Wolfchant - Bloodwinter Review

Track Listing:

1.    Nornensang
2.    Schicksalsmacht
3.    Wolfchant (A Wolf To Man)
4.    Das Bollwerk
5.      Bloodwinter
6.      Heritage Of Fire
7.      Sehnsucht
8.      Prelude To Revenge
9.     Anthems Of Revenge
10.   Am Schlachtfeld
11.    New Born Killer

‘Bloodwinter’ is Wolfchant’s redemption for (what I thought) was a weak offering on 2013’s ‘Embraced By Fire’. This album contains more of the old, familiar elements expected from Wolfchant. With a solid back-catalogue of albums, this German folk-metal band seems to have re-visited their roots with ‘Bloodwinter’. In comparison to their first few releases, the production is certainly more polished but this doesn’t detract from the overall sound as it sometimes can. This album feels effortless, with each element fitting together without overreaching.

The vocals really carry Wolfchant forward on ‘Bloodwinter’. Employing a mix of soaring clean vocals and harsh vocals in the right places, backed by galloping melodies, Wolfchant has succeeded in creating an album with an epic folk metal feel. The lyrics are a mixture of German and English, allowing accessibility for some and variety for others.  “Wolfchant (A Wolf To Man)” and “Bloodwinter” provide catchy choruses, easy to want to shout along to. In fact, the title track is one of the best of the album. With melodic keyboards, lofty vocals and subtle changes of pace, it would prove difficult not to like this song. Tracks like “Das Bollwerk” slow the pace without detracting from the energetic tempo of the album.

From start to finish, ‘Bloodwinter’ is a candid offering of folk metal. Overall, it’s a very symphonic album, without travelling into the realm of power metal (which is something that I personally didn’t appreciate with ‘Embraced By Fire’). It’s a tidy amalgamation of many of the components that make Wolfchant worth listening to and is a solid album to add to the collection of anyone who enjoys symphonic-tinged folk metal.

Best Tracks: Wolfchant (A Wolf To Man), Bloodwinter, Sehnsucht, New Born Killer

Wolfchant Set to Release 'Bloodwinter'

One of Germany's best folk-metal bands, Wolfchant, is set to release their newest effort titled 'Bloodwinter' on January 13th. 

I was a little disappointed in their last album, 'Embraced By Fire', as it seemed to depart from the sound of the first several Wolfchant releases, perhaps being a bit too polished. However, if you're looking for epic, melodic folk metal I highly recommend 'Bloody Tales From Disgraced Lands', 'A Pagan Storm', 'Determined Damnation' or 'Call Of The Black Winds'. (I'm still trying to get my hands on a hard copy of 'A Pagan Storm'). I'm awaiting the release of 'Bloodwinter' with some excitement and the tiniest hint of apprehension, hopeful that it will live up the rest of Wolfchant's material. 

Wolfchant's official merchandise shop is offering a few different pre-order options, and these appear to be the best bet for getting your hands on a copy of 'Bloodwinter'. 

As a precursor to the album, Wolfchant has released a video for the title track. While the video isn't too interesting, the song itself is intriguing. 

Favorite Pagan Metal Bands

        Without giving any precedence to the various arguments about what exactly constitutes folk, pagan and/or viking metal bands, the following is a list of my top ten favorites. I’m not a big fan of pointlessly debating the nuances of sub-genres, therefore these are what I consider pagan-themed metal bands. In no particular order (other than alphabetical), here are my top ten picks:

Amon Amarth

From: Sweden

Finntroll

From: Finland

Heidevolk

From: The Netherlands

Korpiklaani

From: Finland

Månegarm

From: Sweden

Moonsorrow

From: Finland

Thyrfing

From: Sweden

Unleashed

From: Sweden

Waylander

From: Ireland

Wolfchant

From: Germany

The musical influences and sounds between these bands are widely varied. There are also several other pagan-themed bands that I listen to on a semi-regular basis. Ensiferum and Turisas were left off this list due to some fantastic early albums and some not-so-great later ones. Bathory was left off for the simple reason that not all of their albums are pagan-themed. 

On The Radar

This is one of those festivals that can be added to the category of "wishful thinking".
The line-up this year already looks pretty decent and sometimes those smaller festivals are quite enjoyable. As a bonus, the location for this one looks beautiful. It may be added to that list of festivals that I'd like to see if I ever find the funds to do a festival tour of Europe during the summer. (Again, this is probably more wishful thinking as the cost would be astronomical and any job I might find probably wouldn't be willing to grant a two or three month leave).

On an interesting note: Wolfszeit Festival actually has a list of banned music on their website.
Banned From the Festival
This is an interesting concept, and the reasoning behind it is understandable. While I'm not familiar with various laws in Germany, this seems quite different to the law here, as I'm sure someone would complain that their freedom is being infringed upon. But again, I would consider a festival as somewhat of a private event in which the organizers can implement a few rules to make the atmosphere safer. This is the first festival website where I have noticed this, and I have no issues with the concept. I just find it very intriguing and perhaps a good point for discussion.

