NYS Music 20​15

Tag: folk metal

  • Throne of Wilderness: A Healthy Injection of Folk Metal for the WNY Metal Scene

    throne

    Folk metal has never really had a strong foothold in the WNY music scene, but all that changed when some talented musicians from Buffalo and Rochester decided to get together in April of 2013 and craft their own brand of it. The band is called Throne of Wilderness and they produce a sound reminiscent of the bands that started folk metal in the first place.

    Big European acts like Ensiferum and Korpiklaani are widely regarded as being authorities in the genre, but Throne of Wilderness takes an honest approach to early folk and early thrash. This makes for quite a dynamic and with a collaboration of talent like this, it’s pretty hard to leave one of their shows disappointed, regardless of what kind of metal you’re into.

    The band is made up of Allana Sturm (vocals, whistle), Kevin Murphy (guitar, vocals), Josh Mason (guitar), James Hallenbeck (accordian and keys), Jason Roman (bass) and Eareckson Murray (drums). Allana has a fun way of working the crowd like no other I’ve seen. She commands the audience with stories of mythical creatures and enchanted forests, while leaving no excuse to not be a folk metal fan by the end of the set. Kevin’s vocals compliment her’s perfectly, giving the classic folk metal choir sound to their songs. Josh Mason, already a well established metal musician in Rochester with his other band, Nazgul, brings his own array of crushing guitar skills to the table, while James keeps the folk alive with his accordian skills, and Jason and Eareckson provide the perfect rhythm section to back the entire group.

    Furthermore, it’s hard to be a part of Buffalo’s metal scene without having heard of Eareckson Murray. He’s a longtime supporter and promoter of shows, and also lays down sick guitars and vocals for local thrash 3 piece, Cain. All this being said, if you’re a fan of any kind of metal and you haven’t heard this band yet, don’t sleep on your next chance to check them out. Your next opportunities to see them are Saturday March 21 at the Rockin’ Buffalo Saloon and Saturday April 18 at the Tudor Lounge.

  • Hearing Aide: Ensiferum ‘One Man Army’

    onemanarmy

    This is Pagan folk metal from Finland at its best. Many people condemn the genre and many of its greatest bands as Renaissance festival nerds with cool guitars and war paint. But Ensiferum raises the bar ever so slightly with every release, making them pioneers of sorts in the folk metal game. One Man Army is a perfect example of the band’s unique approach to their genre.

    Ensiferum (The Sword Bearer) never hold back when it comes to their powerful chorus driven war songs with their 1,000 year old feel, but fully embrace their heavy nature as well. Since they are a metal band at their core, they have to represent. The opening track, “March of War” is beautifully composed with an array of old-world string instruments, “Burden of the Fallen” could come straight out of the “Lord of the Rings” or “Hobbit” films, and the closing track “Neito Pohjolan” naturally has its Finnish roots, but can at times be easily mistaken for an American country/western tune. The whole album is full of their usual bells and whistles, choirs singing backup harmonies reminiscent of blockbuster soundtracks like “Braveheart” and plenty of references to the very heart of the band’s name and their love of their heritage; clashing swords and bloody battlefields. Fans of this genre won’t be disappointed, but those weary on folk metal may not appreciate 11 straight tracks with said formula.

    “Axe of Judgment” forces the listener into an all-out war zone. “Cry For the Earthbound” and “Warrior Without A War” transport you back to ancient bloodstained ruins, despite Earthbound’s borderline poppy female vocals in the bridge. “Two of Spades” is an upbeat Celtic dance party, which instantly had me thinking of Bilbo Baggins’s 111th birthday party in “The Fellowship of the Ring”. And, wouldn’t you know it? Ensiferum decide to throw you a curveball and end the album with a cover of the theme from Rawhide.

    So, once again, any avid listener of folk metal can’t hate this album. Metal purists will either hate it, be bored with it, or both (presumably), and those who simply dabble in folk metal might grow tired of Ensiferum’s consistent battle anthem formula. But all in all, I think this is a great opportunity for those open to taking the “folk metal challenge”, to open their hearts and minds to this wonderfully fun genre! Cheers!

    Key tracks: One Man Army, Cry For the Earthbound, Burden of the Fallen