In Extremo - Bruchstücke (2013) - Hit and miss collection for die-hard fans - 52% (03/10/14)

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“Bruchstücke – Zehn Raritäten aus der In Extremo-Privatsammlung“ is a short compilation issued with the German Metal Hammer magazine in support of the "Kunstraub“ record and includes ten rare or unreleased tracks. While this collector’s item is a nice...

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In Extremo - Feuertaufe (2014) - For collectors only - 75% (18/09/14)

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"Feuertaufe" is the first and until now only single of the diversified and yet more mature "Kunstraub" record that pretty much resumes the main strengths of German medieval rock band In Extremo. This track is the obvious single choice on the album. The...

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九宝 / Nine Treasures - 九宝 / Nine Treasures (2013) - Distinct, experimental and liberating song writing - 80% (26/08/14)

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Chinese folk metal band Nine Treasures is back with its second full length effort: an eponymously titled work that was released physically at the end of the year 2013 and digitally half a year later. The six young men from Inner Mongolia continue their...

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Alestorm - Sunset on the Golden Age (2014) - Simplistic party anthems and two cinematic epics - 79% (26/08/14)

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I guess there’s no need to introduce this quintet from the United Kingdom. Alestorm is still delivering its vivid mixture of folk and power metal built around simplistic lyrics which the band imagines applies to the life of pirates. While the band has...

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Mongol - Chosen by Tengri (2014) - Canada joins the Wave of Mongolian Folk Metal - 72% (26/08/14)

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Mongol is a folk metal band with influences of melodic death and some black metal vocalizations here and there. The whole concept of the band turns around Mongolian culture, but the septet hails from Devon in Alberta, and so is a young Canadian band....

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Alma Eterna - Siempre libres (2013) - Traditional metal meets folk sounds from the Andes - 72% (15/07/14)

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Alma Eterna hails from Potosi, Bolivia. The band is an old school heavy metal group that feels like it could have come straight out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement just after bands like Diamond Head, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and so on....

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Amaseffer - Exodus: Slaves for Life (2008) - A conceptual masterpiece of exotic symphonic metal - 96% (15/07/14)

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Israel seems to be a cradle for impressive progressive metal bands. After Orphaned Land’s masterpiece All Is One, which was my favorite record last year, I went on to discover similar acts and found the band Amaseffer. This trio from Tel Avic has only...

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Arkan - Sofia (2014) - Gothic folk metal that starts well but falls short - 66% (15/07/14)

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Arkan is a gothic metal band that utilizes Middle Eastern folk instrumentation such as the frame drum (bendir), the Latin American percussion instrument known as the cajón, the goblet drum (derbouka), the pear-shaped stringed instrument (oud), and the...

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Dalriada - Napisten hava (2012) - A vivid album by one of the best folk metal bands - 97% (15/07/14)

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The six members of Hungary’s Dalriada are back with their patented brand of violin and flute-laden folk metal. On this record, the band also invited a number of gifted guest musicians who play bagpipes, cello, doublebass, kobza, and viola, as well as...

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Darkestrah - Манас / Manas (2013) - Impressive atmosphere and concept, hard to digest - 67% (15/07/14)

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Darkestrah is an epic black metal band with major Eastern European and sometimes Middle-Eastern folk influences. The band’s sound should sound familiar and pleasing to fans of the Finnish pagan metal outfit Moonsorrow, the Romanian progressive extreme...

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