Folkearth - _Father of Victory_
(Stygian Crypt Productions, 2008)
by: Quentin Kalis (7 out of 10)
The Folkearth collective continues to release albums at a breakneck pace, with _Father of Victory_ coming less than a year after their previous album, _Drakkars in the Mist_, and another probably out by the time you read this. Folkearth have consistently expanded their sound with each album, with more musicians from a greater number of countries. Their magnum opus, _By the Sword of My Father_, featured 21 musicians from 8 countries, whilst _DitM_ featured 30 musicians from 11 countries. Only 20 musicians from 7 countries are featured on this album. Stalwarts such as mastermind Ruslanas, Riddick and Hildr Valkyrie are present, but there is a substantial dose of new blood. The smaller dramatis personae with a number still getting started in metal in bands such as Peordh and Moonroot has resulted in a less grandiose album that alternates between folksy ballads and stripped down aggression. As an example, look to "Sleipnir", which is possibly the most aggressive song they have ever composed. If mastermind and director Ruslanas overreached himself on _Drakkars in the Mist_, then this is a step down to a more manageable level, and is all the better for it. The album is as coherent, better, than one could reasonably expect in the circumstances -- the prominence of various instruments and the sound level of songs is not always constant, but remains within a comfortably narrow and acceptable spectrum. To sum up, this is a strong recovery from the disappointing _DitM_.
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