Sword Chant

I interviewed Runahild, the  ELIWAGAR  founder. The interview is about her new album and project. 01. Hi Runahild! You founded ELIWAGAR project on December 28th of 2006 which means the 10 years anniversary will be in two years!! How do you feel ?  That's true, time goes fast. Eliwagar is what I have most precious in life. Music is what saved me from this world I feel I really don't belong to. It's always been a fight to survive amongst others who I share very little with, seeing that nature is just being destroyed and that most people care more for the most meaningless things while what really matters in life is being completely ignored... Music is my way to speak for nature and to represent our roots, it's through music I try to show a way back to a life in harmony with nature, to the inner peace with oneself and with our environment. It's been 8 very creative years so far and I am deeply thankful for everyone who have been supporting through the years and...

Swedish band IRMINSUL has a new guitar player and vocalist in their line-up. His name is Jim Kjell. And I think that it means a lot of things so, welcome Jim on their facebook .

March 9th will be released Świt historii EP by CRONICA. Heres a preview:

FROSTTIDE released their second album " Blood Oath " available at Napalm records  and almost everywhere. TRACKLIST: 01. Prologue 02. Blood Oath 03. Gates Of The Asylum 04. Fate Redefined 05. Traitor Within 06. Foreshadow 07. New Reign 08. Winds of Winter's Call 09. One Night In Bangkok (Murray Head-Cover) 10. Apache (The Shadows-Cover)

HEIMFARD released for free download " A New Beginning " demo: A New Beginning by Heimfard

This is the artwork for the new album "Achanterez" by  FFERYLLT  band that I've been pleased to help with Eld project , earlier in 2013 and 2014. I'll remind also the tracklist: TRACKLIST: 01. Call of the Wild 02. Disciples of War 03. A Sprengisandi 04. The Final Sunrise 05. Black Sails 06. Into Oblivion 07. Defenders of Tanelorn 08. One Stranger's Fate 09. A Missing Page 10. Wolf's Heart 11. Achanterez

I've seen live HOPES OF FREEDOM , DRENAÏ , and CRAVING on the Hell Revisited tour of that last at Le Havre, France. I made one short live report of this live event. Find also pictures of the show in my Deviantart page , shot with cell... My camera would have been much better... but rather the cell than nothing :)

Last year, Sancti announced in our forum he parted ways with LEMURIA. Today, the band announces their new vocalist named Wesley. Expect new songs and gigs soon.

I interviewed the guitar player, founder and composer, Mortem, from the band ANCESTRUM hailing from Argentina. This interview deals with " Our Heathen Soil ", the forthcoming album of the band, for the main. 01.  Hi Mortem! ANCESTRUM founded late 2008 and has got several line-up change until now… How did you manage this issue everytime ? Hi Kissy, well... we've got some pretty tough times with musicians coming and going, specially with drummers. But I formed this band along with vocalist and eventually bassist Asteroth and we are the core of Ancestrum, so the other ones really can come and go and it won't affect the band at all.  In the past we had to cancel some gigs due to some member leaving the band, but we always find a replacement in the end so we can carry on with this journey.

The band revealed the 6th track of their album " Sleep at the Edge of the Earth " to be released early April.

The upcoming  HULDRESLÅT album entitled "Vallfärd och Viljevandring" (Pilgrimage and Will-Wandering) can be pre-ordered to the band' site . More details on the record can be found here.

Soundage Productions will release " The Way " album by SMUTA on March 10th. This is a preview of the forhcoming album:

Vocalist Skaldi parted ways with  LEŚNE LICHO and is now replaced by Agnieszka; who covered here the nice Swedish Folk song "Herr Mannelig":

After four albums released, the band decided to split-up. They said on facebook : "This is it. After 17 years, we are sorry to announce that THUNDRA calls it quits. It's been a fun ride, and thanks to everyone who has supported us throught the years, you know who you are. A special thanks to friends and bands we have toured/played/partied with.  SKÅL!!!! \m/" - Steven, Rune, Harald, Nils, Ruben, Stein

Croatian pagan folk band SVARICA released their new EP entitled "Tira Les" that you can order through their facebook page for 8 euros. The band said: The lyrics on this EP are folklore lyrics that reach into the pre-Christian era, and were transmitted from generation to generation for literally thousands of years. And they survived without major damage through all these centuries. They are texts that symbolically, through stories about Ivo and Mara (old slavic deities) and other deities, invoke spring and fertility.

