Sword Chant

ULKAN NEWEN released their debut EP entitled "La fuerza del canto" (Power of Song). 6 tracks complete the record; them all are modern metal with various influences such as Celtic music, Mapuche, Chilean and Argentinian folklore, or again Japanese music,  The ULKAN NEWEN call their music as "Global Folk Metal" which means to their eyes "Modern Metal mixed with the ability to mix worldwide folklore". TRACKLIST:

The band URT is currently working on their next record to be available in 2016. 10 tracks will complete the album.

FORTID released their album entitled "9". You can purchase the record here . TRACKLIST: 01. Hrafnar 02. Hugur 03. Nornir 04. Viska 05. Leit 06. 9 07. Galdur 08. Rúnir 09. Hof

Great news! Some days ago, CRAVING bass player Leo woke up from coma ! Recover well, Leo!

Their re-release " Blood Sacrifice Shaman " is coming soon. The TENGGER CAVALRY founder revealed to Sword Chant,  tthings behind the record. 01. Hi Nature ! First of all… How did the idea to found a band like TENGGER CAVALRY come to you ? When I heard those amazing folk metal bands in Europe, I was blow away by the magic of the sound. Eluveitie combines Celtic folk with heavy metal; Turisas combines Viking folk with epic metal. I just love the idea of incorporating traditional folk tune with heavy metal. So I was thinking, I want to blend Mongolian traditional music with it to create an epic image of Genghis Khan’s cavalry! 02. Can you tell us your musical path ? I started as a guitarist in local metal bands in Beijing. And then I studied Mongolian horsehead fiddle and throat singing with several Mongolian musicians. I started Tengger Cavalry in late 2009 and early 2010. Now I am in New York studying Film Music Composition

The fourth track from the forthcoming SKYFORGER album entitled " Senprūsija " (Old Prussia) is revealed as one first single of the record. Below is  Tagad vai nekad track which means "Now or Never". The song tells about the Great Prussian uprising in 1260 - 1274, when the Prussian tribes almost succeeded in driving the Order of Teutonic Knights out of Prussia. However, due to the continuous influx of fresh manpower from Europe and many European leaders joining the conflict, the uprising was suppressed and the Prussians had to once again yield the Teutonic Order. More about it you will find in CD booklet. Lyrics can be found on to the video's page. 

Heres one video of the band FALKHAN performing live on March 13th of 2015 at Skövde kulturhus, Sweden. Setlist : (Intro) Förstfödd  0:00 Ur Jordens Sköte  6:45 Skuggors Son  11:09 Femtio Vintrars Sorg  18:15 Blodsvuren  22:55 Storm  29:07

Świt historii, EP of the Polish band CRONICA is out now. Find details in my previous article about  and add around two euros for the shipping cost.

"One Step Closer To Valhalla" EP by YGGDRASSIL is available for 5 euros (+ shipping). Contact the band to order your copy. TRACKLIST: 01. Nidhogg 02. Primal Hunt 03. Berserkers 04. Drakkar 05. Loki's Ascension 06. Song Of Beer

American band  SUN AND MOON DANCE revealed one track entitled "Å gi vann til røttene" (Watering the Roots). They said: This will be the only other track I release until I finish the EP. The song was recorded in collaboration with my closest friends. You will hear the Tagelharpa which is played by myself as well as river stones and frame drum. Male vocals were done by myself, Elan and Bear. Female vocals were done by Brittany. The river you hear in the background is a very sacred place to us all. Watering the roots is a remembrance of the ritual in which we all became brothers and sisters,

April 17th & 18th of 2015 will be one Folk Metal live event in Wrocław, Poland and Sword Chant can be only proud to suport such an event where part of the money from Cd's & T-shirts of the event sold will be one charity auction to help someone named  Patryk with medical treatment. This is the flyer: BANDS :

Today, the Pirate Metal band from France TOTER FISCH released their debut EP entitled " Blood, Rum & Piracy ". The following tracks complete the record available for 2€ in digital and digipack (+3€ for shipping cost) on Bandcamp : 01. tortuga 02. Kings of the sea 03. Sunset with rum 04. A night over the ocean 05. La Buse Blood, Rum & Piracy by Toter Fisch

"Velua" album by HEIDEVOLK can be ordered at Napâlm records or Itunes , and purchased to your favourite local store from the following dates: 20.03.2015 BENELUX / GAS 27.03.2015 Europe / AUS 30.03.2015 UK / NO / FR /DK / IT 01.04.2015 SE / ESP 07.04.2015 USA / CAN The band released in February the official video for the opening track of the new album, video available below the tracklist:

