Neofolk

[nezalezhnye]

Der Blutharsch / Sottofasciasemplice split 7" - very interesting particular moment in time in the underground when this came out. Their frontman Mario Vattani was Italy's Consul General in Japan and fired by his performance in CasaPovnd event 2012. CasaPovnd, when they first came out, were hip to alot of global third world anti-imperialist struggles; antineocon; appealing to millenials, etc... Kind of predates alot of the activity on the internet since 2016. It is cool that Der Blutharsch did a split with a CasaPovnd-adjacent group. Don't expect to see anything similar drop in the underground music scene these days. I think this record is unique for that.

[BlackCavendish]

Sottofasciasemplice was a very interesting project. Alternative music meets neofolk (in the beginning, especially the album "Crociato"), then they moved towards a more electronic sound in recent years. The focus has always been, as happens with these bands, on the lyrics. "Come mai" is a perfect example, and has become something of an anthem in certain circles.

However, in those years it was not impossible to see this type of impromptu collaborations (on the compilation dedicated to Codreanu there were both Sottofasciasemplice and Londinium SPQR, another Italian group from that political area), and Der Blutharsch himself did a split with ZetaZeroAlfa (the CasaPound leader's band).

[xdementia]

New split from Cradle of Judah/Blood & Sun

https://cradleofjudah.bandcamp.com/album/split-w-blood-and-sun

[unheimlich]

Seems like a lot of current "neofolk" has gone in a direction of more just being soft indie folk music or side project of metal dude with some vague appreciation of nature and trying to be as avoidant as possible of words like Julius Evola, Cornelius Codreanu, Karl Maria Wiligut or anything inspirational to volkish movements etc

Maybe this is just a personal take but it always seemed to me that it was this tension between traditional and industrial elements in Neofolk- samplers, noise, industrial elements fused with folk to make it something different than just folk music. Also thematically topics relevant to 20th century european culture and the decline of the west.

I also understand European projects slowly moving towards traditional instrumentation as this makes sense as a progression but I really don't think it makes sense to call any bearded guy with vanilla acoustic guitar neofolk, but really just indie folk.

off the top of my head besides the obvious larger artists I think early novy svet, voxus.imp, waldteufel, kulgrinda are all interesting. Could add more to the list later

[burdizzo1]

Seems like a lot of current "neofolk" has gone in a direction of more just being soft indie folk music or side project of metal dude with some vague appreciation of nature and trying to be as avoidant as possible of words like Julius Evola, Cornelius Codreanu, Karl Maria Wiligut or anything inspirational to volkish movements etc

Maybe this is just a personal take but it always seemed to me that it was this tension between traditional and industrial elements in Neofolk- samplers, noise, industrial elements fused with folk to make it something different than just folk music. Also thematically topics relevant to 20th century european culture and the decline of the west.

I also understand European projects slowly moving towards traditional instrumentation as this makes sense as a progression but I really don't think it makes sense to call any bearded guy with vanilla acoustic guitar neofolk, but really just indie folk.

off the top of my head besides the obvious larger artists I think early novy svet, voxus.imp, waldteufel, kulgrinda are all interesting. Could add more to the list later

Yeah, I'd agree with this: neo-folk has more or less had its day. Some reasonably interesting stuff from the Baltics (Romowe Rikoito, for one), but other than that... Darkwood are supposed to have a new one any day, and a couple of the better old martial projects (Sturmast, Kraschau) are making comebacks. What else? Ostara, Rome - are they really neo-folk? - still strumming away, and had a mid-week concert in London recently w/ Die Weisse Rose. Funny, with the rise of the right in Europe, you'd think there should be more of a market for the national-romantic stuff. Perhaps it's too gloomy, and instead of 'Death of the West', it should be upbeat and optimistic - 'Rebirth of the West'?!

[FreakAnimalFinland]

I would assume "rise of the right" happening in Europe may call for analysis what type of "right" it is. At least in Finland, they say we have the most right wing government at the moment, and I'd assume soundtrack for their worldview would be the bling bling hip hop pop music with a little dose of nostalgic finn rock, hah... 

