Super groups in the metal music world rarely ever live up to the expectations placed upon them, and Folkearth is a prime example.  While their first three albums have had some level of success, it fell off precipitously when Father of Victory came out in 2008.  When you consider that the group has released six albums since 2008, which tends to say to the fans that the band is putting out albums just to put out something, which isn’t necessarily a good thing.  The most recent album from Folkearth is Sons of the North, and it hopes to reverse a trend of mediocre albums in that time frame.

Sons of the North opens with the title track, which does what most good opening tracks are supposed to do: start things with a bang.  However, it is also the longest track on the album, which means the rest of the album has a lot to live up to, and that is where Folkearth fails once again.  Much of the album just seems to be there just to be there, and that is most evident when going for second and third listens of the Sons of the North.  One good thing about Sons of the North is that the weakest link on past albums, the female vocals, are done in limited amounts, making the album more bearable during those listens.  As has been the case with every Folkearth album, the lineup is different on Sons of the North, which results in a more Viking metal approach to the album, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as evidenced on songs such as “Wind of Conquest” and “Black Knights,” with an emphasis on the grunts and growls.  Despite the constant turnover, Sons of the North actually shows some consistency in its music.

Sons of the North isn’t the album that will get Folkearth back to respectability.  However, it is a fairly decent step in that direction.  Folkearth will never be considered an elite folk metal band, but they are good for a few listens every now and then.  One of the first albums that will likely be picked for enjoyment should be Sons of the North, but for a few listens at a time, though.

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*Comments:

1.  Sons of the North
2.  Rider on the Winds
3.  Taking Arms
4.  Lord of Serpents
5.  Wind of Conquest
6.  Ravens on the Wings
7.  Odin Wills It
8.  Black Knights
9.  To Vinland We Sail
10.  Defying the Storm

Total playing time:  44:26

Release Date: April 12, 2011
Label: Stygian Crypt Records

Folkearth - Sons of the North

Reviewer: Peter

August 11, 2011