SLANE from Russia released their new single " Insomnia ". You can purchase it on Bandcamp as digital or digipack. Two years ago, SLANE made one first EP entitled "Follow Me" that you can listen here . So, are you following this band ? :-)

More news related with HEATHEN FORAY again : I contacted their label, Massacre records, in order to get the tracklist for their upcoming album "Into Battle". Heres their reply: 01. Fight  5:17 02. Silence  5:46 03. Unthinking 5:19 04. Wofür ich streit´ 6:45 05. Tír na nOg 6:53 06. Knüppeltroll  2:29 07. Freundschaft 6:23 08. Wigrid 5:15 09. Winterking (Acoustic hidden track)  4:54  You can pre-order the record on Bandcamp if you didn't already help this project of the band to see the daylight. One event planned for April 24th of 2015.

Massacre records will release the next HEATHEN FORAY album " Into Battle " in one month, and co-funded by the fans . Awaiting the D-day, you can listen to the song "Fight" taken from the full length.

AD PLENITATEM LUNAE will release a new  free single entitled "Acuile Uarbe" on March 25th. The title means "blind eagle". Eagle, the symbol of Friuli region to north-east of Italy. The song deals with the following statement: "Get your own opinion and make all by your own, without to follow stupidly one leader or another". 

FALKHAN finally released ....on youtube for now (and spôtify a bit later) their first demo entitled 'Förstfödd".

Pirate metal band LORDS OF THE DRUNKEN PIRATE CREW plans to release their debut album "Loaded to the Gunwalls" but they need some help.  I invite you to check out their fund campaign  and to listen to their prévious recorded songs  here .

"Lempo" is the title of the new KORPIKLAANI single released in digital on iTunes ,  Amazon , or Google Play . The song is taken from the forthcoming album entitled " Noita ".

Five years after the band founded, CLAMOR SILVAE won the 66th bands battle of Sword Chant. They released their first demo "Terra Nostra" back in 2013.  This year, the italian band under the flag of Nemeton records released the single that you can watch and listen below, and that you can download for free awaiting their new Extended Play to come out soon.

Last month, I have written in one article that KANSEIL are recording their debut album, made of 11 tracks. You will find the tracklist below. If you follow Sword Chant and are part of the community , you may already know their album is entitled "Doin Earde" and means "Your Land".  "Doin Earde" has been recorded, mixed, and mastered between February and March by Christian Zecchin in Zeta Production's studio in Vicenza, Italy. "Doin Earde" means “Your Land”, our land, that’s our first source of inspiration and pride for our culture, our mountains, our tradition, and our history, that have so much to teach us, and they aren’t just part of our past, but our future too. Doin Earde brings a message direct to everyone, who’s curious to discover our old and recent music, so they can rediscover a heritage that’s going to get lost.", the band commented. The album will be released through Nemeton records on April 18th. Heres the artwor...

Sad news for all the CRAVING fans, Bass player Leonid Rubinstein is in coma since Monday, and Doctors from the hospital said that he's in critical situation, Ivan reported in this video: 2.59 is the English version I worked with Leo for their last tour, and seen CRAVING live last month...  From the making of their tour to their appearance on stage in Normandy I was,  all was great!  These news are just hard to beleive for me.... GET WELL SOON Leo!

Due to technical issues with his sequencer software, the album announced here within a teaser by ULGARD is delayed. However, the band released one free EP for all the fans waiting on the album.  This EP is focused Folk/Ambient/orchestral and includes tracks recorded over the years and two covers. I asked the band more details regarding this EP that you can get for free on Bandcamp , and the tracks there; ULGARD replied me the following: Yggdrasil - I wrote this song during a time when I was young and went hiking with my friends in the Appalachians. We found an abandoned trail, and took that. It led us up very far, and once we got to the top. We saw endless nature, mountains, and earth. It was so inspiring to me.  The Sanctuary in the Stars - It is inspired every time I look upon the moon, the stars, and think of the many children (Planets) a star may hold. It is also how we deeply depend on a star, and how it gives us the beautiful life each one of ...

Earlier this year , YGGDRASSIL entered the studio to record "One Step Closer To Valhalla" EP. At the beginning of this month was published one first track and today is time to reveal the artwork and another track taken from this EP to come in one week.