Lithuanian band JUODVARNIS will release a new album soon! The band told Sword Chant the following: We are now mixing it in MuzLab studio in Vilnius, Lithuania. It is going to be a concept album, with one story going through songs like through chapters. This album will be more progressive than our debut. It will have very technical stuff and also very slow and mellow parts, also samples and orchestrations will appear in music. As for our first album, lyrics will be in Lithuanian.

Somedays ago,  Scarlet Records  released the second album  "Songs from the Earth" by the Italian band FUROR GALLICO and on April 28th, they will re-release the debut S/T album of the band. You will find on Sword Chant one review of their debut album firstly released in 2010.

LOCATION :  Milan, Italy Status : Split-up Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Edward Marella : vocals Emanuele Cosmaro : bagpipes, whistles Ghilli Prati : whistles, Irish bouzouki Leandro Pessina : whistles Francesco Giusta : hurdy-gurdy Andrea Marino : keyboards Stefano Zocchi : guitar Andrea Simone : bass Past members : Riccardo Floridia : drums HISTORY : The Italian band HERCUNIA was founded in 2013 by Emanuele Cosmaro, Stefano Zocchi, Andrea Marino, Leandro Pessina and Ghilli Prati. The other members Edward Marella, Andrea Simone Francesco Giusta, and Riccardo Floridia came after then but that last member left the band in December 2014 due to personal reasons. RECORDINGS : Demo 2015 [ details ] WEBSITES : Facebook Youtube Contact :   hercunia@gmail.com Find more information on Sword Chant : - Band news

LOCATION :  Bari, Italy Status :  Split-up Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Baronaxe (Brendon Capriotti) : vocals, guitar Dysie (Glen Dyson) : guitar, vocals Lord Jim (Jim Parker) : bass, vocals Oscarius (Ashley Large) : drums Jesselina (Jesse Millea) : keyboard, vocals HISTORY : "Cry of the forest" ismeaning for Clamor Silvae. The band founded in 2010 but with a line-up ready in 2013. Thus, the first demo entitled "Terra Nostra" was released during that same year. RECORDINGS : Terra Nostra, demo 2013 Mel Daemoniosus, single 2015 [ details ] WEBSITES : Facebook Twitter Youtube Contact :  N/A Find more information on Sword Chant : - Band news

CALICO JACK made one video for "Grog Jolly Grog" track taken from " Panic In The Harbour " EP released in 2013. This is the "very alcoholic video":

The new ALTAN album entitled  The Widening Gyre , that Sword Chant has been proud to support the crowdfunding of the band's project  with free promotion on the forum and website, and reminded more than once through the various social networks pages, can be ordered on  Compass records ,

" Vældet " album (The Spring) is now self-released by the Danish band SVARTSOT  together with Nail Records. You can order your copy to the band site .

ENSIFERUM released via Metal Blade Records their new album "One Man Army" to the following editions: CD, CD + DVD, 2xLP and CD + T-shirt, or ziphoodie, or women's zipper hoodie. You can purchase the record  here  or your local store. TRACKLIST: 01. March of War 02. Axe of Judgement 03. Heathen Horde 04. One Man Army 05. Burden of the Fallen 06. Warrior Without a War 07. Cry For the Earth Bounds 08. Two of Spades Heathen Throne part III : 09. My Ancestors’ Blood 10. Descendants, Defiance, Domination 11. Neito Pohjolan Bonus Songs (Digipak &Vinyl)

ELIWAGAR  revealed one second track which will feat. on the upcoming full length. The tracktitle is "Vanafolk".

Next month, VESPERIA will enter the studio to record one EP / Mini CD full of 18-24 minutes about.  Two tracks and one cover will compose this EP entitled  "The Iron Tempest". Find below a preview of the artwork for the upcoming record.. Morgan Rider said: "We are going to be recording 2 brand new original songs that we have been playing live and in rehearsal for the better part of the last year as well as a special cover song from a well-known piece of Norwegian classical music. We realize that none of us hold much Norwegian heritage, but we really love this piece of music and would love to record our take on it".

I couldn't believe to these news when I saw it... which are let's say, originals. : ) DRENAÏ published online a booklet of " Deathwalker " draws to color by you or your children. Here is the link to download it free:  https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bw9xvj-eiKoHU3FXRUNjUFpmYWs/edit You can also imagine and draw the artwork for the next Drenaï album. ^^

American band YONDER REALM signed a deal with Maple Metal Records.  MMR re-released "The Old Ways" album on Valentine day, and "Beyond a Long Lost World" EP will be also re-released later in this month.

