Vera: FolkStone is one of those many medieval folk metal bands that perform a lot live in Italy, Germany and surrounding areas. They have a really hectic agenda since a few years. In addition to the musical performance of the eight-piece band hailing from Bergamo (Italy), one can enjoy a true orgy of beer and fire in those live situations. In 2008, a first EP was followed by the meritorious self-titled debut album. Here we have album number two, entitled ‘Damnati Ad Metalla’ and it continues the chosen path.
Next to a moderate, not too harsh rock/metal idiom, the music of FolkStone is mainly featured by loads of folk instruments. All kinds of bagpipes (the typical ‘baghèt’ from Bergamo and ‘bombarde’, mainly used in Breton folk music) and (double) reed instruments (‘cornamuse’ of the Renaissance era) draw our attention and define the melodies. Male vocals are done in Italian language and we cannot ignore any pathos, surely in ‘Anime Dannate’ with guest vocals of baritone Giovanni Guerini and female soprano Veronika Kralova. In the meantime they have new members on guitar and harp. I am pretty sure that guitarist Lucas likes black metal, since his raging fast guitar parts like the ones in ‘Longobardia’, the beginning of ‘Anima Dannate’ and the great song ‘Senza Certezze’ are pretty new in a band like FolkStone. That’s why I have the impression that ‘Damnati Ad Metalla’ turned out a bit heavier than their debut. Generally speaking however, FolkStone will mainly appeal to those folks who have a liking for bands like In Extremo, Corvus Corax and Schelmish. Those were the main inspirations for the founders of this band as well. The instrumental ‘Luppulus In Fabula’ is based only on bagpipes and percussion. Finally we can mention that ‘Vanita Di Vanita’ happens to be a cover version of a song from seventies Italian bard Angelo Branduardi and ‘Rocce Nere’ is an a-capella version with a classical choir. May be voluminous, yet this album appears to be more folk than metal. However, it is done to a turn, even if bands like this always impress more in a live situation than in the sobriety of a living room.
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