Sword Chant

Hi Folks ! I hope everyone's alright ! Since mid-february, i can't bring you news because I am without internet and I can't say when it will be back. It was not planned. My email contact is still available, but replies can't be now. Thank you.

VÄSEN made a new video for Bodin song available on their forthcoming  Melliken album.

The outlawed FREDLÖS released their new and self-titled single available on their debut and S/T album out now. You can listen and purchase it to the various links now available.

The HU made a new version of their song "This is Mongol" taken from "Rumble of Thunder" album released last year. This new single titled "This Is Mongol (Warrior Souls)" feat William DuVall (Comes With The Fall, Alice In Chains). You can listen or buy the new version of the song through different platforms . This is the original song :

FROST GIANT released their third EP titled "Once But Not Now". The band comments : "This was recorded in several different places, but it came together at The Armory Studios and it was engineered by Scott Minner. Mastering by Ken Sorceron.  On this release we wanted to go back to a more primal sound, moving away from the glossiness and engineered perfection of modern metal recordings. We chose Scott Minner because of his background recording punk & hardcore music. It was a stretch for him mixing so many elements compared to what he is used to doing, and a stretch for us to resist the urge to fix every little detail. We left a lot of imperfections in the mix. We didn't use pitch correction on the vocals or guitars. We did not use time-alignment. Drum sample replacement was present but it was kept as close to Armen's kit sound as we could. We wanted it to sound broken, like a race car on fire that still just won't slow down. " Once But Not Now by Fros...

HEATHEN FORAY released a new video for Leben song taken from the upcoming Oathbreaker album due to be released on April 7, 2023. The record is available for preorder . Heres the video : Album details :

The German band FERRYMAN'S COIN released their first single and video titled "Der Erlkönig".

As promised in january, here are all details on the upcoming VÄSEN album titled "Melliken", an album with many traditional tunes from the area along Dalälven, when it becomes the border between the provinces Uppland and Gästrikland, Sweden. The name Melliken is what the fiddler Per Persson Menlös was called in his home village Hedesunda. On Väsen’s new album “Melliken” you are invited to a colorful and expressive world where  Olov and Mikael’s music runs like a common thread through the generations. The traditional tunes are commented on by new eight compositions and the old tunes played by Gustaf Strutz, Melliken and Gustav Uggla gain wings and fly again. With a dark touch on the bass viola and the violoncello da spalla together with the silvery nyckelharpas, a sound and interplay is formed that is unique in its form. With Melliken, Väsen continues the musical journey that has lasted for almost four decades. The joy and love for the music is still in center. TRACKLIST 0...

RED RUM will release their new album Book Of Legends on april 14th, 2023.  "Book of Legends" is RED RUM’s most adventurous release to date, full of catchy melodies, spine crushing singalongs and undeniably raucous pirate metal riffs. With matured songwriting skills, this new album places the band’s neoclassical take on pirate metal to new heights. It was mixed and mastered by Alboin / Nightside Audio and features artwork and layouts by Jan Yrlund @darkgroove (Tyr, Manowar, Korpiklaani, Battle Beast etc). TRACKLIST 01. Book Of Legends / 02. Drunk And Disorderly  03. 50 Gallons Of Ale / 04. We Pirates  05. Liar’s Dice / 06. Greatest Drink (In All The Land)  07. Rekt / 08. Captain’s Command  09. Drunken Pirates (Ahoy!) / 10. Make Port Drink Port The lyrics video for the song "Greatest Drink (In All The Land)" has been unleashed.

Initially planned for 2020, the TROLLGRAD album “Tales of Gold Fever” is out now. Tales of Gold Fever by Trollgrad

The Spanish band PENTANDRA released their debut album "From Below". From Below by Pentandra

KALEVALA released a new single titled "Lovets Zmey". It means "Snake Catcher". The track available in digital is taken from their new album "Plyaska svyatogo Vita” (Dance of St. Vitus) to be released on february 15th. TRACKLIST 01. Gori po polnoy!  02. Plyaska svyatogo Vita  03. Lovets zmey  04. Prosnis vo mne Zver 05. menem lesa 06. Bezbozhniki  07. Sto dney  08.Tak dolgi zhdat 09. Beshvostaya lisa 10. Sestri Boga 

TROLD released Sensommerbålet single taken from their first and forthcoming album "Der Var Engang..." planned for May. You can get the single here in digital.

