Lunatic Gods - Turiec (2018)^{Release ID: 9635}

Ever wanted to know what Agalloch would sound like if it heavily employed Slavic folk music? Your wish is granted.

That's the best description, really. There are also some Opeth-isms in the way of dissonant riffs and deep growls (Pieseň živlov and K fatranským svahom, for example), inconsequential acoustic passages and some pseudo-epic orchestral touches, but for the most part, this description sums it all up: mellowed down black metal-isms combined with Slavic folk (which, on its own, is easily the best part of the album, but does not blend well with the metal, sadly).

I can't help but to think of most of folk metal albums like this one as confused. There's no real direction to the compositions and the music is not nearly as atmospheric or potent as it wants to come off as being. It seems like background music more than anything else.

Oriana and Na Tlstej rastie zlatá tráva are the heaviest songs here, but even those seem underwhelming. For the most part, the music is midpaced, folky and pleasant, but not really interesting or captivating. Again, it feels like background music more than anything else. Even the typical BM sections feel tame, bland and inoffensive.

I can't even bring myself so say anything else due to how weary the album makes me. It's okay for what it is, but there's far better stuff out there.