WILDERUN band revealed this tracklist available below this new sampler for  " Sleep at the Edge of the Earth " album coming out this April 7th . TRACKLIST: 01. Dust and Crooked Thoughts 02. And So Opens the Earth (Ash Memory Part I) 03. Hope and Shadow (Ash Memory Part II) 04. Bite the Wound (Ash Memory Part III) 05. The Faintest Echo (Ash Memory Part IV) 06. The Garden of Fire 07. Linger 08. The Means To Preserve 09. Sleep at the Edge of the Earth

From now can be ordered by email to the band and for 6 euros (add shipping) "First Blood" demo by the French band KONUNGAR . Special pack is for 12 euros as you can see on the picture. Last year, I shared on this website the streaming for this demo, with more details regarding this tracklist and demo: 01. Last Battle 02. Fury From The North 03. Tons Of Beer 04. About Crucifixion 05. Springfest

The band BERGSVRIDEN released their debut album entitled "I Vitterhetens Becksvarta Gömmen". TRACKLIST: 01. Den Bergsvridnes ankomst 02. Vinterfader 03. Tordöntrummans slag 05. Skuggor 05. Häxans kylande viskning 06. Jag ska äta dig 07. Skogsfest (TROLLFEST cover) You can listen to the entire album through this article. :)

FUROR GALLICO released their second full length entitled " Songs from the Earth " under the flag of Scarlet Records. You can purchase your digital copy on the Bandcamp page of the label, or physical release, -  with T-shirt or not - to the band store, "Songs from the Earth" album is also available on  Spotify .

David Blay, the IMMORGON drummer, has taken the decision to leave the band. These are his words: "Greetings everybody, I'm David Blay, the drummer. Due to personal reasons I'm deeply sorry to announce that its no longer possible for me to stay with immorgon, a band which is giving their best and for whom I desire to be known all over the world. It's been a great year in which I gave my musical part to you all and I'm very happy of having shared many things with these three guys who are more than more than just musicians to me, as they are friends. I wish best of luck to everybody and a Metal future!"

VARANG NORD are currently working on their next full length. The record is planned to be released for this year.

The young French band founded in 2013, SOLA NORR, won the second folk metal bands battle of Sword Chant for this year of 2015. Congratulations to them! Together with YOMI band, they faced one against the other,  and gave us one great show .  The six members from SOLA NORR are currently working on new materials.  Have a listen to "The Traveller" and "Carcass of Ship" songs, available on the bandpage  - if you didn't already.

ZRYMGÖLL  band are currently recording a new single entitled "Creatures of the Night" that is also the first tracktitle while the second song is entitled "Wood" Morning. This single will be available for free download.

The European SCYTHIA tour initially planned for 2014 is obviously cancelled. The band told me it was a bit delayed due to personal reasons but I had to wait one fine moment to say it here. Now I noticed their next tour in America. So yes, this is "delayed" to another time and so, in one word: cancelled! As you know, I publish on my work done here even cancelled, I'd be pleased to work with SCYTHIA again for another tour later. I had contacted the following interested bands for this tour: ADORNED BROOD, ARTAIUS, BRAN BARR, CRAVING, FROSTTIDE, HEIDRA, KULTASIIPI, STRYDEGOR, THE PRIVATEER, THY WICKED, and YRZEN.

German Celtic Folk band GANAIM released their first record entitled "Ceol ón Mhuileann", One video is also online: Below are the artwork and tracklist for this debut album,

LOCATION :  Toulouse, Midi-Pyrénées, France Status :  Split-up Music :  Pirate Folk / Rock MEMBERS : Colin : keyboards, fiddle, backing vocals Corentin : electric guitar, backing vocals Jérémy : bass Mathieu : vocals, tin whistle, mandolin, bagpipes Richard : drums, backing vocals Past member : Boris : bass HISTORY : Driven by his passion for the world of piracy, Mathieu (Libertalia / ex-Les Compagnons du Gras Jambon), worked on this project for 8 years. He composed lots of musical parts in order to perform them on stage, one day. He first crossed the way of two filibusters in Tarn and then, decided to welcome them on board. Thus, Boris (bass guitar, ex-Natural Mortica) and Colin (keyboard, ex-Natural Mortica) joined the crew to the end of the year 2013. Corentin (guitar) and Richard (drums, Libertalia / ex-Brick A Drac) joined the band in April 2014 and then, the Barbar’O’ Rhum crew was complete. Jérémy replaced Boris who left the band n June 2015. L...