Last Ride is the first song taken from the upcoming ETERKNIGHT album "Forgotten Tales". You can get it digital here .

01. Hi Antoine ! Last year, you founded RAZKHAAL with Francesco and Julien, why that bandname ? Hi! Well we wanted a name that sounds primitive, tribal and a bit agressive, so we came the name Razkhaal which is the name of our goblin cave. Try to pronounce it with a goblin voice and you'll see! 02. RAZKHAAL plays « Goblin Folk Metal », can you describe your music ? It's a mix of different inspirations, it's all about the ambiance of the songs which is inspired from video games like World of Warcraft and so on but also from bands like Finntroll, combining black metal vibes, death metal or sometimes industrial with folk and traditional music from the world and with a lot of fun too. All that makes the malicious goblin metal sound. 03. The line-up of the band is missing a drummer being complete, are you looking for a full time drummer ? For the moment no, we're not. We have that alchemy with our session drummer that we don't want to lose and he makes an incredible wor...

WOLFCHANT released a new video for the song Witchfinder.

The new single Willow's Waltz available on all streaming platforms is the result of a collaboration between Philleann & Elvya, known as Elvya Dulcimer. She sings there.

LOCATION : Grez-Doiceau, Belgium Status : Active Music : Folk Metal MEMBERS : Antoine "Kasskraan" : lead guitar, backing vocals Francesco "Horvaal" : bass, lead vocals Julien "Barbaak" : rythm guitar HISTORY : Razkhaal was founded during 2022 after Kasskraan, Horvaal and Barbaak met from a previous and born dead folk project they decided to leave and made their own band, keeping their goblin folk metal music style. They are also accompanied by their session drummer and good friend Trollhammer ( Aktarum ). In February will be released their debut EP. RECORDINGS : Goblin Spirit, EP 2023 Blood Ritual, single 2024 [  details  ] WEBSITES : Facebook Instagram Youtube Contact : razkhaalband@gmail.com Find more information on Sword Chant : - Interview 2023 - Band news

'The Reaper’, the third single from Irish folk-metal pioneers CRUACHAN upcoming ninth album ‘ The Living and the Dead ’, is a wonderful blend of the band’s hardest metal riffs and hauntingly beautiful folk and traditional instruments. Featuring Sinead Richards, she's only 14 year old and daughter of our producer. 'The song 'The Reaper' is about my dad. For a long time my dad was not well, he would be in and out of hospital and doctors visits but was never so bad that he would be kept in hospital for long periods of time. He mostly ignored the advice of the doctors. He didn't take great care of himself, he wouldn't eat proper food. There are details I can't really go into but needless to say it frustrated me so much to see a man ignore the advice that was given to him. He was a well liked man in the community but in his declining years he became very insular, didn't want to do anything, didn't want to see people, to see family. We tried everythin...

VORNA unveiled their new single “Hiljaisuus ei kestä” taken from their upcoming album titled "Aamunkoi". The full length available for  pre-order  will be released April 21, 2023. Aamunkoi by Vorna Aamunkoi album details : TRACKLIST 01. Hiljaisuus ei kestä (Silence Never Lasts) 02. Harva päättää hyvästeistään (Few Decide Their Farewells) 03. Valo (The Light) 04. Aika pakenee (Time Is Fading) 05. Kallioilla (On These Cliffs) 06. Muualle (Anywhere But Here) 07. Raja (The Point of No Return) 08. Meri (The Ocean) 09. Aamunkoi (Dawn)

THE WOLVES OF AVALON made a video for "The Shining Company" song taken from "Y Gododdin" album released last year. The track includes guest vocals from Drudkh's Thurios. You can listen and purchase the new album here : Y Gododdin by The Wolves of Avalon

The second VOSEGUS album "Retourne à la Terre" (Back to the Ground) will be out February 18, 2023. One first track titled "Une vie pour une vie" is available for a listen, and the other tracks will follow. Retourne à la terre by Vosegus

VANIR from Denmark released their new single "Steel Meets Steel" you can listen to different on various streaming services . Steel Meets Steel” touches the subject of a war-torn country defending its honor and territory, in a time where despots and warmongers threaten the free world!”, the band comments. “We must salute the men and women that fight for the peace of all Europeans. Let steel meet steel!”

