Moonsorrow - Jumalten Aika

Moonsorrow deliver another installment of triumphant, grand, epic folk metal with their latest album.

Zgard - "Land of Legends"

Crazy vocals on this track off Ukrainian pagan metal act Zgard's fifth album Totem, out November 27 via Svarga Music.

Negură Bunget - Tău

Romania's Negură Bunget returns with a new album, continuing to fuse folk music from their home country with the grim musical stylings of black metal.

Agalloch - The Serpent & The Sphere ft. Elliot Quinn

With fellow reviewer Elliot Quinn, I talk about the fifth full-length album from Portland blackened folk outfit Agalloch.

Aether Realm - One Chosen By the Gods

Stream: Aether Realm - One Chosen By the Gods Aether Realm may sound straight out of the frozen tundras of Scandinavia, but they're busy making a name for themselves across North Carolina. One Chosen By The Gods is the band's first full-length release and certainly gives the now dying genre of folk metal a much-needed kick in the nads. Featuring solid riffing, a healthy dose of epic synth work, and masterfully handled production from producer Jamie King--who's worked with Between the Buried and Me, Scale the Summit--these guys should be on your radar as one of the more interesting bands to come out in the new year. Stream their full-length for free via the link above.

Dordeduh- "Cumpat"

Romanian metal outfit Dordeduh combines elements of folk music from their home country with black metal and progressive metal. While the recording is a little rough and muddy, the resulting sound still maintains a lot of beauty. There's a foreign mysticism to Dordeduh's music, which fans of Negură Bunget will most likely latch onto. Definitely something for people who love their black metal with a bit more dynamics.

Agalloch- "Into the Painted Grey" ‡ STREAM

There's been a lotta talk in my videos about the forthcoming Agalloch album, Marrow of the Spirit. Of course, this thing leaked onto the internet long before it's official release dated for 11/23 via Profound Lore.

Seems everyone's been digging on it, and so have I. Here's one of my favorite tracks thus far. "Into the Painted Grey" has some really anthemic lead guitars and clear production. That signature black metal ambiance comes from the performance, and not the recording quality. I love the rumble the drums give off, and the vocal delivery is fierce as well. I'm getting a chill.

Stream: Agalloch- Into the Painted Grey -