Metalcatto
Those who’ve been following this blog know that pure Folk Metal usually makes me want to puke my lunch into a see-through bucket. However, I’m a professional, and when I got Eluveitie‘s Ànv on short notice, I decided to suck it up and see if the band could finally click with me. Full disclosure: I still think Slania is not only the album to beat in this discography but also a high point for Folk Metal as a genre. With that unfair bar set ridiculously high, it’s time to jump into this journey to the ancients—devoid of toilet paper, of course.
Well, this was fun. I’ve gotta give Ànv that much—it’s the equivalent of a Metal party. You can practically smell the alcohol, the spiritual substances, the paganism. Jokes aside, there’s a real attempt here to go beyond the happy, bouncy antics the subgenre is known for. While it doesn’t go as deep as a band like Saor, it does offer different emotional stages. I really appreciated the melancholy running through it. It feels sincere and makes you want to howl at the moon in your backyard (don’t do it—your neighbors will call social services). There’s also a satisfying balance between tracks. Ànv has enough highs and lows to keep you from mentally clocking out halfway through.
Now, I know what you’re wondering—are the dreaded “folk noises” cringeworthy? Honestly, maybe it’s the mix, but the strings often sit quietly in the background. The arrangements are pretty straightforward, and their main goal is to hit you in the feels as hard as possible. That’s nothing new when it comes to Eluveitie; the band has always known how to craft sorrowful but catchy melodies. That said, it’s time to address why I’m still a little cautious about Ànv.
You see, despite how much I enjoyed this album, I’m not exactly surprised by anything it brings to the table. It’s not a radical shift, nor is it Eluveitie at its most daring. It’s just another solid album from a band that knows what works for it and its fanbase. On a more technical note, I do think the mix gets pretty muddy in the heavier parts—especially when things go full folk. I’d love to hear every element more clearly, but the gods didn’t will it that way this time. Sad!
This isn’t a disappointment, not at all. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a band with this kind of experience and longevity. If you’re a diehard fan, this is your comfort zone—reliable, familiar, and wrapped in runes. But if you’re hoping for something that tops the old albums, you’re probably going to finish this adventure feeling a little hungry and a bit let down. So, yeah… sorry for spoiling the party!
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Release date: April 25, 2025
Website: https://www.facebook.com/eluveitie/
Country: Switzerland
Score: An expected 3.0/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 