Finnish neo folk, I guess language barrier may set it into margins of margins. Ruusuriimu is pretty new project that is both quite new, and not a right wing music project. When I first heard it, thought it does genre music pretty well, but that's about it. Seeing this live clip of their live gig displayed it is not all about sweet melancholic guitar strumming, but experimental elements play bigger role.
https://ruusuriimu.bandcamp.com/track/muistan-sinut-maa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyfuNvis36w

Not sure was it already mentioned, but Taivaskivi may not be "neofolk", but "expressionist acoustic guitar work", from project before Commando 15. It may work for those interested in acoustic guitar stuff that goes beyond the basic open chord strumming. There is a bit of american primitive guitar here too.
https://taivaskivi.bandcamp.com/album/lex-bothnia

Mentioning the acoustic primitive guitar, one could also mention Samuli Näsi. Have the tape and seen his only gig. There is modest noise connections here. I recall it was Residual who did some finishing touches for the mastering.
https://brownhillmafia.bandcamp.com/album/ruckus

Of course over here, Pyhä Kuolema, Tervahäät, Kaarna, all that doing things as always, but it probably doesn't seem very visible outside Finland?

[RURAL RESISTANCE]

Mentioning the acoustic primitive guitar, one could also mention Samuli Näsi. Have the tape and seen his only gig. There is modest noise connections here. I recall it was Residual who did some finishing touches for the mastering.
https://brownhillmafia.bandcamp.com/album/ruckus

Residual and Samuli Näsi actually collaborated as Dust Wound and one track is on the Brownhill Mafia compilation tape. But Ruckus was mixed and mastered by Iäinen who is also part of Liminal Archaeology.

[Zeno Marx]

Sangre de Muérdago put out another great album this year, but that's an annual event with them.

[post-morten]

Finnish neo folk, I guess language barrier may set it into margins of margins.

Would you say Iterum Nata is part of the Finnish scene? He opened up for King Dude here recently. Lone guy with guitar playing traditional folk tunes campfire style. Didn't get too much enthusiasm from the crowd...

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Iterum Nata, well, part of some scene of course, but I haven't considered it really be "neo folk". I would say that the "prog folk" type of thing is not "neofolk", even there would be some similarities.
New album appears more like atmospheric metal album really, but there is connection to even noise scene since project has played in same gigs with Mogao, Absolute Key and such. I'd assume his solo shows and the band material may be quite different.

I personally have pretty strong dislike for folk with current day studio production. Good musicians, studio production that resembles generic mainstream music you hear from radio. Material becoming so normal, so close to standards of mainstream music, feels regression to me. Compared to personality, weirdness, true experimentation, abstract and unsual elements, all things that comes from industrial side of the culture. In a way, Metsäkirkko or Nuori Veri, would be closer to spirit of neofolk, than something like pop-prog-folk-singer-songwriter kind of things. I am sure Iterum Nata would totally fit to warm-up King Dude!

[Cranial Blast]

Iterum Nata, well, part of some scene of course, but I haven't considered it really be "neo folk". I would say that the "prog folk" type of thing is not "neofolk", even there would be some similarities.
New album appears more like atmospheric metal album really, but there is connection to even noise scene since project has played in same gigs with Mogao, Absolute Key and such. I'd assume his solo shows and the band material may be quite different.

I personally have pretty strong dislike for folk with current day studio production. Good musicians, studio production that resembles generic mainstream music you hear from radio. Material becoming so normal, so close to standards of mainstream music, feels regression to me. Compared to personality, weirdness, true experimentation, abstract and unsual elements, all things that comes from industrial side of the culture. In a way, Metsäkirkko or Nuori Veri, would be closer to spirit of neofolk, than something like pop-prog-folk-singer-songwriter kind of things. I am sure Iterum Nata would totally fit to warm-up King Dude!

I agree! I think that is precisely what is interesting about that style of music for me as well. The more free flowing type of experimental aspects of it, that also seem as if they give a great nod to industrial music too. It's what separates it from other stuff. I think if one is looking for a more organized expression of "folk" elements, I'd say they'd fair better looking into something like Dordeduh or something maybe more metal inclined, but when it comes down to the hallmark traits of neofolk, still think the best of it resides in the more experimental area.

[xdementia]

off the top of my head besides the obvious larger artists I think early novy svet, voxus.imp, waldteufel, kulgrinda are all interesting. Could add more to the list later

Waldteufel's latest album is from 2007, is the project still active?

[Commander15]

I would assume "rise of the right" happening in Europe may call for analysis what type of "right" it is. At least in Finland, they say we have the most right wing government at the moment, and I'd assume soundtrack for their worldview would be the bling bling hip hop pop music with a little dose of nostalgic finn rock, hah... 