French young band TELPERION opened a crowdfunding project focused on their debut album which may be entitled "Dream of Destiny". The record is planned to be released by the end 2015; problably on October or November, the band said (to me).  Seven tracks will complete the full length which deals with one fantasy story, about a man in quest of revenge. Metal parts of the record means to be various. Last year, the band released one three-tracks demos available on Soundcloud .

Planned for September , the new album by DALRIADA will be entitled "Áldás" (Blessing).

KORPIKLAANI will release their new album entitled " Noita " in May 2015. Nuclear Blast shared a trailer for "Noita" on Youtube:

Świt historii EP by CRONICA band was planned to be released today but the Cd's have not arrived yet, a matter of time. However, you can pre-order the record for five euros (+ shipping cost) by contacting the band. TRACKLIST: 01. Cronica 02. V 03. Herr Mannelig 04. ÅšpiÄ…cy Rycerze 05. Wilk

SMUTA released " the Way " album and you can get it digipack or normal jewel case edition to Soundage productions .

Irish band CELTACHOR will release their second album "Nuada of the Silver Arm" on April 24th through Trollzorn label. TRACKLIST: 01. Arrival of the Tuatha 02. The Mighty Sreng 03. King Eochaid’s Fall 04. Bres 05. Nuada of the Silver Arm 06. The Gathering at Teamhair 07. Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh 08. Nuada’s Burial 09. Uaithne: The Dagda’s Harp

Welcome Michele Giovannetti, the third singer of the line-up of the italian band AFTERGOD .

The one man band SAOR found new members to complete the band, mainly for live. Andy from the band said: I would like to officially announce the new Saor line-up. Bryan Hamilton will now be taking up drumming duties on future recordings and live performances. Martyn Moffat and Reni McDonald will both provide live guitars as well as helping out with the recording/technical side of things on future albums  From left-right: Reni, Andy, Martyn & Bryan.

Metal Scrap Records signed a contract deal with V ARANG NORD and will re-release the debut album " Fire of the North " in May. Release dates :

The new ENSLAVED album "In Times" is out now! Europeans Fans can purchase it here while the UK ones will have to wait March 9th to purchase it at their stores and 10th for the US which means that is REALLY SOON! :-) TRACKLIST: 01. Thurisaz Dreaming 02. Building With Fire 03. One Thousand Years Of Rain 04. Nauthir Bleeding 05. In Times 06. Daylight

Pagan Folk band WALDKAUZ released their debut album entitled "Komm' mit". You can order it through their official webshop . TRACKLIST: 01. Prolog 02. Midsummer's Night 03. Kuun Valossa 04. Cernunnos 05. Tanzgeist 06. Green Roots 07. Emerald Isle 08. Der 111. Geburtstag 09. Viento y onda 10. Laub des Waldes 11. Ostara 12. Heiden unserer Zeit 13. Im Winde

Black Lodge records will re-release all the early albums remastered by MÅNEGARM before the end of the year. The first record, entitled "Nordstjärnans Tidsålder", is set to be released on April 10th. Them all will come with exclusive liner notes from the band. An exclusive bundle-pack (CD + T-shirt with a brand new design) will also be available for each release in limited editions. The band said: "Finally we will get our old albums out in the stores again. We have gotten a lot of requests for these albums and now we can proudly tell you that the time has finally come! So don't miss this great opportunity to experience Månegarm in the early years; now in re-mastered shape along with some great new merchandise".

FROSTTIDE posted the following on their page: We received the copies of Blood Oath few days ago and noticed that there are some flaws in the artwork. Mostly in the booklet. It is heartbreaking for us to see this since we had planned something very special together with our design artist for you. We have been informed that these flaws are present also in the copies pre ordered and the ones available at stores. This production mistake was out of our hands. The least we want is to offer a faulty product to the ones who support us.  Thank you for your understanding.

Godreah Records will release a new MCD by WOLVES OF AVALON during May 2015. The maxi single is entitled "Across Corpses Grey" and there will be a special cover of 'Die Hard' where Mantas [Venom / M.Pire of Evil], has recorded the guitars for, along with vocal contributions from Rob [Amebix], and Mirai [sigh].  The record features a 25 minutes long Prog-Pagan Metal song entitled "Across a twilight field of Corpses Grey, only the Trilling of Nightingales can be heard" and shifting between the past and the ethereal. It features Wolves main men, Metatron [Meads of Asphodel], and J. Marinos, as well, as an array of musicians providing, Flute, Cello, Violin, and lead Guitar.

