Dalriada – Ígéret

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AFM Records
Produced by Dalriada

There are quite a few female fronted bands that are deemed to be folk metal. Leaves Eyes, Kivimetsän Druidi, Midnattsol and Battlelore are all examples of bands that have, at one time or another, been described as being folk metal. Whilst all are definitely influenced by folk music, a more complete example of a female fronted folk metal band would be Hungary’s Dalriada. Already a very successful band in their home country, the band’s sixth record and first for AFM records sees the band try and translate their success to the rest of Europe and the world.

Lets get the negative out of the way. Ígéret has an introduction track that is slightly off-putting for those not familiar with the band. A disjointed folk piece, it isn’t a particularly welcoming number that would put off those listening to the album for the first time. Fortunately, albums aren’t judged by their intro tracks and so this isn’t too much of a big deal.

Thankfully the rest of the album isn’t anything like that. Instead Ígéret is a very well crafted album that serves well as an introduction for new listeners. A few listens to this album and you can see why the band are such a hit in their own country; this record is full of well produced, well written folk metal tunes. There’s a very good grasp of melody here, but at no point does it feel like its trying to be commercial and make outright pop music – this is just very good melodic metal.

Unlike many so-called folk metal bands who play more folk-tinged or folk-influenced metal than an outright crossover, this album is a very natural blend of Hungarian folk music and melodic metal styles. This is the case for more or less the entire album, but perhaps it is most notable on the album’s title track with its polka-like jig during it’s verses.

However it is the band’s lead singer, Laura Binder, that embodies the folk elements of the album best. Her soaring voice manages to capture the emotions of both the fast, bouncy tunes, the large, epic sounding choruses and the more sorrowful melodies on the album. On the album’s more joyful moments, there is a delightful playfulness in the way she sings, such as on the verse of Hajdútánc. She certainly has range as well, not only able to capture the varying moods of the band’s music but also growling on occasion. Most importantly, whilst the band’s lyrics will be unintelligible to the majority of listeners outside of Hungary, she makes the language itself sound beautiful and interesting. Singers of such quality are incredibly rare in metal, but Binder manages to gracefully show her skills on this record, sounding like a genuine metal AND folk singer.

Not that the rest of the band are shy in their contributions. As good as Binder sounds, guitarist and second vocalist András Ficzek isn’t such a bad singer himself, mostly singing with a distinctively power metal style and holds his own when he takes the lead. Like his female counterpart, he also has versatility and growls on occasion. Where both singers sound their best though is when they sing together, harmonizing beautifully such as on the choruses of Igazi Tuz and A Hadak Útja. There isn’t much in the way of fancy guitar work (though there’s plenty of keyboard-wizardry and even a harmonica solo) – but this doesn’t seem necessary. The songs themselves are the key here.

The folk metal scene is flooded with hundreds of bands – mostly from the Nordic nations – so it is refreshing to see such a strong album from this Hungarian outfit. Whether or not they can translate their success to outside their home country remains to be seen, but those willing to give the band a try should find something genuinely enticing here.

“ a very natural blend ”

Tracklist: Intro / Hajdútánc / Hozd el, Isten / Mennyei Harang / Ígéret / Igazi Tuz / Kinizsi Mulatsága / A Hadak Útja / Leszek a Csillag / Leszek a Hold / Outro

Written by James Donovan
More: 2011, Albums, Folk Metal, Dalriada