(Viking Metal / Folk Metal) Folkodia - Battlecry - 2010, FLAC (image+.cue+scans) lossless

With ‘Battlecry’ this international community of folk musicians delivers its third album. For those who don’t know; Folkodia is more or less Folkearth’s little twin and is an international cooperation between various (mostly European) musicians from bands such as Folkearth, Cruachan, Excelsis, Dol Amroth and Black Knight Symfonia among others. And just as it is the case with Folkearth, the line-up varies with each album. On ‘Battlecry’ the project finds its foundation in twelve musicians, who represent nine countries.
I personally could appreciate this band’s two previous releases, but they never managed to fully convince me. On the third output the musicians continue the journey they started with the previous releases and again deliver eleven Viking-like, atmospheric folk metal compositions. However, ‘Battlecry’ shows progress on every matter. With the opening track ‘Eagle’s Blood’ they set tone for the rest of the album, but unfortunately the songs is not very convincing. The following title track however does manage to demand my full attention. The influences from Vikin, folk and black metal are better though through and brought together more convincingly, which makes the songs more easy listening. Although not all tracks are as equally convincing, faster songs like ‘Pale Prince On A Moonlit Night’ and the earlier mentioned title track, a folk metaller such as ‘Hunter In The Wild’, the beautiful The Hour Of Wrath’, the In Extremo-like ‘Invoking The Sidhe’ or the beautiful acoustic ‘The Celestial Giants’ do manage to hit the spot, so to speak. The vocal contributions are this time of a higher quality and especially the gentlemen Rhode Rachel (Swordbearer), Simon Müller (Excelsis) and Münggu Beyeler (Excelsis, Minhyriath) see to a few moments of oral pleasures. Michaël Fiori’s (Black Knight Symphonia) however, sound rather monotonous.
Of course due to the involvement of different musicians and composers and the use of versatile instruments, ‘Battlecry’ has become a versatile album and thanks to the different line-up, the album sounds slightly different that the band’s previous releases. And it is exactly in this line-up that Folkodia has released its most convincing album so far. Unfortunately it’s still not enough to speak of Folkodia as the new folk phenomenon. I am also still convinced that the musicians haven’t fully used their talents and the “metally estranged” instruments. Altogether ‘Battlecry’ has become a highly acceptable and enjoyable folk metal album, which is definitely worth a shot. But also no more than that.
http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showreview.php?id=16826&lang=en

Metfolvik (Ruslanas) - Vocals, Tin whistle (2007-) (Folkearth, Ravenclaw (Ltu))
Hildr Valkyrie - Vocals (2007-) (Beyond the Forests, Lloth, Nocternity (Grc), Worship, Ego Drama, Uruk-Hai (Aut), Morgan the Bard, Femegericht (Deu), Death Army, Odins Court, Folkearth, Voluspaa, Athlos (Grc))
Elio D'Alessandro - Vocals (2007-) (Folkearth)
Simon Mьller - Guitars, Acoustic guitars, Bass, Flute, Tin whistle (2007-) (Excelsis (Che))
Loki - Drum programming, Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals (2007-) (Frekkr, Zhurgal Dukhiatz, Folkearth, Swordgraven, Tйnиbres, Yayeth Corpse)
Mьnggu Beyeler - Deger pipe, Ewi flute, Vocals (2007-) (Excelsis (Che), Minhyriath, Tagorlad)
Eleanor Lucas - Violin (2007-)
Saga - Guitars, Bass (Folkearth, Black Knight Symfonia, Nйcrophage, Excalibur, Dark Moon)
Matthew Bell - Guitars, Acoustic guitars, Mandolin, Nylon string guitars, Lute, Bass (2009-)
Mara Davis - Flute (2009-)
Blackheart Nostarion - Cello ((Autumn in Frost, Cerberus (Deu), Dдmmerfarben, Dystertid, The Evening, Fetus Excavation, Folkearth, Throndt, Idhafels)
Rhode Rachel - Vocals, Jaw Harp, Tin Whistle, Bass (Swordbearer, Mortum (USA))
http://www.myspace.com/folkodia