The marriage of traditional folk music (from many countries) with metal has become more than just an exotic sub-genre. The two united seems almost perfect at times and there is a rabid following of fans. However, when the band goes complete folk and abandons all metal ideals (Eluveitie’s Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion), it’s a little hard to swallow. I mean, I love the mix between the two and I think it’s a triumphant metal style, but once the distorted guitars are gone it’s going to be a hard sell for the majority in my opinion. Fejd is a band that really has no metal objectives whatsoever, and the only thing remotely metal about this release is the members that created it.

Fejd consists of members from Swedish bands Nostradameus and Pathos who teamed up with folk duo Patrik and Niklas Rimmerfors. The band has been around since the early millennium, (apparently childhood friends) and has released three demos in their eight year existence with Storm being their debut on Napalm Records. The music is pure Nordic Medieval Folk with traditional instruments and sung in native tongue. Honestly, if you’re looking to hear straight up Scandinavian Folk then this is one of the best CDs you could find. The music is really done well and can be catchy at times. Swedish bagpipes, Jews Harp, Bouzouki, Keyed Fiddle, Cow horn, Wooden Whistle, and Willow Pipes are used to create this organic atmosphere.

Storm carries a heavy sound for a band with no distorted guitars. It’s throbbing and eager at times and it isn’t a far stretch of the imagination to hear how a more extreme metal sound would fit. Dark and hypnotic the music can be described as very atmospheric and mystical. If Renaissance festivals are your thing, make Storm the theme music for your next venture. Vocals are executed with a raucous edge full of chants and twists of the tongue, telling stories of local folklore and legends. Beautiful female vocals can also be heard numerous times.

Comparing bands such as Korpiklaani to Fejd would be somewhat cogent except the fact that Fejd is darker and not as excitable. Although, there are many tunes with an upbeat feel, you won’t be dancing the jig quite like you would with Korpiklaani’s alcohol soaked galas.

So, Fejd’s Storm is not a metal record, yet it’s done very well. The question is how open-minded of a metal head are you and would you welcome this type of culture into your collection. Fans of Eluveitie’s latest output should fully embrace Fejd. The rest of us will be left scratching our heads. After listening to this I need full metal brutality. Bring on the death metal please.

[Visit the band's website]

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