WILDERUN will release "Sleep at the Edge of the Earth" on April 7th  Heres a teaser:

SELVANS released their first EP entitled " Clangores Plenilunio " available for 7 euros on Avantgarde Music . Reminder of the artwork and tracklist: 01. Lupercale 02. Clangores Plenilunio 03. Prologue 04. ...In The Woods (In The Woods... cover) 05. Epilogue

"Kraken's Awakening" is the name for the debut album by LAPPALAINEN , and that last can be ordered for 10 euros + 2 euros for shipping. Contact the band to get your copy.  

 February 27th will be released the new FROSTTIDE album " Blood Oath".You can find details here , and one single together with pre-order link over there Today, the band shared the official trailer for " Blood Oath" album:

The band  HEIDEVOLK  shared one first track "Winter Woede" (it means Winter Rage) taken from their upcoming album entitled " Velua " to be released in March. This track is one new official video available here :

SVERDKAMP released a new single entitled "Skomakarnibbå" and available for free download during February 2015. Skomakarnibbå (Shoemakers Peak) is the name of that mountain peak viewable in the picture below. It got its name from a shoemaker who died there hundreds of years ago. The song is about the story behind. You can listen and get it here: Skomakarnibbå by Sverdkamp

FJORSVARTNIR released their first official video on youtube which is for one song taken from the upcoming album "Mzoraxc's forbandelse". The song is entitled "Nordens genopstandelse" and heres the video:

Metal Hell Records shared the following TENGGER CAVALRY news on their website: Beijing / NYC – Mongolian folk metal band TENGGER CAVALRY is re-recording their demo album Blood Sacrifice Shaman with all new folk instrumentation for official worldwide release on Metal Hell Records in 2015. Currently all principal recordings have been completed and the album will soon enter the post production & mixing stage.  The title, concept and artwork of this album reflects the philosophy of ancient shamanism. Shamanism is the earliest religion in human history, which exalts nature, the grassland, forest and animals. A shaman is a person with the wisdom to understand nature, they could travel to the heavens to communicate with the gods of the wild. Blood sacrifice is one of the most primal forms of sacrifice, with the offering an animal’s blood to the sky father to show veneration.

March 20th of 2015 will be released the first single "Insomnia" by SLANE.  This is the artwork (by Luigiht) : Adam Csete (DALRIADA) plays flute and pipes on this single. "Insomnia" will be available in digital and physical versions. The band is also working on their debut album.

Nuclear Blast revealed the artwork for the upcoming 'Klaani album planned to be released on May 01 (EU), May 04 (UK) and May 05 (US): You can already pre-order "Noita" album in CD, black or blue vinyls formats passing by their webshop .

VORGRUM released their debut album entitled " Last Domain " in digital for now.  Physical version will come later. You can purchase "Last Domain" for $9 on the VORGRUM Bandcamp page .

This year will be the second album by BOISSON DIVINE . The record will be composed of nine tracks which deal with History and drinks.  Tracks there will be more epic and longer than the ones on the first record "Enradigats". The length of the record is about 45 minutes.

Three good news regarding LES ALABRES : - The first is nobody leaves the band! :D - The second is they have a second guitar player named Steph now - The third is they have a second drummer! His name is Krout and will play drums when Tom, the first drummer, will be unavailable -  and will do backing vocals when availability will be for Tom.

Today is the day for the new HAGBARD 's EP " Tales of Frost and Flames " now released. TRACKLIST: 01. Intro 02. Cursed Dwarf 03. War for the Dawn 04. Stormborn Queen 05. High as Honor You can purchase it by email to the band for 5$ or 4€ + shipping.

April 18th will be released the new BALDRS DRAUMAR album entitled "Aldgillissoan", as you may know . Today, the band revealed me the tracklist for their upcoming album full of 12 tracks: 01. Iselhiem 02. Koppen yn ‘e mist 03. Wolvetiid [ video ] 04. Fredou 05. Yn ‘e meahal 06. In skym yn it tsjuster [ video ] 07. Keningsting 08. By Ty en Thuner 09. Hel as Himel 10. Stoarm oer de Streamen 11. Ûnder it Skyld 12. Hadagrims Fertriet

This is SERPENTYNE 's new video for the 8th track of the album 'Myths and Muses':

Nature from TENGGER CAVALRY performs Morin khuur & throat singing  in this video with the  NY University Symphony Orchestra and Jazz group in New York, USA.

