Archive for the folk rock Category

Out Now! Symphonic Folk Metal VALLORCH’s New Album: The Circle

Posted in folk metal, folk rock, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , on March 19, 2025 by Metal Odyssey

The wait is over! Vallorch returned on March 14, 2025, with their highly anticipated album, The Circle, which is the band’s most ambitious and immersive work to date. Building upon their folk and symphonic metal roots, the band refines its signature sound into a dynamic fusion of powerful riffs, enchanted melodies, and cinematic orchestration.

Following the release of the anthemic “Circle Of The Moon” and the raucous folk metal celebration “Drink Some More!”The Circle delivers an even broader spectrum of emotions and soundscapes. The album revolves around the theme of the night, capturing its dual nature, a time for reflection and solitude but also revelry and connection. From grandiose symphonic arrangements to festive folk elements, each track immerses the listener in a journey through legends, emotions, and the band’s signature sonic landscapes.

Compared to their previous works, Neverfade (2013) and Until Our Tale Is Told (2017), Vallorch has evolved their songwriting, crafting an album that is tightly composed and emotionally resonant. The folk influences remain, but with an even more polished and cinematic touch, elevating their sound to new heights.

Fans of Nightwish, Eluveitie, Alestorm, Epica, and Wind Rose will find themselves drawn into Vallorch’s world, where folk traditions and symphonic metal collide in an unforgettable experience. With myth-inspired lyrics, powerful storytelling, and an undeniable passion for their craft, Vallorch cements their place as one of the most exciting acts in modern folk metal.

March 14th marked a new era for Vallorch. The Circle isn’t just an album, it’s an invitation to journey through the night, to embrace the contrasts of light and dark, and to lose yourself in the magic of Vallorch’s sound. Prepare to step into The Circle!

Vallorch Line Up:
Sara Tacchetto – vocals, choirs, tin whistle, bagpipe
Leonardo Dalla Via – vocals, harsh vocals, choirs, bass, programming
Marco Povolo – vocals, choirs, keyboards, bouzouki, programming
Massimo Benetazzo – Drums
Mattia Buggin – electric and acoustic guitars

Guests:

Serena Zucco (Adgarios) – violin
Glorya Lyr (Eard) – Celtic harp in “Antermoia”

ALBUM ORDER – The Circle https://lnk.to/2BMANxkG

Track Listing:

  1. To the Silver Summit – 3:53
  2. Hellpath – 3:52
  3. Circle of the Moon – 3:34
  4. Drink Some More! – 3:42
  5. Antermoia – 5:00
  6. Röte Löon – 4:39
  7. Salbanéo – 3:59
  8. The Wild One – 4:10
  9. Dyssomnia – 9:08
    Album Length: 42:01

Directed, shot, and edited by Simone D’Addazio.
Shooting assistance by Sara Vescia.
MUA by Erica Pillon.
Band attire designed and crafted by Verdiana Biffis.

LISTEN to “Circle Of The Moon”https://lnk.to/lURizi
VIDEO for “Circle Of The Moon”https://youtu.be/IlyLrROKUQU

LISTEN to “Drink Some More!”https://lnk.to/0GbDTM
VIDEO for “Drink Some More!”https://youtu.be/7q6VdSiaE2k

More info: 
https://www.rockshots.eu

FOLLOW:
https://www.instagram.com/vallorch_official/
https://www.facebook.com/vallorch

Source: ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

Wardruna’s New Album, Birna, Out Now via Sony Music/By Norse Music

Posted in ambient music, folk rock, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , on January 27, 2025 by Metal Odyssey

Birna cover, photo by Tuukka Koski with artwork by Øivind A. Myksvoll

LISTEN HERE: https://bio.to/Wardruna

“LIVE AT THE ACROPOLIS” DVD/BLU-RAY ALSO OUT NOW

January 24, 2024, Bergen, Norway – Wardruna‘s new album, Birna, is available today (listen here). Birna, translating to the she-bear in Old Norse, is a work of art dedicated to the warden of the forest, nature’s caretaker. The group has simultaneously released the film: “Live at the Acropolis,” which was recorded at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Acropolis, Athens.

Einar Selvik comments on the release of Birna: “Today is the release of our sixth album, Birna– a sonic journey into the woodland realms of the bear and its cyclic life rhythm. It is very much a conceptual album that is perhaps best experienced when listened to from beginning to end. If you wish to dive even further into the deeper meanings of the songs but don’t understand the language, then please know that our albums always include a booklet including lyrics translated into English. Give it a listen and let us know what you think.”

Photo credit: Morten Munthe

A six-song exploration of the bear and the cyclical process embedded both in nature and the worldview of older cultures, drives the creative process behind the album.

