Sometimes Folk Metal really can surprise us all, and in Brazil, it's growing more and more, and faster as some never saw before. And as one of the Brazil's greatest names is, without doubts, the sextet from Juiz de Fora (on Minas Gerais) HAGBARD, who comes with their first Full Length, "Rise of the Sea King".

It's a mix of extreme grunts with good musical arrangements, some folkish chants here and there, fusing weight, aggressiveness and elegancy. Along with these vocal elements, we can hear great guitar works, a strong and well worked rhythmic basis and very good keyboards playing. And we can hear some violin in some songs, in a delightful work, indeed.

Produced by Jerry Torstensson, obviously the sound is clear and heavy, turning this work easy to hear and understand what the instruments are playing and to feel the atmosphere they want to spread. And they get it!

Jouber Mello, from Sledhammer Graphix, done a wonderful piece of art on the cover, giving body to their music.

Their best songs: "Warrior's Legacy" (beautiful keyboards arrangements and real good tempos), the extremely wonderful "Berserker's Requiem" (female vocals give a tender taste to the song, where drums and bass are giving a particular show each one), the perfect "Sail to War" (great tempos, with the guitars and keyboards getting along beautifully), the faster "March to Glory", and "Hidden Tears" (a more tender track, where the duet between female warm vocals and strong male ones are perfect).

Besides they're a Brazilian band, their label is from Russia, so it's easy for all my dear nephews and nieces from European lands to find the album and buy it.

Illegal downloads are for sissies.