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[ More Music Reviews ]

Elvenking: Reader Of Runes - Divination

Folk Power Metal

3.5/5.0

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AFM Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 28.08.2019 | Released: 06.09.2019

My last journey to the elvish kingdom of Italy's Elvenking was 2014's The Pagan Manifesto, a generally pleasing album of their customary folk pagan melodic power metal. I missed Secrets of the Magick Grimoire from 2016, but I suspect it was much the same. Now moving into their third decade, Elvenking returns with their tenth long player, Reader Of Runes - Divination.

Elvenking

And once more into the elvish woodland we go with more Elvenking epic folk power metal. Expect the usual suspects: melodic heavy power enlightened by strong riffs, roaring solos, quick gallop and groove, and then all things made folkish and Celtic by violin, acoustic guitar, and pan pipes (maybe). Put these Italian fellows beside such peers as Skyclad, Enisferum, and Vexillum. While Elvenking is both derivative and predictable, they are fun to listen to.

Gallop and gusto come with the power metal of Heathen Divine, Divination, Sic Semper Tyrannis, and Warden Of The Bane. Alternatively, Elvenking mixes things up with The Misfortune Of Virtue where the tempo changes and a gentle piano lingers about. With Eternal Eleanor, you're treated to more piano, then violin, in a soft opening before rising to a Celtic rhythm and melodic metal groove. Within the closing number Reader Of The Runes, Elvenking pulls out all their folk metal tricks by mixing a potion of thick metal riffage, power metal gallop, grand choral vocals, soaring violin, and harpsichord-like synths. And so it goes. With Reader Of Runes - Divination, Italy's Elvenking delivers another pleasing and predictable album of their bombastic folk power metal. Recommended if you dig the genre, or would simply like your first taste of it.

Mysterizer: Invisible Enemy

Melodic Heavy Metal Rock

4.0/5.0

The history is a bit sketchy, but Mysterizer is a new Finnish band formed from an unnamed defunct heavy metal cover band. The band features vocalist Tomi Kurtti from the ... [ Read More ]

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

With Reader Of Runes - Divination, Italy's Elvenking delivers another pleasing and predictable album of their bombastic folk power metal. Recommended if you dig the genre, or would simply like your first taste of it.

Alphabetical Index

The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]