Birna nurtures the insight that has been at the core of Selvik’s philosophy right from the start: sowing new seeds whilst strengthening old roots. Instruments and wisdom from ancient times, coupled with modern day soundscapes and recorded sounds of nature, provide a rare opportunity to tell us something valuable about ourselves. It works as a reminder that we are part of nature, not above it, and it offers a way of remembering, not for memory’s own sake, but to gain both new and forgotten insights.

Wardruna on the February cover of Decibel Magazine

Birna seeks to address the here and now and the way forward. “The more I thought, read, and researched, the more I realized that this album should mainly have a contemporary focus. Unraveling the long and entangled history of the relationship between man and Bear and contemplating the present state of how we humans relate to the wild in general,” Selvik adds.

Birna and “Live at the Acropolis” is available on limited-edition vinyl, CD and digitally.

Wardruna tour dates:

January 25 Sydney, AU Enmore Theatre
January 27 Brisbane, AU Fortitude Music Hall
January 30 Auckland, NZ Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre

Special guest Jo Quail on March UK and IE dates

March 17 Liverpool, UK Philharmonic
March 18 Birmingham, UK Symphony Hall
March 19 London, UK Royal Albert Hall
March 21 Bristol, UK Beacon
March 22 York, UK Barbican
March 23 Dublin, IE Olympia Theatre
March 25 Glasgow, UK SEC Armadillo

April 26 Oslo, NO Operaen SOLD OUT
April 27 Oslo, NO Operaen SOLD OUT
April 29 Trondheim, NO Olavshallen
May 2 Kristiansand, NO Kilden
May 3 Stavanger, NO Konserthuset
May 4 Bergen, NO Grieghallen

June 7 Reykjavik, IS Harpa
July 25 to 27 Red Eagle Campground (Cut Bank), MT Fire In The Mountains
July 30 to August 30 Rasnov, RO Rockstadt Extreme Fest

Wardruna.com

YouTube.com/wardruna

Instagram.com/wardruna

Facebook.com/wardruna

Source: Speakeasy PR

SONATA ARCTICA – To Release “Acoustic Adventures – Volume Two” On September 30th Via Atomic Fire

Posted in folk metal, folk rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metal, Music, music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on August 7, 2022 by Metal Odyssey

Photo by Jarkko Piipari

Finnish five-piece SONATA ARCTICA need no introduction. Besides significantly influencing the power/melodic metal scene, they’re a band that’s not only notorious for consistently delivering high quality studio albums but also for experimenting and breaking out of their musical comfort zone. Such musical flexibility has resulted in the aptly titled Acoustic Adventures touring cycles as well as the release of Volume One of their first acoustic album earlier this year.

Today, SONATA ARCTICA are pleased to announce that the continuation and second chapter of the aforementioned record is set to be unleashed to the world on September 30th via Atomic Fire. The release not only completes the special acoustic saga but serves to finally celebrate the kickoff of their Finnish/European Acoustic Adventures tour, which was postponed multiple times in the midst of the Covid pandemic.

Cover art by Janne Pitkänen

Acoustic AdventuresVolume Two – Track Listing:

  1. I Have A Right
  2. Black Sheep
  3. Half A Marathon Man
  4. Broken
  5. Letter To Dana
  6. FullMoon
  7. Shamandalie
  8. San Sebastian
  9. Gravenimage
  10. Flag In The Ground
  11. My Land
  12. Victoria’s Secret

Like Acoustic AdventuresVolume One, the new offering was recorded and produced by Mikko Tegelman alongside the band at Studio57 in Finland while the cover artwork was designed by Janne Pitkänen.

Preorders as well as the first digital single, the acoustic version of fan favorite “I Have A Right,” will be available next week, on Friday, August 12th. Presave the track now HERE.

In the meantime, find info and tickets for the band’s upcoming tour at THIS LOCATION.

And get in the mood by revisiting Acoustic AdventuresVolume One. Watch SONATA ARCTICA’s previously released lyric video for “The Rest Of The Sun Belongs To Me” HEREand “For The Sake Of Revenge” HERE. Stream/purchase the album HERE.

Source: EARSPLIT PR

BLACKMORE’S NIGHT “All Our Yesterdays” – Releases On September 18th, 2015, via Frontiers Music SRL

Posted in folk music, folk rock, Music, rock music with tags , , , on July 9, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Blackmore's Night - promo band pic - 2015 - #33KMONLSMOT

On September 18, 2015, Frontiers Music SRL will release ALL OUR YESTERDAYS, the tenth studio album from Blackmore’s Night, the world’s number one Renaissance act and one of the most popular folk-rock bands in the world.

ALL OUR YESTERDAYS will be released on a variety of formats: CD, CD/DVD, 2LP, Box Set and Digital. Pre-orders for the CD, CD/DVD and Digital versions are available on Amazon.com here: http://radi.al/BlackmoresNightAmazon and on iTunes at: http://radi.al/BlackmoresNightiTunes (includes instant download of the title track, “All Our Yesterdays”).