Checking Off The List

Like almost every other metal head out there, I find myself continually making and amending lists of albums that I would like to acquire. I did actually manage to cross several off my list last year, and thus have found myself creating a new list. This is how it is shaping up so far:

This one should be in the mail some time soon:

These are a few I'd like to get my hands on sometime soon, although some of them are proving quite difficult to find unless I'm willing to pay an outrageous price:

Wolfchant - Embraced By Fire Review

Track Listing:

1. Devouring Flames
2. Embraced By Fire
3. Element
4. Turning Into Red
5. Einsame Wacht
6. Autumns Breath
7. Freier Geist
8. Winters Triumph

Like previous Wolfchant albums, Embraced By Fire creates an epic atmosphere of galloping beats. The title track is a valiant, undaunted effort, guiding the listener further into the album, employing a mix of both harsh and clean vocals. ‘Element’, ‘Einsame Wacht’ and ‘Freier Geist’ are all sung in German, with the perceived harshness of the German language to a non-German speaker still seeming to fit with the music itself. 

‘Turning Into Red’ has a very folk sounding introduction, although it could do without the same lines being repeated in both clean and harsh vocals in some verses. Other verses in the same song actually work well with clean vocals, momentarily working to slow the tempo. Occasionally throughout the album, one can catch snippets of symphonic influence. ‘Autumns Breath’ emerges as the standout track, perhaps because of an incredibly catchy and shout-able chorus that sticks with listener for days. ‘Winters Triumph’ closes on a simpler note, in which the song structure feels more natural. Overall, while Embraced By Fire isn’t a bad album, Wolfchant has released stronger efforts in the past. 

Finntroll, Hypocrisy + More: Album Previews

With all of the albums being released this year, it’s going to be one interesting (and slightly expensive) run of metal. Here’s my sneak peek at the next few releases that I’m excited about:

Finntroll - ‘Blodsvept’ 

Release: April 2nd, 2013 in North America 

I am immensely looking forward to Blodsvept. Partially because Finntroll has been one of my favorite bands for years, and partially because it sounds excellent. Watching the album trailer, I get the sense that it will be darker than the previous release, Nifelvind. Either way, it’s Finntroll and they haven’t failed to deliver perfection or near-perfection yet. Plus, the cover artwork and artwork previewed in the album trailer is interesting and created (as usual) by Finntroll’s guitarist, Skrymer. 

If you haven't had a chance to watch the album trailer, and you're a Finntroll fan, it's worth taking a look:

Blodsvept Official Album Trailer

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Hypocrisy - ‘End Of Disclosure’ 

Release: April 2nd, 2013 in North America   

This is one of those albums that I would like to get my hands on, but might have to wait a while for. Hypocrisy is slightly legendary in the Swedish death metal scene, but there are too many other albums that I want to rush out and buy that this one likely won’t be acquired right away. Vocalist Peter Tägtgren suggests that End Of Disclosure will be going back to the basics, which for any old death metal fan can’t be a bad thing. After two failed attempts to see Hypocrisy live in the past, I think I will settle with getting ahold of tickets to their upcoming show first and possessing this album second. 

A link to the album trailers, video and a bit more Hypocrisy at Blabbermouth:

Hypocrisy News

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Wolfchant has also released a new album, Embraced By Fire, which I would like to find and purchase somewhere. Thyrfing  recently released their newest, De Ödeslösa, but I’ve yet to find an easy way to purchase it either. While I have a feeling that the release dates I’ve found for both of these were for Europe only, it would be nice if they showed up in an online store where I don’t have to pay twice the album price in shipping. I was hoping some of the bigger music retailers would have both by now, but the search will continue. Sometimes it's difficult to find these lesser known bands and their releases when they come from other countries, but there is a lot of good music out there, even if it is sometimes hard to access hard copies of it. 

The Year of Metal

It always seems the metal artists I get excited about release albums in a horde that comes all at once. Or relatively all at once, if you consider within months of each other all at once. This year seems to be the year that it happens again. What upcoming albums am I looking forward to? 

Destruction - ‘Spiritual Genocide’

Thyrfing - ‘De Ödeslösa’

Wolfchant - ‘Embraced By Fire’

Sodom - ‘Epitome of Torture’

Bands Currently In the Studio:

Månegarm 

Amon Amarth

Children of Bodom

Finntroll

Turisas 

 I might have to check out the new Hypocrisy album, dependent on how much cash I manage to spend on these releases and the numerous promising shows that are coming through town in the next few months. I believe Arkona is also releasing an album, which I might have to pick up as well. Surprisingly I don’t own anything by Arkona, although I do enjoy seeing them live. 

 I also hear that Behemoth, Satyricon and potentially Slayer will be releasing albums this year as well. 

I suppose I can add these to the list of previously released albums by various other artists that are on my “to purchase” list. Oh, the woes of having so much music to check out and so little cash to do it on. I’m sure all you other metal heads know the feeling. 

(Wolfchant - Embraced By Fire image from Wolfchant's Facebook page)