VOGELFREY are best recognised for being a German folk metal band, hailing from Hamburg. Since the six-piece formed back in 2004, they have gone from strength to strength. They released their debut body of work "Wiegenfest" in 2010, before going on to drop their follow up "Zwölf Schritte zum Strick" two years later. Furthermore, VOGELFREY released their third studio album "Sturm und Klang" in 2015, before revealing "In Ekstase" and "Nachtwache" in 2017 and 2019 respectively. The last couple of years have been extremely busy for the band, releasing three singles "Walhalla (Piano Version)", "Flammenvogel" and "1000 Jahre Bier" to promote their upcoming sixth studio album "Titanium". It is due for release on August 26^th, 2022, via Metalville Records.

The first track on the album is "Flammenvogel", in which the unexpected vocals at the start sound a bit like RAMMSTEIN's TILL LINDERMANN. After this segment, I am treated to a vibrant folk metal riff that just blasts through my eardrums. As the track goes on, it just gets more and more addictive - a great opener! "Stahlhammer" is up next, which contains another infectious chorus accompanied by an instantly recognisable folk melody throughout. This is easily one of the best songs on the record by far! "Nicht A" really ups the pace, with a very catchy Eurovision dance metal type track which is just so irresistible. Nearing the end of the track, VOGELFREY casually add in a chanting style bridge inspired by ESKIMO CALLBOY, which is surprising but fantastic.

"Nie Wieder Met" continues with the faster pace, with this track having more industrial influences than the previous, whereas "Legenden" adopts more of a contrasting slower pace. However, this doesn't mean that the track is any less impactful. "Gott Gegen Gott" ups the ante once more, with more RAMMSTEIN influences creeping in. However, they make this song their own with some string instrumentals taking more of a focus, similar to that of APOCALPYTICA. "Sawney Bean" is the first acoustic style track on this album, which makes a pleasant change. This is another great track. "Samael Hilf" quickly draws me back in with the heavier VOGELFREY sound that we all know and love. This song is most definitely catchy in its own way, with some killer riffs doing the talking, not to mention the repeated phrases just sticking in my head from start to finish.

"1000 Jahre Bier" is up next, which begins with an intriguing melody, before leaping into VOGELFREY's typical folk metal sound. This song isn't as great as some of the others but it's certainly not bad by any means. "Unsterblich" is another slower number. Unfortunately, it is similar to the latter by being not as striking as other tracks on this album. As I move into "Legenden (Folksnah Akustik Version)", I am back to being blown away by this band. The acoustic version of this track is just as good, if not better than the original. "Ära Des Stahls (Folksnah Akustik Version)" is up next, which contains a pretty string melody at the beginning, leading me to be fascinated for the rest of the song. Even though this track is fairly good, it is safe to say that I prefer their non-acoustic tracks.

"Lindwurm Massaker (Folksnah Akustik Version)" is a beautiful version of their original 2012 track. This acoustic number really has something to offer, with the stunning string melodies throughout just making this song what it is. "Schuld Ist Nur Der Met (Folksnah Akustik Version)" is another fantastic acoustic version of their previously released track. The instrumentals are impeccable throughout, with a very catchy chorus to top things off - simply amazing! "Heldentod (Foksnah Akustik Version)" is up next, which isn't as infectious as the previous, but is just as beautiful in its own way. "Walhalla (Folksnah Piano Version)" is the last song on this album, and it definitely makes an impact. You get to see VOGELFREY in a completely different light here, with emotional melodies and softer vocals doing all the talking. It is an absolutely incredible version of "Walhalla", really showcasing the band's many talents. I couldn't ask for a better closing song!

Overall, this album is just absolutely phenomenal. VOGELFREY are simply at their best here, knowing their unique style and executing it extremely well as a result. Many of the tracks are just undoubtedly infectious and exciting, leading me to think that this is the best folk metal album I have heard in a very long time! I am so ready to hear what VOGELFREY get up to next!