" released in 2013 with the support of Chrigel Glanzmann (Eluveitie) and Joel Gilardini (The land of the snow, Mulo Muto).

The album starts with The curse of the gods as a fast track of sharp guitars that take you to the folk metal world with added dose of epic style which will be the winning strategy of this band, full powerful chorus and great harmony on the vocals, developing a clear contrast between the growling harsh aggressive side with Maede and operistic soprano Babs singing folk poetry, as it  continues with The Raid as a mid-tempo shot with forceful headbanging rhythm that changes between the dark and lights, outstanding theatrical interpretation in this song,

The tittle track begins, Of stones and stars, as a slow pure folk metal taking you to a far away land when the fast guitar and drumbeats of Dawn of the deceiver break the spell and bring you to the mosh pit with one of the most thrashing style rhythms of the album mixed with modern metal influenced chorus, excellent instrumental, guitars do a positive job, as the flutes and pipes virtuous give the folk sign on this track.

Alvissmal begins with doom intro as the slow folk rhythms create the atmosphere again in one of the best chorus in the album, when the acoustic guitars of Laudine's lament change the tune as a lyrical operistic track, very well composed as the electric guitars and strong drums are in-crescendo during the song; outstanding voice in every aspect, developing multiple techniques of singing styles.

The dark riffs make the contrast with Mimir's born with a headbanging mid-temp

o apocalyptic feeling track to continue with another masterpiece, Nymph's Lure, one of the most intense bombs with a great act by the two vocalists making the perfect theatrical section of the Swiss band.

But this is not finished yet, Heralds of doom takes you to the battle with a full epic folk metal shot, marvellous chorus and  including orchestrated background and headbanging action that will keep your fist in the air, epic track that brings you to the Taberna Trollis, mid-fast tempo track with the most catchy chorus to sing along in the gigs, pint of beer in hand! Enjoyable from start to finish with the last track of the album, Helios sky , being like an epitaph orchestrated ending of sophisticated chorus with multiple vocals mixed in a harmonious canon  that shades to the final silence.

Caladmor really are very experienced in what they do, and they demonstrated they can create a masterpiece of pure Folk metal combined with medieval epic metal with refined orchestral structure album, good production also.
Of stones and stars is the work that will take Caladmor to the leading bands in the world of Folk metal scene, every member of the band work in perfect harmony and I have to remark the excellent quality of the two vocals, the interpretation of the themes are really impressive, excellent job.

9 / 10 




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