EVILON were formed in 2015, and they are from Arvika, Sweden. They play a mixture of melodic Death Metal and Folk Metal. After releasing one EP and one full-length album, their sophomore album “A Warrior’s Way” was mixed and mastered by Robert Widell. It has a length of about 46 minutes. The album was released digitally in 2023 already and now released on CD via German Doom, Thrash, and Death Metal specialists Fetzner Death Records. The album has a dark symphonic start with the orchestral pre-lude to “Yggdrasil”. The track is a classical melodic Death Metal track at mid-tempo with powerful guitar riffing and catchy melodies. The vocals are growls and vary between the deep and medium end of the guttural range. As much as I described it as “classical” melodeath track, there are also a few Folk vibes in the melodies. The catchiness in the melodies is especially evident during the chorus parts of the track. Altogether, “Yggdrasil” is a very good opening track making appetite for more. “Jotunheim” comes with more Folk vibes in the melodies. It is a fast and dynamic track with tight guitar riffing and the growls are intensified by deep-lying screams. The choruses are sing-alongs alongside the Folk melodies. There is a lot of double-bass drumming throughout the track and the guitars use tremolo picks extensively. “Jotunheim” is a first album highlight and should not miss out any future setlists. “Walk Of The Damned” continues with the mixture of Folk and Death Metal attack at a measured tempo. The melodic framework is centered around traditional Folk music and most notable during the chorus parts. The verse parts are more driven by the crushing riffs and the growls. The break starts quiet with a short acoustic part, followed by a short lead guitar solo. The vocals are versatile and offer almost the full guttural range. “A Warrior’s Way” is a slow and powerful track at a measured tempo with epic and melancholic melodies. It is the album ballad and driven by the guitars and an excellent vocal contribution. There are orchestral arrangements in the background, and they add an extra layer to the track. It is an excellent track in many aspects, but especially in terms of songwriting. One of the highlights is the contributing lead guitar solo. “A Warrior’s Way” has been released as video, and the YouTube link is provided below.

“Into The Battlefield” starts thunderous and epic leading into a fast and crushing verse part with a few AMON AMARTH vibes. The track is more on the melodeath side of things. The chorus parts switch tempo and rhythm back to a measured tempo leading into the epic melodies of the start. The lead guitar solo is very contributing and once again a highlight of the track. “Foreign Land” keeps going with the melodic Death Metal at mid-tempo. While the verse parts are crushing with devastating riffing and a lot of double-bass drumming, the chorus parts deliver the dark melodies with an epic touch. There are orchestrations added to the track with the strings being present in the background. “Galdr” put the melodeath sound more into a Folk inspired melodic framework at a mixture of mid-tempo and measured tempo. The guitar riffing is thunderous, and the basslines are crunching, while the vocals mostly use deep-lying growls. “Galdr” is a crushing track, and it is another album highlight. “My Runestone” starts fast with tight riffing and plenty of double-bass drumming. The chorus parts slow down to a measured tempo with epic and melancholic melodies intensified by the strings, the piano, and the lead guitars. The track has many twists and turns in tempo and rhythm, but good songwriting makes sure that it keeps the direction. The vocals use a few higher growls compared to any other songs.

“Skald” is mainly a fast track with tight guitar riffing and catchy melodies. The chorus parts slow down to a measured tempo with epic melodies. The orchestral arrangements are prominent with the strings the most prominent contributor. “Blot To The Skies” has a crushing start at mid-tempo with tight riffing and a lot of double-bass. The melodies have their basis in traditional Folk. The chorus parts are epic and almost anthemic. The highlight of the track is another contributing lead guitar solo. The album ends with “Valkyria”, which is mainly a mid-tempo track with devastating verse parts and grim, melodic chorus parts. One feature of the album is the symphonic component and that one becomes more prominent as the album goes on. That are pre-dominantly the strings which contribute most to the track, and they are certainly essential in this one. “Valkyria” is a good way to end the album.

EVILON deliver a good second album. “A Warrior’s Way” is an exciting mixture of melodic Death Metal and Folk Metal, enriched with symphonic elements. The guitars are crushing, the vocals are excellent throughout, and all this is embedded in a melodic framework that is catchy, epic, and melancholic at times. I like the songwriting of the album, it follows clear patterns, there is not too much, but sufficient complexity in the tracks, just enough to keep the album fresh and dynamic. The album is well produced. “A Warrior’s Way” surely has its big share of Death and Folk Metal fans.