Blackmore's Night - All Our Yesterdays - promo album cover pic - 2015 - #MOKNSMS333

DETAILS:

* CD/DVD Deluxe edition includes the full album plus a DVD with music videos for “All Our Yesterdays” and “Will O’ The Wisp,” plus an extensive interview with Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night on the making of the new album

* 2LP vinyl edition with a gatefold sleeve

**
* Box Set Limited Collector’s edition includes CD/DVD deluxe edition, 2LP, t-shirt (L size ONLY), poster, lithograph**

**Release date is October 16th for LP and Box Set editions.

__________________________

BLACKMORE’S NIGHT, The Band:

Ritchie Blackmore – electric/acoustic guitars, mandola, hurdy gurdy, nickelharpe

Candice Night – vocals, chanter, cornamuse, shawms, rauschpfeife

Bard David of Larchmont – keyboards

Earl Grey of Chimay – Bass and rhythm guitar

Lady Lynn – harmony vocals, shawm, flute, recorder

Troubadour of Aberdeen – drums

_________________________

EUROPEAN TOUR DATES – (Remaining):

July 11: Rhein-Main Theater, Niedernhausen, Germany

July 14: Pivovarská zahrada, Český Krumlov, Czech Republic

July 16: Schloss Eyrichshof, Ebern, Germany

July 18: Thiepval Areal, Tübingen, Germany

July 25: Neue Weimarhalle, Weimar, Germany

July 27: Prinzregenttheater, München, Germany

_________________________

Source:

Frontiers Music SRL - logo - #2014FM

http://www.frontiers.it/

MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE BLACKMORE’S NIGHT.

Stone.

BLACKMORE’S NIGHT “Dancer And The Moon” Official Video Is: Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day!

Posted in folk music, folk rock, Music, rock music, rock music news, rock music videos with tags , , , , , , on July 18, 2013 by Metal Odyssey

Blackmore's Night - Dancer And The Moon - promo cover pic

BLACKMORE’S NIGHT – The 8th studio album, Dancer and the Moon, from Blackmore’s Night, was released on June 11th in North America, on Frontiers Records. The Folk Rock of Blackmore’s Night carries both a Renaissance and Celtic sound; I truly find Blackmore’s Night to be a wonderfully magical band!

Blackmore’s Night are led by (core/founding members) the legendary Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night. The Folk Rock that they have written and performed together over the years is deliciously unique; with their new album Dancer and the Moon justifying my every word!

Listen to and watch below, the official music video for the title track from Dancer and the Moon; the musical brilliance coupled with the beautifully captivating voice of Candice Night is to be savored! Metal be thy name!

Blackmore’s Night – Dancer and the Moon official music video is Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day!

Blackmore's Night - band promo pic - #1 - 2013

________________________________________

* For more info on BLACKMORE’S NIGHT:

http://Blackmoresnight.com

Blackmores Night (Official Site)

Frontiers Records - logo!

FRONTIERS RECORDS:

http://www.frontiers.it

Stone - Motorhead Tee  pic:small

LONG LIVE BLACKMORE’S NIGHT.

Stone.

Without Warning, This Song Starts Playing In My Head: Melanie – “Brand New Key”

Posted in classic rock, folk music, folk rock, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on July 27, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Do you ever have those days, where a song starts playing in your head and you absolutely, positively, don’t know why? It happens to me all the time, therefore I’m quite used to it. 99% of the time, the song that invades my brain is Metal or at least one from the many Rock genres. Today was different though. Real different. This was a Folk Pop song going all the way back to 1971. The artist? Melanie. The song? Brand New Key. Whoa. Um, whoa again.

I do remember this song quite well however, while growing up as a very young lad back in those early 1970’s. When Brand New Key was released, I was only five years old. Metal be thy name. While this reminder of my childhood days played out in my head today, I could vividly remember the smile it brought to my mothers face all those years ago. My mother used to sing along to Brand New Key while driving the car, God rest her soul. Hearing and seeing her so joyful from this song, made me feel like everything around me was happy, safe and sound. My sister used to sing along to this song as well, as it played on AM radio. I believe I sang along too… or tried to.

What prompted Brand New Key to play out in my head today? I just don’t know. I can’t explain it. The one thing I do like about having this vintage song popping into my head, is the reminder of easier and innocent days of being just a child and singing along with my mother and sister. Reflecting on a simple moment in time. Happy memories, especially when they are triggered by a song… are truly priceless. I’ll never underestimate the magic powers of music.

Quick Facts About Brand New Key:

Melanie – Brand New Key was released on Neighborhood Records.

Melanie – Brand New Key: Climbed to #1 status on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, back in December of 1971.

Brand New Key – On Movie Soundtracks:

Brand New Key is on the Boogie Nights (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), which was released back in 1997 on Capitol Records.

Brand New Key is on the jackass 3D Soundtrack (various artists), having been released in 2010 on Epitaph.

God Bless My Mother and Sister In Heaven.

Stone.