Pagan Metal

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    Rauhnåcht - Zwischenwelten (2025)

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    One-man show Stefan Traunmüller, brings us today a very piercing and engaging Pagan Black Metal release with his band Rauhnåcht and their fifth full-length release “Zwischenwelten”. Featuring a sound that combines bits and pieces of outfits like Summoning, Enid, and some Falkenbach/Vred sprinkles. With six tracks spanning over 40 minutes, this release creates very regal and engaging melodic soundscapes that are perfect for a frosty winter evening of mild headbanging.

    Quickly escalating things with the fierce “Der Spalt zwischen den Welten”, we get fast paced melodic riffing accompanied by tight drumming and an overall regal sense. The raw Black Metal undertones are very well crafted into the more melodic passages and perfectly contrast the dreamy clean vocals onslaughts. While the elements remain the same throughout this release, this outfit does a great job in re-arranging them to create entertaining tracks like “Letzter Pfad”, and the ritualistic “Das Mark des Lebens”.

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    Granitader - Schlachtenklang (2025)

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    Unleashing a crafty mixture of Melodic/Pagan/Folk Metal with atmospheric tendencies, today we have Germany’s Granitader and their latest EP “Schlachtenklang”. Showcasing 15-minutes of music in three tracks, this release shows a nice balance between power and melody, reminding us of outfits like Enid, Ensiferum, and User Ne.

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    Havukruunu - Tavastland (2025)

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    Quickly taking the Pagan Metal Scene by storm, Finland’s Havukruunu have graciously evolved their sound in the last couple of years and with “Tavastland” they almost achieve perfection. With a very regal and explosive nature, the band’s fourth full-length release features eight tracks and over 53 minutes of lush and dynamic music that will have you marching towards battle while also headbanging until your neck hurts.

    Starting with the ravaging “Kuolematon laulunhenki”, the band creates a very effusive atmosphere with crafty guitar work, captivating vocal arrangements and an overall very explosive and engaging vibe. The band continues to showcase their masterful songwriting skills as “Yönsynty”, “Havukruunu ja talvenvarjo”, and “Tavastland” roll around with excellent melodic passages, an hypnotic tempo, and a plethora of epic atmospheric elements, just think of Ensiferum-meets-Thyrfing with some Bathory sprinkles.

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    The Mist From The Mountains - Portal - The Gathering of Storms (2024)

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    Delivering waves of highly melancholic and melodic Black Metal, today we have Finland’s The Mist From The Mountains and their sophomore full-length release “Portal - The Gathering of Storms”. Perfectly balancing aggression with melody and some folkiness, this album features six tracks and over 56 minutes of lush and crafty music. For fans of 90’s melodic/symphonic Black Metal, this release has tons of familiar elements, perfectly upgraded with the band’s unique spin.

    Opening with the (old) Empyrium-esque “And So Flew the Death Crow”, this track sets a very melancholic mood with weeping guitars and a doomy pace. There is a certain Folkish edge to the band’s sound that enriches the experience, while still delivering some heavier onslaughts. The catchiness continues to the brilliant “The Seer of Ages” and its lush vocal arrangements and engaging riffing. There is a certain Borknagar-epicness to this track, but with the band’s own signature style that we loved.

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    Darkestrah - Nomad (2024)

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    Unleashing a masterful atmospheric epic, today we have Darkestrah and their latest effort “Nomad”. Instantly transporting the listener to unknown lands and taking them on adventures, this release perfectly blends Pagan and Folk influences with a Black Metal core to deliver a lush listening experience. Hailing from Kyrgyzstan and having a few members of Iran in their ranks, this outfit has mastered the skill of blending in unconventional instruments, in Metal music, into heavy and punishing compositions.

    Setting the mood with the desolate “Journey through Blue Nothingness”, things quickly escalate with the lush atmospherics of “Kok Oy”, a track filled with crafty melodic guitars and ravaging tempo changes. Things get catchier and more Folkish on the album title track and dramatic instrumentation and hypnotic vocal arrangements. The epic “Destroyer Of Obstacles” brilliantly continues this flow of lavish instrumental arrangements around very melodic distorted guitars that are frantic at times.

