CONCRETE AGE is a Folk Metal band from the United Kingdom by way of Russia. This is already their 10th full-length release in a career spanning only 15 years, a highly productive band like we do not see much of nowadays in all honesty. The motherland quartet makes good in the usage of ethnic instruments throughout this new release, nonetheless it's something that you need to differentiate yourself from other bands in the genre. They channel their inner WARDRUNA, ARKONA and Finland's MOONSORROW while adding a whole lot of ambient elements that are quite pleasant for the listener out there. It reminded me a lot of MYRKUR at times even Canada's SYG:AR:-TYR yet it feels very European and a bit more chaotic.

Black metal being outwardly obsessed with old ages and ruined castles in a type of almost contrived grandeur is definitely hospitable to any influence celebrating and chronicling one’s heritage and history. From the early days of ULVER and an army of other bands, scales, instruments, vocals and other aspects central to folk music were increasingly introduced into black metal’s ferocity and filthiness. This has led to a number of albums boasting quite bombastic, bewitching and formidable feel, but all of which always seemed to lean more towards the more brutal and bilious dimension, rather than completely monopolize on the haunting and heroic image it produces, with emphasis firmly resting on aggressive riffwork and accompanying drumming. It is always dilemma-inducing why not to amp up the folkish feel, and dial down the destructiveness to have the product sit more towards the less extreme end of the said spectrum. This could be one of the first albums with such concerns actually addressed, where black metal used occasionally and intelligently in between larger and somber segues of folk music. And the effect is impressive.

This album really made me feel like I was in Middle Earth, like I was on another planet or in another surreal world full of mysticism and fantasy. This album is packed with great Russian folk music and ambiance and brings some pretty big chills. Most of the songs start out quiet and then progress into a full-on ambient piece with vocals, string instruments, and the beating of drums yet with an aggressive tone at times, bridging the gap between the ethnic elements and the black metal elements clearly.