Fejd - Eifur

When it comes to folk metal, many bands who can be classified within this genre often place a heavy emphasis on the metal part of the equation while only paying lip service to the folk part.  Sweden’s Fejd doesn’t have that problem.  In fact, they have that idea in reverse, as in they heavily emphasize the folk part to the point where they border on the neo-folk subgenre. Their latest album Eifur is another solid album of folk music from the band, but there will also be the sense of something missing.

If you have listened to Fejd’s debut album Storm at any point prior to this, then you have a good idea of what to expect from Eifur. Traditional Swedish folk using instruments such as the hurdy-gurdy, moraharpa, cow antler, and others are what make Fejd stand out from the other bands who play a similar style.  On songs such as “Farsot” and “Gryning,” the band’s ideas are fully realized and sound more like traditional folk tales being told by camp fires, all of which is put together by the vocals of Patrik Rimmerfors.  Instrumentals “Alvas Halling” and “Trollfärd” are an exercise in pure folk melody.  One thing that seems to be noticed on the album compared to their previous effort is less emotion, which isn’t obvious on first listen, but tends to be more noticeable with repeated listens.  Other than that piece, the elements that made Storm one of the better folk metal debuts in recent years are present on Eifur. 

For the most part, Eifur is exactly what one would expect of Fejd. This predictability works both ways, as it will keep fans of the band happy and the detractors as they are for the most part. Folk music fans will find much to like about the new Fejd album, as will long time fans of the band and fans of folk metal in general. 

Release Date: October 29, 2010
Label: Napalm Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Drängen och Kråkan
2.  Farsot
3.  Jungfu I Hindhamm
4.  Alvas Halling
5.  Arv
6.  Eifur
7.  Ledung
8.  Gryning
9.  Vårstäv
10.  Äring
11.  Yggdrasil
12.  Trollfärd

Total playing time:  50:06

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*Comments:

Reviewer: Peter

January 11, 2011