 "Die Schlacht" is the title of the new BRACHMOND song.  They made a video for the song :

LOCATION : Angers, France Status : Active Music :  Folk Metal  MEMBERS : Maxime : Techno uilleann pipes, Irish whistle, mandolin Elodie : harp Léonard : drums Corentin : vocals Past members : Renan : vocals Florent:  bass Jules : rhythm guitar  Arman : drums Ludo : lead guitar Alex : rhythm guitar  Malfy : bass HISTORY : Bansidh was founded by Maxime in 2014. A stable line-up appeared in 2015 with Ludo, Renan, Jules and Arman. The band's goal is to mix Celtic music with Metal, and to tell about Celts living in the Tène’s period, from 450 to 25 before J.C ; and accurate historical events and myths. Their lyrics are written in English and Gaulish.    Members' influences are various from Death, Black Metal to Traditional Celtic Music     Later in 2020, some members part ways with the band for personal reasons, and Elodie joins becoming the first harpist in the band but then, Malfy, Alex and L...

Today, ENSLAVED released their new single titled "Forest Dweller". "Forest Dweller" is a churning, psychedelic journey through archaic Norse folklore. One might ask what lessons we can divine from our celestial ancestors ? We might never understand their true intentions, but their echo will live on regardless. The track is taken from Heimdal album coming out march 03, 2023, and available for preorder in various formats . "Heimdal", is both a departure and a communion with roots forged over three decades ago in the turbulent birth throes of Norway’s black metal scene. The record is named after Heimdal, arguably the most mysterious entity in Nordic mythology. The record features psychedelic track 'Caravans To The Outer Worlds' from last year's EP of the same name. Album bonus versions contain an extra track, 'Gangandi', alongside a Blu-Ray copy of 2021's stunning Otherworldly Big Band Experience streamed event - the band's boldes...

Words : Official English translations Song : SvartMetall Release : Strange rumours… distant tremors Thanks to the band for the sharing. Translated by Alphavarg SvartMetall In the night, in the dim we creep With autumn we rise from the mist We haunt the sylvan shadows We feud with Christ Our realm is the cavern of dogma From chapel to chapel we raid Arson... Downfall! Leather-enshrouded are we Smudged by black and white Shags whipping against the silence Flying into a frenzy like wolves We know no dread - we fear no death We are mean and wild Black at heart and soul SvartMetall! 

Words : Official English translations Song : När Tiden Vissnar (As time withers) Release : Strange rumours… distant tremors Thanks to the band for the sharing. Translated by Alphavarg As Time Withers In the distance a fire is burning A solitary glow in the grim moors At the pond he’s sitting Observing the lunar silver-lustre Reflecting on the dark waters As time withers He’s been there before time After time he shall descend What will become of him As time withers His furrowed face shows a fierce grin Sullenly he's holding out With gloomy eyes Awaiting the downfall He’s been there before time After time he shall descend

Words : Official English translations Song : Fólkthing Release : Strange rumours… distant tremors Thanks to the band for the sharing. Translated by Alphavarg Fólkthing Strange rumours resound from afar Dimly through the misty realm All this horror, all terrifying tales nourish the very core of thy fears Pass the final beaker Horns up - here’s to victory! Mead shall spur our spirits Ere we march to war My siblings, my warriors Gather vor review Pointy thorns, sharpened blades Scrutinise them all Bridle the wolves, harness the boars At dusk we’ll foray And ere the dawn is nigh No one shall be alive Pass the final beaker Horns up - here’s to victory! Mead shall spur our spirits Ere we march to war Let us feast on the Ettins - Hailed be Thrym and Surt alike Let us curse all mankind - banish them from ettin-realm Drive him back into the desert, all his henchmen after him His teachings, all his lies shall soon be forgotten

Words : Official English translations Song : Herjan Release : Strange rumours… distant tremors Thanks to the band for the sharing. Translated by Alphavarg Herjan Eightfold hoofbeat when the storm seed sprouts Voracity and greed are raging frenzy-unified And battle-falcons whirl down the cloud-tower Set fire to my dark - to my Ginnungagap Concealed in Borr’s vapour, at the boundary wall of this world Far from white impostors by whom Midgard might fall I raise a stronghold, for now and all time My horg shall yield to no one - immune from enemy’s hand The Steelwolf furrows, sowing grudge and salvation at once Carves staves to summon the one who awaits in the otherrealm My body shall be thy field, so till it with blood Harvest time has come! Raise thy hackles! As soon as my sacrifice stains the carvings, My grief-dew ‘neath the yule-moon awakens the thirst for revenge, Thunderously and quiveringly approaches The legion of the dead - Herjan ahead Kneel before Herjan - the battle-dispo...

