ESCUADRON DE LA MUERTE: Bastion XXIII Release year: 2021Label: Steinklang Industries Mexican Escuadron De La Muerte’s – Spanish for Squadron Of Death, unless I am entirely mistaken – latest album is a confusing mixture of themes and conflicting aesthetics. In … Continue reading Satan, Lucifer, the light brigade and pink elephants
REGARD EXTREME: Ars Veterum Release year: 2021Label: Steinklang Records French Regard Extreme – or Regard Extrême if we’re being pedantic, but it’s spelled in the former way on the cover and spine of the album – could be called “grand … Continue reading Regard Extreme’s ancient art
LUGOLA: You Are Not Special Release year: 2021Label: Steinklang Industries “You are not special!” chants Neithan, the sole person behind Lugola on the final track, the title track, of this album. The aggressive, hostile and simple to-the-point mantra is an … Continue reading Lugola’s parade of death
JULII: Taste Of Triumph Release year: 2021Label: Steinklang Industries When it comes to martial industrial and related substyles, the most recurring themes are World War II and Ancient Rome. Would it be exaggeration to say that these two themes cover … Continue reading A taste of triumph
Cederberg, Aki: PYHÄ EUROOPPA Release year: 2020Publisher: Basam Books I know, I know: I’m woefully late to the party – or lamentably early, depending on how you look at things. Aki Cederberg‘s Pyhä Eurooppa (Holy Europe) was released already in … Continue reading Searching for the good spirits of Europe
The history of Europe is a history of war. Throughout the centuries, men have waged war, fought valiantly – and died. Some are remembered in song and story, but most are cast aside by history. This history of violence and … Continue reading Ignoto Militi: remembering the fallen
KAELTE: Lieblingslieder Release year: 2021Label: self-released You can hardly be faulted for asking “Kaelte who?” – this German neofolk act aren’t household names even in the neofolk scene. I don’t have any recollection of how I first discovered them, but … Continue reading Kaelte revitalizing the old
ALIEN VS ZOMBIES: THE DARK LURKING (aka The Dark Lurking) Release year: 2009 That’s a pretty neat cover image, isn’t it? It appears to be a zombified xenomorph from the Aliens-franchise, and there’s definitely a certain charm to it. Let’s … Continue reading The beauty of false advertising
PYHÄ KUOLEMA: Uusi panssaroitu Suomi Release year: 2021Label: Anima Arctica Whilst there is neofolk from elsewhere too, in many ways the genre is a very European phenomenon. As a genre, it has always been tied to tradition, history and the … Continue reading A holy death and an armoured Finland
INCINERATE: Back To Reality Release year: 2021Label: Dead By Dawn Records/Spirit Coffin Publishing Let’s take a look at the promo sheet once again. Here’s a summary of what it says: old school death/thrash, brutal and authentic late 80’s sound, for … Continue reading Back to incineration