ANA ALCAIDE released her new project "Tales of Pangea: "Gotrasawala ensemble", created in collaboration with musicians from other parts of the world. "Gotrasawala" means ‘global gathering’, and describes the fascinating encounter between musicians from the East and from the West. Spanish performer & world music composer ANA ALCAIDE works together with remarkable musicians from West Java (Indonesia) in pursuit of new ideas and structures, fusing western forms with instruments and patterns from traditional sundanese music. Find samples of the album on her Soundcloud .  TRACKLIST: 01. Aguaribay Intro 02. Aguaribay 03. Kalbu Gnalagu 04. Sono 05. Madenda intro 06. Madenda 07. Geber- Geber 08. Madya 09. Pajajaran 10. Goyong

"The next SKYFORGER album will be dedicated to the Prussians, the now extinct third Baltic nation. For us Latvians and Lithuanians, the two remaining Baltic nations, it is very important not to forget this part of our common history and that is why we made this album. (Note: the Germans, who conquered Prussia, also started to call themselves Prussians; however, they had nothing in common with the actual Baltic people of ancient Prussia)" , Peter said. The album titled "Senprūsija" (Old Prussia) made of 12 tracks will be released on April 6th by Thunderforge Records. The idea behind the album's cover art is that there is nothing left of Old Prussians, except some bones found in archaeological sites and a few other artefacts, while the rest is lost into the darkness of past. TRACKLIST & TRANSLATION:

I invite you to listen to this track taken from the upcoming album by TENGGER CAVALRY while you read this article: Nature Ganganbigal from the band said about this track: As a Mongolian folk metal band TENGGER CAVALRY's very first song back in 2009 "Tengger Cavalry" represents the original concept of the band, which combines Mongolian folk tradition and Shamanic ritual music with Western heavy metal music. In this new recording you will hear the band's modern sound developed from our last album Ancient Call (2014) along with the very primal and rough sound of TENGGER CAVALRY in 2009, which had a strong sense of ancient ritual.

ZNICH released a new single titled Дунаю (Dunayu):

SEKENGARD plans to release their S/T EP in April/May 2015. However, you can already pre-order their record.

Spanish vikings YGGDRASSIL released one new track titled "Loki’s Ascension":  

Last year, SVASKALVER released in digital  their debut album " Chyorniye Skazki " (Black Fairy Tales), available on Bandcamp . This year, the band released it in CD format and give it for free on concerts.  They can also ship the record but the shipping costs aren't for free. TRACKLIST & TRANSLATION: 01. Чёрный (Chyorniy/The Black) 02. Я не вернусь (Ya nye vernus'/I Won't Come Back) 03. Погибель Балина (Pogibel' Balina/Balin's Bane) 04. Вегинг (Veging/Veggie-viking) 05. Ярость топора (Yarost' topora/Axe Rage) 06. Слейпнир (Sleipnir) 07. Дерево (Dyerevo/The Tree) 08. История моих шрамов (Istorija moih shramov/Story of My Scars) 09. Месть (Myest'/Vengeance) 10. Касаясь легко (Kasayas' lyegko/Stepping Lightly) 11. Колыбельная (Kolibyel'naya/Lullaby) 12. Lady of the Lake - Rainbow cover) 13. Ведьма и осёл - Король и Шут cover (Vyed'ma i osyol - Korol' i Shut cover)

FOREFATHER are coming back with a new album entitled "Curse of the Cwelled". The band revealed the artwork made by Kris Verwimp.

Russians KALEVALA released on Bandcamp and in digital, one remastered track titled "Volchiy Zov" (Wolvencry). Meanwhile, the band is currently working on their next official video.

GJELDRUNE revealed the front cover for their upcoming EP entitled "V parusah cveta zar" (In the sails colored by the dawn):

Bands battle returns within these two Italian bands as fighters: - CLAMOR SILVAE - HERCUNIA What band will feat. on the Sword Chant compilation? Tell me with your vote:  http://swordchant.go-board.com/t2444-bands-battle-66  :)

This week-end, I have entirely remade the Folk Elements project related with Folk Instruments in Folk Metal bands which becomes also the new name for that project. The pages are under the new design of Sword Chant. I hope that you will like it: http://swordchant.go-board.com/h46-folk-instruments-in-folk-metal