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    Isenordal - Requiem for Eirênê (2024)

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    Unleashing one of the most powerful and disarming releases of 2024, today we have Isenordal and their latest opus “Requiem for Eirênê”. Filled with melancholy, this release features five tracks and over 50 minutes of majestically crafted music that transports the listener with mysterious and bleak soundscapes. Filled with lush instrumentation and perfect execution, this is one of our early candidates for best release of the year.

    Opening with the 15-minute behemoth “A Moment Approaches Eternity”, we get a slow atmospheric progression adorned by solemn viola accents, just until the moment when crushing Doom riffs lead way to harsh screams. The level of bleakness induced by the weeping guitars and the masterful tempo is unparalleled, and it only gets better as the track progresses with even more dramatic instrumentation and some hellish aggressive passages.

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    Vinsta - Freiweitn (2023)

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    Hailing from Austria, today we have self-labeled “Alpine Metal” outfit Vinsta and their highly melodic and melancholic release “Freiweitn”. Perfectly balancing folky and melodic passages with lush vocals and heavier riffs and growls, this release is quite lively and engaging. For fans of bands like Eluveitie and Wilderun, this release feels fresh and excellently crafted.

    After the acoustic intro, the band leads of with the melodic distorted guitars of “Schwoaze Låckn”, a trance inducing piece that sets a very lush and foresty mood. The string instruments are very well arranged and work perfectly in unison with the harmonious clean vocals. As “Freiweitn” and “Wundaberg” keep the same opening mood, songs like “Entarische Gstoit” showcase a heavier Proggy/Death Metal side to the band.

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    Аркона - Kob' (2023)

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    Hailing from Russia, Akrona has been one of the most consistent and intense Pagan Metal bands in the last few years. Thanks to their front-woman Masha Arkhipova intense live performances and a cohesive musical core, the band has gained worldwide acclaim. With “Kob'” the band takes a darker and more sinister tone with their music and we love it! Clocking in at 60 minutes, this release certainly broadens the band’s musical horizons while delivering some of their signature intensity.

    Opening with the highly atmospheric “Izrechenie. Nachalo”, the album sets a very somber and hypnotic vibe. On the album title track we are eased into some sinister Black Metal riffs that quickly transform into Buzrum-esque (‘Filosofem’ era) passages. The mood is definitely more restrained at moments, showcasing the band’s ability to craft atmospheric and more tempered passages while still crafting intense tracks like “Ydi”, “Ugasaya”, and “Mor”.

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    Vorna - Aamunkoi (2023)

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    Showing their excellent 2019 release, “Sateet palata saavat”, was no fluke, Finland’s Vorna returns with an even more expansive and bombastic release with “Aamunkoi”. The band’s sound is as unique as before, perfectly mixing Folk/Pagan/Black Metal with a hefty dose of atmospheric elements. Featuring over 44 minutes of lush vocal arrangements alongside crafty instrumentation and a solid level of heaviness, this release is quite rich and highly enjoyable.

    Opening with “Hiljaisuus ei kestä” a very lush and folky mood is established thanks to a mixture of clean and harsh vocals alongside solid riffing and tight drumming. The band’s melancholic nature starts oozing more profusely as “Harva päättää hyvästeistään”, “Aika pakenee”, and “Valo” come around with their dramatic atmospherics and crafty tempo changes, we even got some Amorphis-esque vibes here and there.

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    Ainulindalë - Les chroniques d'Arda (2021)

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    While not a 2022 release, we are reviewing a handful of albums we quite enjoyed at the end of 2021 but didn’t have enough time to review. One of those is the outstanding EP from France’s Ainulindalë, titled “Les chroniques d'Arda”. Featuring a combination of dreamy atmospherics, lush epic arrangements and a hefty dose of aggression, this EP nicely introduces a promising outfit.

    Combining elements from bands like Enid, Battlelore, Turisas, “Les damnés de Numénor” sets a very regal and effective mood. We particularly like the crafty synths paired with solid screams and epic clean vocals. As “Dagor-nuin-Giliath” and “Le geste de Maeglin” up the tempo, the band nicely unleashes crafty drumming alongside melodic guitars to keep things fluid and the headbanging to the max.

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