Elvenking - Reader Of The Runes

It’s no secret here that I have a thing for Folk Metal. I don’t know how to explain exactly why, but Folk Metal bands found the right way to express all the melody and emotion without being cheesy. Every Folk Metal record is full of emotion and tradition. On second thought, maybe the tradition. Traditional songs are to be emotional, mostly sad, I guess. At least is what a track as “Eternal Eleanor” make me feel with its violins and the sweet and angelical female voice. Maybe that. Have you ever heard so melancholic guitars as in “Heathen Divine”?

Each band has its own proportion of melody, punch, and tradition. Some bands are more with the traditional instruments. Okay to that. Others as Elvenking mix them in a exact proportion. All twelve tracks of “Reader Of The Runes – Divination” are a mix of the three. Some of them kick off as “Diamonds in the Night” with just the violin and a clean voice. Others as “Divination” or “Under the Sign of a Black Star” if you take the violins you’ll have a perfect Power Metal song with the plus of the melody. Or even the Extreme Metal drumming of “Malefica Doctrine.” It’s also the epic touch that makes it so delightful as well. Epic songs are really the thing to make everyone sing along. Who’s never? From where I’m standing those proportions are the ones which make a great Folk metal band as Elvenking.

So, it is the proportion of ancient instruments with old traditional songs plus a modern roupage through Metal that makes Folk Metal so delicious. Of course, in my opinion which plus ten bucks buys buys a CD. But hold your horses a minute! The magic proportion is easily lost if the mix holds too much of an ingredient. It’s not easy to make it right. I guess each band has to deliver its own formula.

Well, from where I’m standing, Elvenking “Reader Of The Runes – Divination” has the magic proportion.

Elvenking “Reader Of The Runes – Divination” was released on August 30th via AFM Records.

Track Listing: