Slania
Eluveitie is a folk metal band from Switzerland. Folk Metal isn’t a term you hear thrown around on a daily basis. Actually some people probably have never heard it in their lifetime. Celtic folk music complete with whistles and bagpipes combined with your traditional melodic death metal guitars, drums, and vocals. Unique is definitely the word to use for Eluveitie. Christian “Chrigel” Glanzmann is the mastermind behind it all and actually plays a lot of the instruments himself. He is officially listed as Vocals, Tin & Low Whistles, Uilleann Pipes, Acoustic Guitar, and Bodhran. Talented guy. But that’s not even half the instruments included on Slania. Even some violin shows up in songs like “Tarvos and the instrumental “Anagantios”.
As for the actual music, its what you would want playing as your rode off into battle during a LARP (Live Action Role Playing) session. Its metal for sure but its what metal would have sounded like if it was created in Medieval times. Slania is the second full length album from these Swiss folkmetallers. If you want to reminisce of Renaissance times while you headbang then this is the stuff for you.
Unfortunately the Celtic music just takes me out of the whole rockin vibe. I commend them for the effort of putting out something unique but its not my cup of tea. The songs with limited oldie time instruments are the best in my opinion. These guys could be a good metal band if the casual listener didn’t find them too gimmicky. They sound similar to In Flames and Soilwork on tracks like “The Somber Lay” but then those goofy whistles kick in like we’re marching to battle in Braveheart.
