Folk Metal – Page 2 – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Eluveitie- Ànv

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.

Vermillia – Karsikko

Stargazer Scholar

The world was a different place seven years ago. At least when it comes to its currently troubled corner that I happen to inhabit. No joys of pestilence, no thrills of societal cataclysms, just life in all its glorious bleakness and naive hopefulness. It was a genuinely decent time. I’ve seen worse. And it was in that relatively peaceful summer of 2018 that I stumbled upon an album premiere video by a certain one-woman Pagan Black Metal project from Finland. The artist’s name was Vermilia, the record was entitled Kätkyt, and it took me about a song and a half to fall in love, pause the stream, relocate to her Bandcamp page, and click “order”. That’s how I became a fan. Years rolled by, and here we are in 2025, with Vermilia’s third LP fresh from the metaphorical oven and waiting to be discovered.

Havukruunu – Tavastland

Yes, I decided to be early with this one. Those who know the game understand that Havukruunu has become one of the hidden gems of the Black/Folk Metal scene. It’s the less dramatic but more aggressive Moonsorrow style that, for many, was exactly what Folk Metal needed to stop being a gimmicky parody of the genre, where all those bagpipes and accordions in choruses were getting a bit old. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Tavastland, but does it deliver? Let’s find out.

Saor – Amidst the Ruins

Well, I guess this is what the people voted for on Instagram, and since I still believe in democracy (when it suits me), here we are. Honestly, I’ve been procrastinating on this review for a while. I’ve been into Saor since Aura, back when the project was limited by the constraints of being a one-person endeavor. Since then, I’ve enjoyed everything it’s released, even though Origins felt a bit predictable to me. That said, I’m willing to believe that Amidst the Ruins is exactly what Saor needs to continue its evolution. How much more Scottish can these guys get? Like, haggis Scottish? It seems impossible!

Patriarkh – ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ

I’ll spare you all the now-old drama surrounding the creation of Patriarkh (such a feminist name!). My job is to focus on the music; it’s yours to eat up the gossip. Anyway, in ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ, Patriarkh continues its quest to craft the most blasphemous mockery of Slavic Orthodox traditions. Full disclosure: yours truly might speak many tongues but has no clue what’s being said in this album from start to finish. Still, I assume it’s something evil and unholy, but, you’re not reading this for the lyrics. Let’s go!

Elyna’s top picks for the year 2024

Elyna Kahn

Time flies! 2024 is almost over, and what a year it has been for Metal music. It’s been intense, with countless excellent releases—both from iconic bands and hidden treasures in the underground scene. Yet, I won’t lie. I don’t consume an overwhelming number of albums every year. I prefer to discover them on my own terms, without any pressure. I believe music is best enjoyed when you choose to dive into an album at the right moment, when you’re truly in the mood for it.

That said, I’m bringing you my personal top picks—no cap. The albums on this list have earned a special place in my heart—and in my obsessive, on-repeat listening habits that defy human understanding. Let me clarify: there’s no ranking here. Each of these masterpieces hits differently, yet all of them pack an equally intense punch and deserve your full attention. Let’s get into it!

Halloween releases: Kvelstimer & Mythbegotten

Halloween is almost here, and for all those into Metal, that means it’s time to celebrate. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Iowa or Ulaanbaatar. If there’s an excuse for a Metalhead to dress up and indulge in melodramatic obsessions with the obscure and occult, they’ll take it. So, today, we’re diving into two releases coming out this October 31st. Let’s see if they fit the vibe—but let’s be real, you’re always in the mood for something decadent and evil, aren’t you? I thought so.

Cosmic Jaguar – El Era del Jaguar

An album like this usually goes straight to the True Kvlt section. It came late, with no promo and little clout (plus the title is missing an accent mark in Él, that’s how pedantic we can be at MER). However, I was also puzzled by how strange all its elements were. We’re talking about a Tech Death mixed with Aztec Folk Metal band, from Ukraine, with lyrics in English and Spanish. It can’t get weirder than this. I had to listen to it to believe it. Could Cosmic Jaguar‘s El Era del Jaguar join our small group of year-end deep underground revelations?

Mythologik – Blood in the Sky

Don’t ask me why, but there’s an unfathomable resurgence of bands that like to to take inspiration from less conventional mythologies. To be fair, many do have some sort of connection with the respective regions. Here at MER, we welcome any new takes on old Metal. So, when I noticed that Mythologik‘s Blood in the Sky was joining the hottest trend in extreme Metal (only slightly, there’s so much more here), I wanted a piece of it. After all, opportunism is the key to survival, kids. Enough chatting, let’s jump in then!

Al-Namrood – Al Aqrab

When you think of Black Metal, your mind goes to cold and windy mountainous regions, full of darkness and solitude. You imagine a place desolated by the sins of Christianity and the return of pagan traditions. It’s all extremely Eurocentric, right? Well, I’ve been waiting for this album to drop in my mailbox for a while because Al-Namrood – Al Aqrab comes from the last place you associate with Black Metal. That’s right, I’m talking about Riyadh in Saudi Arabia! We made it, my siblings in faith! We’ve reached all corners of this planet. That’s moving, but is Al Aqrab any good? Time to roll out!