When you hear the words "Folk Metal" you instantly start thinking about drunken Finns, Vikings, and Pagans hailing from all over Europe.  ENVIKTAS, however, are an Australian quartet from Newcastle, New South Wales. This eponymous EP is their debut record, released independently and marking a great start for a promising Folk/Extreme Metal act.

The first impression you get while you delve into this relatively short (roughly twenty eight minutes) journey is that ENVIKTAS are not just slathering some ethnic folklore elements all over heavy music for the sake of being labeled "Folk Metal". They are actually incorporating a myriad of other elements that blend perfectly and create a very solid wall of sound ranging from Summoning-like Atmospheric and Pagan Black Metal to your typical Anthemic Scandinavian Folk Chants while still preserving a heavier edge à la ENSIFERUM, FINNTROLL, TURISAS etc..

The opening intro "Sanctificater Nomen Tuum" is an expected "epic" instrumental with some spoken text (apparently Latin) before everything turns Black-Metalish in the next track "Morning Burns Red". The only thing wrong with this record at this point seemed to be the production. I think it would have sounded tremendously better if they put a little more effort into it. Still, music-wise, the band showcased amazing musicianship and compelling songwriting skills. This track is fast, vigorous and furious. Pecky's impeccable harsh vocals are omnipresent, accompanied only by occasional choir chants.

"Our Throne" is one of my favorites, it has an oriental vibe and shifts from breakneck heavy parts to slower acoustic interludes which is why I think it's a special track that easily conjures ORPHANED LAND's oriental charms and BEHEMOTH's Blackened Death Metal. "In Our Honour" is the most typical folk song of the whole EP. This is where you can obviously notice the ELUVEITIE and ENSIFERUM influences with dominating whistles and pipes and an overwhelming anthemic feeling.

"Code of the Sea" has a kind of medieval sound to it, something in the same vein as TANZWUT. "Golden Spirit" is the longest and arguably the heaviest and the most "chaotic" track yet still incredibly catchy with its oriental-ish interludes. It's easily to pick this one as my favorite on this EP.

In Conclusion, ENVIKTAS are absolutely among this year's best new coming band. These twenty eight minutes are absolutely worth checking out, especially for Folk Metallers. Almost perfect, despite the raw production.