Words : Official lyrics Release : Strange rumours… distant tremors Thanks to the band for the sharing. Tracklist  : 01. Intro: Valtivar - Sigtivar (instrumental) 02.  Herjan 03.  Grim Omens 04.  Fólkthing 05.  När Tiden Vissnar 06.  Harvest 07.  Strandhagg part I - The Drakkar Approach 08.  Strandhagg part II - Wave Bound 09.  Strandhagg part III - The Landing 10.  SvartMetall 02. Herjan Achtfacher Hufschlag wenn Sturmes Saat erkeimt Es rasen Fraß und Gier in toller Jagd vereint Und Schlachtfalken stoben vom Wolkenturm herab Bring Feuer in mein Dunkel - in mein Ginungagap Im Brodern Borrs verbogen am Grenzwall jener Welt Fernab vom weißen Blendern, mit denen Midgard fällt Errichte ich ein Bollwerk, für nun und alle Zeit Mein Horg wird niemals weichen - vor Feindeshand gefeit Stahlwolf zieht die Furchen, sät Groll und Heil zugleich Formt Stäbe, den zu holen, der harrt im Andersreich Mein Leib sei dein Ac...

Words : Official English translations Release : Kveldridhur Thanks to the band for the sharing. Translated by Alphavarg Tracklist  : 01. Intro: KrossaMarsch (instrumental) 02.  Kromlek 03. Strandhagg Pt. I :  The Drakkar Approach 04. Ode an den Feuergott :  Ode to the God of Fire 05. PilzPrinzPolka (instrumental) 06. Träskens Näve :  Fist of the Swamp 07. Outro: Gryning... när allt blir sten (instrumental) 02. Kromlek Deep within the northernmost swamps There’s slumbering the stronghold of the trollish hordes Veiled by fog, gnawn away by the ravages of time And yet Bonifazius did fail A sacred circle of granite stone Shall forsooth be a symbol of eternity Once raised by the ancestors on this very place Where since the beginning of time primal forces do pond Clubs polished, blades sharpened Soon the clergy scum will be chivied to the KromleK O’ then they shall hang, a sacrifice in blood ‘cause our troll lord demands his...

Words : Official lyrics Release : Kveldridhur Thanks to the band for the sharing. Tracklist  : 01. Intro: KrossaMarsch (instrumental) 02.  Kromlek 03.  Strandhagg Pt. I 04.  Ode an den Feuergott 05. PilzPrinzPolka (instrumental) 06.  Träskens Näve 07. Outro: Gryning... när allt blir sten (instrumental) 02. Kromlek Tief in den Sümpfen im äußersten Norden Ruht das Bollwerk der trollischen Horden Im Nebel versunken und vom Zeitzahn zernagt Und trotzdem hat hier Bonifazius versagt! Ein heiliger Kreis aus granitenem Stein Soll fürwahr ein Symbol für die Ewigkeit sein Von den Altvorderen einst hier erbaut Wo seit frühesten Zeiten die Urkraft sich staut Die Keulen sind poliert und die Klingen sind gewetzt Schon bald wird der Klerus zum KromleK gehetzt Dann werden sie hängen, ein Opfer in Blut Der Trollgott verlangt heute Nacht sein Tribut Eilt, Brüder! Rasch, holt die Hörner heran Und ein jeder mag zechen soviel er nur kann Das Fest für den Tr...

VALENSOROW shared one first track taken from their third and upcoming album titled "Shorestank".

