By Nikita Alekseyevich Khrenov With the prevalence and of American folk metal becoming more established and recognized, Rochester-based band Wandering Oak seeks to make their mark with their debut full-length album Passage Elemental, released on November 1. In the four years since their first release, the Advent EP, the group has experienced an almost complete lineup… Continue reading Wandering Oak on the “Advent” of Passage Elemental
Tag: folk metal
Wilderun’s Veil of Imagination: Barrel-Aged Barleywine or Sex on the Beach?
By Nikita Alekseyevich Khrenov How does one critique perfection? One can attempt to nitpick every last bit of a piece of artwork in order to discover fault, going mad in the quest to find the tiniest shred of a mistake or sloppiness. With 2019’s self-released Veil of Imagination, Wilderun has managed to achieve what very few… Continue reading Wilderun’s Veil of Imagination: Barrel-Aged Barleywine or Sex on the Beach?
Baldwin’s Choice: Moonsorrow
Glowing praise needs to be stated for a band who never seems to be confused about their musical direction. I’m not talking merely on an album to album basis, but song by epic song. For a band who defines themselves on ambitious pieces of Viking metal of exceeding song length, Moonsorrow’s track record is almost… Continue reading Baldwin’s Choice: Moonsorrow
Album Review: Tengger Cavalry’s Blood Sacrifice Shaman
Deserved or not, folk metal has a less-than-serious reputation — a genre that calls to mind horns of mead and drunk guys do-si-do-ing in the Ensiferum pit. But Tengger Cavalry, based in Mongolian folk music, eschews the ironic joviality of some of its European cousins. Featuring throat singing and traditional string instruments along with drums,… Continue reading Album Review: Tengger Cavalry’s Blood Sacrifice Shaman
Toilet Autographs and More Tales from the Road: An Interview with Ensiferum Bassist Sami Hinkka
Interview by Jessie May and Jillian Simpson Questions by Jessie, Jillian, Christopher Baldwin, Thomas Pizzola, and Doug Welch III On May 29th, Alternative Control had the opportunity to talk with Ensiferum’s Sami Hinkka at Irving Plaza in New York before the final show of the band’s North American tour. Hinkka, who has been playing bass and doing… Continue reading Toilet Autographs and More Tales from the Road: An Interview with Ensiferum Bassist Sami Hinkka
Blood and Wine: A Review of Ensiferum’s One Man Army
So if you’re an Ensiferum fan, why are you even reading this review? Just go ahead and pick up their new album One Man Army. Because chances are, you already know what you’re going to get. In fact, when dealing with most folk metal bands, there’s never a degree of total surprise. Sure there… Continue reading Blood and Wine: A Review of Ensiferum’s One Man Army
Kinda Famous Folk Metal Bands with Chicks in Them
I’ll admit it. If there’s a girl in the band, I’m automatically more interested. Yes, I know it’s the twenty-first century, ladies can do stuff now, etcetera, etcetera… And I realize that it’s the hands and the vocal chords making the music, not the genitals. (If you can play guitar with your dick, call me.… Continue reading Kinda Famous Folk Metal Bands with Chicks in Them