Folk Metal isn't linked to particular culture or even a musical form defined by models. In reality, there are so many cultures that can be the core of the lyrical and musical identity of a band that no one can say that 'things must be done in this way' or similar to this. That's the idea behind the work of the quintet HOK-KEY, hailing from Belarus, and that is shown on "In Existence".

Their musical work is a fine combination of many melodic influences inside Folk Metal with some effects and keyboards that aren't played on a usual form for the genre (one could say even that is an influence of Industrial Rock in the band's music). It's not hard to hear and like the music due to many hooks that are presented in the album, and there are passionate moments that bind the listeners (as can be heard on the war march-like tempos of "The Quest for Fire"). The band's music is full of energy and can become the right choice for fans that are tired of the usual model used by many Folk Metal bands. The recording sessions were done with the bassist Alexander Volchek at the helmet, leaving Alyaxey Stetsyuk taking care of the mixing and mastering, all the efforts done to create a massive sound quality centered on the orchestrations, violins and guitars, but letting the other musical instruments appear as well. All was done in a very good way, indeed.

All the songs are really very good, but for the lazy ones that can spin a full album at once, the aggressive energy shown on "The Countdown" (fine guitar riffs and keyboards parts that are combined in a very good form), the massive melodic hooks of "The Quest for Fire" and "Silentium" (both with very good and heavy rhythmic parts of bass guitar and drums), "Les Ailes" (some clean vocals used on this one are very good), the melancholic appeal of "The Matter of Love" and "Alma Mater", and "Faster! Harder! Louder!" are the right ones. But try to hear all the songs, because the experience won't hurt you.

HOK-KEY is really a very good name in Folk Metal, and can become a giant in the near future. For now, "In Existence" is really a very good work, indeed.