Fun Facts from the bands that didn't make it - Highlights
I - Japanese Folk Metal
Exactly what it says on the tin. And they're so good they deserve to be better known!!!
To be honest, when I first saw the submission, I thought that someone had mixed up the boxes and the band name was going to be in the fun facts bit, with "Japanese Folk Metal" being the fact they intended to submit. Nope. They are exactly what it says on the tin. Fun band aswell, kinda reminiscent of Korpiklaani's more party-esque songs.
II - Leaves' Eyes
Symphonic viking folk sort of like if Turisas and Nightwish had a baby
Way to include basically my entire music taste in a single sentance, lmao. Also was curious since ever since the introduction of the overlap rulings that mostly end up being folk power bands being blocked from Symph-Power's blog temporeraly, I've been curious about Symphonic Folk (Metal). Mainly since I haven't really seen any around. Safe to say, it satisfies.
III - Zeal and Ardor
Awesome blend of traditional African American folk music (soul, blues, gospel, even field calls) and hard-hitting heavy metal. These guys have to be the most innovative and creative folk metal bands I've ever heard and they're always expanding the capabilities of the genre into something so artistically fascinating and impactful and beautiful
And here we get to the point I considered breaking tradition and going past III. Alas, I am a stickler for tradition. Thus, fret not if your heartfelt submission is missed, because I probably wanted to have them here. Although note, this list has been pretty much exclusive to one submission bands (with the exception of my bonus, which had 0). Anyways, onto the band: Apart from just looking interesting, I admit I was also curious as NA folk metal generally - my taste in folk metal is very grounded in the old world, and it's not too far off my overall taste. Anyways, I don't know if the submitter just wanted to save words or what, but I feel like their list of things blended into Zeal and Ardor's work is incomplete. There's a lot here, and it just works. Kind of like when you blend a smoothie with everything in the kitchen and it works. I assume anyways, I don't drink smoothies. Overall though, I feel the submitter's fina sentance almost does them justice - just add something about the fact they slap there too :).
Bonus From Myself - Silent Stream of a Godless Elegy
Finally getting out of the baltics in the bonus section to introduce SSOGE. Aside from the name, I've also found them to be one of the more unique bands I've listened to. Maybe one of the consequences of being one of the bands that developed their style before Folk metal really came around, rather than alongside it or after. But generally, their ability to mix clean and unclean vocals alongside instrumental work I've rarely seen mixed with this kind of singing is a wonderful thing - and across multiple languages. If I may offer a direct recomendation, Relic Dances.