Our old forum related with Mythology, Medieval culture and events is back under one shorter name: " Mythology & Medieval Era ". I included some rules over there and many topics removed but not erased. Either they will appear again, either they will be created again. This forum is designed for Education; the one of Medieval History, and Mythology. This part is for all the enthusiasts. The upcoming Medieval festivals taking place in your country can be shared in one specific thread over there. These medieval events will appear on our Folk & Medieval Events calendar then.  Lately, I updated this calendar regarding medieval events: http://swordchant.go-board.com/h53-folk-events Pagan / Celtic / Medieval Folk bands concerned by Medieval events (like Olam ein sof) or Folk tour can always use the Excel file designed for concerts. Ask for it if your band doesn't have this useful file. Have a nice week-end!

The young Italian band HERCUNIA founded in 2013 shared for streaming their very first demo,

CRUACHAN revealed their official video for Blood for the Blood God taken from the s/t album, within some explanations related with on the video page: "The narrative shows the grim and selfless task taken by the Chieftan of a Gaelic village to sacrifice his own first born child to the Blood God known as Crom Cruach. By appeasing the God in this way he hopes to restore glory and fortune to his clan. His wife must accompany him on this journey and partake in the ritual of sacrifice despite the obvious pain it is causing both of them.." The video can be found on their channel .

BARLOVENTOS made a new official video dedicated to one new song which will be available on their second album entitled "La Senda Eterica" (The Etheric Path) planned for this year. The band from Argentina told me that we can expect more power and speed on this record and said "we focus on various styles of folk , from the Norse, the Arab, the Celtic and even perhaps beyond the odd tango... but still have to define..."

Metal Blade Records shared online one new song by the Finnish metallers ENSIFERUM . The song is entitled "Heathen Horde". This is the third track of their album titled " One Man Army " to be released on February 20/24th, which can be pre-ordered now.

The one-woman band  DOOM OF VALYRIA covered in a video "Man of Iron" song by BATHORY. The video is available on her new Youtube channel , and here:

Austrian band HEATHEN FORAY signed a deal with Massacre records who will release the third album of the band "Into Battle" on April 24th. You can always pre-order this upcoming album with other goodies passing by their crowdfunding which is up for 16 days again. Beside is the artwork designed by Darkgrove that I found on the label page . :)

The new album by FINSTERFORST entitled "Mach Dich Frei" is now released everywhere in Europe .

ARANDU ARAKUAA are currently working on their second album now in pre-production with producer Caio Duarte at Broadband Studio in Brazil. The future album of the band is planned for July.

DALRIADA band from Hungary are about to record their new album soon. The upcoming full length is settled around September 2015. Canadians VALFREYA are also working on a new album.  They have chosen the birthday of the band for the revelation that is today.

The Spanish band YGGDRASSIL entered the studio last week. They recorded drums and this week will be the bass lines to record for one EP coming soon.

Jonas has taken the decision to leave THE PRIVATEER after four years being part of the crew. He said: Thanks for the rad und awesome time! It is hard for me to leave and i won't ever forget any second of the times we were on booty quest and rocked insanely! It was my decision to go and i know i will regret it for sure to jumped off the ship. After all there is no point in being sad! I will cherish it that i was 4 years part of the bandhistory and experienced much with you guys. Stay on target and see you soon!

Band CLAMOR SILVAE released a new song titled "Mel Daemoniosus" available for free download to the Bandcamp page of their label. The first official video by the Italian band is for this song.

VOGELFREY will release their third album "Sturm und Klang" on the label Metalville. Artwork of the album available on 08.05.2015 can be found below:

The Italians KANSEIL started the recordings for their album which will be made of 11 tracks. As they told me "The studio is really professional, and we're happy with it" , so I think we will be as well. :) Some tracks revisited and not from their previous demo will be on the record, with new songs. Guests from some local bands will feat. on a couple of tracks.

Earlier in facebook and twitter, I announced the digital release for "Az esm" album by WELICORUSS can be ordered through Bandcamp and we have to wait for physical version unavailable on their websites. I said there  that I asked the band regarding this matter. They replied me they had some technical issues and the physical release will appear on their website in the evening. But you can order the record by contacting the band to their email address.

Our bands battle is back within 6 bands: - FJORSVARTNIR - OMUT' - SOLA NORR - VALENSOROW - VORGRUM - YOMI What one is your favorite amongst them? Be a member of our forum, support your fav band with your vote here  and tell us what you like and don't in them. :) Have fun!