Tag Archives: neo-folk

ALBUM REVIEW: Poison Ruin – Hymns From The Hills

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On Hymns From The Hills (Relapse Records), Philly’s Poison Ruin prove they are continuing to perfect their craft, past the point of what other Punk bands are doing today. They are not banging out fast, rowdy anthems, but some of their catchiest and most melodic songwriting yet. This connects them closer to the roots of the genre, when Punk emerged from Rock music in the mid-seventies. One of the areas where the band shows the most improvement to achieve this is in the vocals. They retain varied levels of grit when called for, but more sung than just snarled. Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: THE MON – Songs of Abandon

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In a way, every album has a story. In the case of Songs of Abandon (Supernatural Cat Records) though, the latest release from solo project THE MON, the story is a specific and unique one. Several years ago, Urlo (bass player and vocalist for doomy, heavy-rock unit Ufomammut) decided to try writing nine songs, each one in a day—just himself and an acoustic guitar. Fast forward to 2025 and Songs of Abandon comes as the first part of a two-album concept: Embrace The Abandon (to be followed by Songs of Embrace in the new year). The result is an intimate and eerie collection that favours subtlety over sonic extremes, while maintaining an understated power.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Sakna – De Syv Dødssynder

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I’ve always been drawn to the notion of exploring the deeper cores of works that are published posthumously– and De Syv Dødssynder by Sakna is one of them. It’s not just an ordinary Sognametal-inspired record; it’s an accumulation of remnants gathered over four years consisting of Atmospheric Black Metal/DSBM materials written by the late Solemn himself– later discovered by his brother S (of Lunedi fame) in a long-lost drive, and 15 years after his demise, is set to be released via Hypaethral Records. Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Bhleg – Fäghring

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Bhleg are an enigmatic and mysterious Swedish group who meld a kind of progressive black metal with traditional European folk music. Fäghring (Nordvis) is their fourth full-length offering and completes a “tetralogy” of records which began with Draumr Ast in 2014. The band consists of three members known only by single letters — S (who primarily plays guitar and bass as well as some vocals, but also adds traditional and unorthodox instruments including lyre, hurdy-gurdy, mouth harp, keyboards, bullroarer, birch trumpet, frame drums, birch sticks, and stones), L (lead vocals) and H (drums). Their promo photos and album cover show the members amongst woodland, hidden beneath cloaks and flowery headdresses, holding traditional instruments and strange blood-soaked wooden dolls. Continue reading →


EXCLUSIVE LYRIC VIDEO: King Gorm – “Song From Brighter Days”

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Ghost Cult is stoked to present the brand new single and lyric video for “Song From Brighter Days”, from San Diego Fantasy rockers King Gorm! The entire world of their songs set in self-made world of bards, wizards, dragons, swords, and mythic legends: all laid down against an epic backdrop of folk, progressive rock, and other influences. If you are digging the throwback sounds of neo-folk, prog, and trad metal bands you will absolutely love King Gorm, and find yourself compelled to undertake a great quest to boot! The bands’ self-titled new album releases on July 31st!  Check out the amazing lyric video for “Song From Brighter Days” now! Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: In The Company Of Serpents – Lux

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Denver Stoner/Sludge outfit In The Company Of Serpents has spent most of its eight years as a fluctuating two-piece, with only vocalist and guitarist Grant Netzorg as the constant. The arrival of Vermin Womb‘s JP Damron to the drumseat has seen an expansion to a trio with the addition of ex-Black Sheep of Kali stringman Ben Pitts and, maybe as a result, fourth album Lux (Self-Release) adds elements of invention and atmosphere to the core sound, demonstrating welcome growth. Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Six Organs of Admittance Comp- anion Rises

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As well as being a mainstay of Psych-Noise stalwarts Comets On Fire, and frequent collaborator with such Experimental artists as Current 93, Ben Chasny is frighteningly prolific in the guise of his solo Folk / Americana project Six Organs of Admittance. Latest album Companion Rises (Drag City) is a shimmering trip through the stars which enriches the soul. Continue reading →


Heilung – Futha

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Heilung are not merely a Neo-Folk Band. Nay – they are a high concept Neo-Folk band, as shown by their new album Futha (Season of Mist), which is apparently about women’s bits, as opposed to the last album Lifa (also by Season of Mist), which was about men’s bits or something. Look, I’m paraphrasing the press release here. Leave me alone. Continue reading →


Suldusk – Lunar Falls

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Trying to conceptualize a natural world in audio is both a daunting and rewarding experience for the artist and the listener. For those that don’t have the luxury of a forest to walk through, music can ultimately fill that vacuum when it’s done well. It provides another level of escapism for the listener and can be hugely beneficial to the atmosphere and tone of a record.

This is exactly what Suldusk (real name Emily Highfield) does with her newest release Lunar Falls (Northern Silence Productions). Continue reading →


Chelsea Wolfe- Hiss Spun

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Ever since first emerging from experimental, neo-folk roots, singer-songwriter Chelsea Wolfe has amassed a strong and ever-expanding cult following amongst the metal and avant-garde communities, and is increasingly becoming a more household name without trading in on such dynamic qualities nor dark and brooding atmospherics. Previous album Abyss (Sargent House) was a greater departure than much of her catalogue at that point with a much more prominent metallic backbone, invoking the likes of black metal, industrial and noise rock amongst a hotbed of styles. Her latest album Hiss Spun (Sargent House) sees further stylistic changes, yet remains closer to Abyss sonically, sees her further moving away from her folk routes, and offers her heaviest, nauseating and at times visceral effort to date. Continue reading →