LOCATION :   Stockholm, Sweden Status :   Split-up Music :   Medieval Folk MEMBERS : Stefan Grapenmark : percussions Jan Liljekvist ( Månegarm ) : violin, flute Umer Mossige-Norheim : vocals Sebastian Åberg : tabla, drum, percussions Gustaf Esters : percussions Marcas Oreglia : violin, vocals Jie Zelf : percussions Olof Öberg : guitar HISTORY : Två Fisk och En Fläsk is a medieval folk band founded on january 1994. Jan Liljekvist was part of this band before to be Månegarm member from 1998 to 2012. Umer Mossige-Norheim sings on several Månegarm records as guest. Två Fisk och En Fläsk split-up in 2005. They came back in 2020 and played to some events but disappeared again. Flesh Jam and Workshop were recorded in 2003 and released on bandcamp later and for free download like all records are. RECORDINGS : Två Fisk och En Fläsk , album 1998 Jungfruburen, album 200 0 Flesh Workshop, album 2016 Flesh Jam, album 2016 WEBSITES : Bandcamp Contact :  N/A

LOCATION :  Tilburg, North Brabant,  Netherlands Status :   Active Music :   Folk Metal MEMBERS : Mike Seidel : bass  Bram Trommelen : drums Zino van Leerdam : vocals Michael van Eck : guitars HISTORY : Bram Trommelen and Zino van Leerdam founded the band in 2015. RECORDINGS : The House Spirit, EP 2017 [  details  ] Vanacoustica, Vol. 2020, maxi single 2020 Een Verloren Verhaal, album 2022 WEBSITES : Vanaheim.nl Facebook Instagram Youtube Bandcamp Contact :   info@vanaheim.nl Find more information on Sword Chant : - Band  news

LOCATION :  Plobannalec-Lesconil,  Brittany, France Status :   Active Music :   Folk Metal MEMBERS : Jo Derouet : guitars, bass, Irish bouzouki, bödhràn, vocals Marion Le Soillec : harp Gurvan Guillaumin : uilleann pipes Gwendal Calippe : bagpipes, tin whistle, vocals Past members : Alexandra Melt : guitars, vocals Gwennoline Le Coz : vocals Axel : bass HISTORY : The band founded in 2011 and released one album before a lineup change in 2017 or 2018. RECORDINGS : Dirak ar Stang, album 2016 [ details ] Christmas Song, single 2018 WEBSITES : Facebook Youtube Contact :   gwaremm.korriged@gmail.com Find more information on Sword Chant : - Band  news

LOCATION :   Kraków, Poland Status :   Active Music :   Folk Metal MEMBERS : Michalina Malisz ( Eluveitie ) : vocals, hurdy gurdy Piotr Martuś : guitar Miłosz Buśko : bass Tomasz Młóciński : drums HISTORY : Founded in 2020 by Michalina Malisz  and her husband, Piotr Martuś, LYRRE   merges musical influences ranging from modern metal to symphonic and cinematic music, from folk to electronic beats. They call it “neomedieval metal”.  The lyrics are inspired by legends, and literature, rich with poetic metaphors drawn from myths and medieval imagery.   LYRRE is currently working on their debut album 100% funded thru their campaign. It will be made of 9 tracks focused on the theme of "change". The release date planned for the end of March 2023 RECORDINGS : Divide and Conquer, single 2022 North Star , single 2022 Call in the Wind, single 2023 [  details  ] WEBSITES : Bandcamp Facebook Instagram Youtube Contact :  N/A Find more information...

LYRRE released a new song "Call in the Wind" taken from their debut album coming out in march 2023. You can purchase the digital track passing by their bandcamp .

VELIU NAMAI released their fourth album titled “Alkai”.  It serves as an open invitation to experience the mystical world of the Baltics - to feel the sacredness of its ancient past. Draped in a sonic tapestry woven from a great variety of musical traditions, the listener is sent off on a hypnotic flight of the imagination. Ceremonial chanting and droning folk parts give way to a kind of otherworldly, trance-inducing techno performed with mostly organic instruments. As with the radically different music styles, digital and analogue sounds are fused together seamlessly. Pulsating minimalism merges with vocals and shamanic percussion to create a hypnotic soundscape coated by mesmerizing melodies played on guitars, lutes, and ethnic string instruments such as the Turkish baglama, Lithuanian kanklės and Latvian giga. This ambitious concoction boils down to an exquisite brew infused in equal parts with Dead Can Dance, Wardruna, or again Sigur Ros. The album features guest appearances by...