WOODSCREAM is a Folk Metal band formed in 2006 in Russia. The band has been through many line-up changes. Between 2008 and 2010 the band three singles and an EP "Pentadrama". They finally released their debut full-length album "Octastorium" in 2014. With a tree-man on the cover, I know this one will be full of fantasy and folklore. The album comes in with eight tracks and a listening time of just a hair over 33 minutes.

The opening track "Argt", starts off with a full on acoustic Folk assault. This turns quickly into Folk Metal mania. The vocals are female and powerful. The music sucks the listener in from the start. The drums are strong and powerful, the guitars are energetic and rhythmically fantastic, and the bass is chunky-love. The violin adds the right amount of Folk into this Folk Metal. The lyrics are in Russian, I believe, which makes this album that much more interesting. We are off on an adventure.

"Suvi" track two, starts off fast and winded. Meaning, we get our first glimpse into the pipes. Even more interesting, we also get our first listen to the growled vocals. The combo of the growls and the pipe is... incredible. While it's nothing too new, these vocals are incredibly deep and completely unintelligible, which puts a bit of a spin on the traditional Folk growled male vocals. The female vocals are present in the chorus as well. The drums are done perfectly. The guitars are nice but get lost in the music a bit, especially when the vocals are present. This is one of my favorite tracks on the album. I love how the pipes and the drums work together perfectly here.

Track four, "An Dro", is less fast and furious, but still has tons of energy to share. Again, the drums take center stage, but this track is over-flowing with Folk essence. There is ambience singing in this track, but no lyrical content. It is 2:43 of pure Folk Metal goodness. The guitars add so much depth within the track. "Kuigri", track five, flows easily from the previous track adding in the 'depths of hell' AKA the male vocals that are incredible.

"Cuwut", track six, has a really intriguing :30 opener. The pipes sound disjointed, but it is definitely for creative greatness. The track itself is much harder. The pipes keep it clean while the drums, guitars, and bass add incredible depth. At four minutes the plucking battle adds a bit of fun contrast.

The final track, "Witnesses of J" has glorious pipes, but the rhythm the guitars add to the track is phenomenal. The drums keep pace with the guitars verses the pipes this time, which is a nice switch up. The bass is super chunky and thick in this almost instrumental finale. Almost instrumental. This track ends with a set of growls; legit growls, not words, and a barked "witness of J." to round it out.

WOODSCREAM's "Octastorium" is an adventure in album form. From the first track to the last, you are taken into a fantasy world filled to brim with fairies, tree-men, and magick. If you are looking for an escape from reality for the better part of 30 minutes and enjoy Folk Metal as I do, then this album is for you.