Finnish neo folk, I guess language barrier may set it into margins of margins. Ruusuriimu is pretty new project that is both quite new, and not a right wing music project. When I first heard it, thought it does genre music pretty well, but that's about it. Seeing this live clip of their live gig displayed it is not all about sweet melancholic guitar strumming, but experimental elements play bigger role.
https://ruusuriimu.bandcamp.com/track/muistan-sinut-maa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyfuNvis36w

Not sure was it already mentioned, but Taivaskivi may not be "neofolk", but "expressionist acoustic guitar work", from project before Commando 15. It may work for those interested in acoustic guitar stuff that goes beyond the basic open chord strumming. There is a bit of american primitive guitar here too.
https://taivaskivi.bandcamp.com/album/lex-bothnia

Mentioning the acoustic primitive guitar, one could also mention Samuli Näsi. Have the tape and seen his only gig. There is modest noise connections here. I recall it was Residual who did some finishing touches for the mastering.
https://brownhillmafia.bandcamp.com/album/ruckus

Of course over here, Pyhä Kuolema, Tervahäät, Kaarna, all that doing things as always, but it probably doesn't seem very visible outside Finland?

I agree with Freakanimalfinland on this matter. I don't think that the spirit of neofolk is really compatible with the rise of "populistic" right in Europe at all. I view the essence of neofolk to be more elitistic, spiritual and ambivalent than the materialistic and more banal right-wing party politics. It is more rooted in industrial culture and hauntological considerations than party politics. It really transcendents the political left and right paradigm.

[Cranial Blast]

I would assume "rise of the right" happening in Europe may call for analysis what type of "right" it is. At least in Finland, they say we have the most right wing government at the moment, and I'd assume soundtrack for their worldview would be the bling bling hip hop pop music with a little dose of nostalgic finn rock, hah... 

Finnish neo folk, I guess language barrier may set it into margins of margins. Ruusuriimu is pretty new project that is both quite new, and not a right wing music project. When I first heard it, thought it does genre music pretty well, but that's about it. Seeing this live clip of their live gig displayed it is not all about sweet melancholic guitar strumming, but experimental elements play bigger role.
https://ruusuriimu.bandcamp.com/track/muistan-sinut-maa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyfuNvis36w

Not sure was it already mentioned, but Taivaskivi may not be "neofolk", but "expressionist acoustic guitar work", from project before Commando 15. It may work for those interested in acoustic guitar stuff that goes beyond the basic open chord strumming. There is a bit of american primitive guitar here too.
https://taivaskivi.bandcamp.com/album/lex-bothnia

Mentioning the acoustic primitive guitar, one could also mention Samuli Näsi. Have the tape and seen his only gig. There is modest noise connections here. I recall it was Residual who did some finishing touches for the mastering.
https://brownhillmafia.bandcamp.com/album/ruckus

Of course over here, Pyhä Kuolema, Tervahäät, Kaarna, all that doing things as always, but it probably doesn't seem very visible outside Finland?

I agree with Freakanimalfinland on this matter. I don't think that the spirit of neofolk is really compatible with the rise of "populistic" right in Europe at all. I view the essence of neofolk to be more elitistic, spiritual and ambivalent than the materialistic and more banal right-wing party politics. It is more rooted in industrial culture and hauntological considerations than party politics. It really transcendents the political left and right paradigm.

I would assume "rise of the right" happening in Europe may call for analysis what type of "right" it is. At least in Finland, they say we have the most right wing government at the moment, and I'd assume soundtrack for their worldview would be the bling bling hip hop pop music with a little dose of nostalgic finn rock, hah... 

Finnish neo folk, I guess language barrier may set it into margins of margins. Ruusuriimu is pretty new project that is both quite new, and not a right wing music project. When I first heard it, thought it does genre music pretty well, but that's about it. Seeing this live clip of their live gig displayed it is not all about sweet melancholic guitar strumming, but experimental elements play bigger role.
https://ruusuriimu.bandcamp.com/track/muistan-sinut-maa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyfuNvis36w

Not sure was it already mentioned, but Taivaskivi may not be "neofolk", but "expressionist acoustic guitar work", from project before Commando 15. It may work for those interested in acoustic guitar stuff that goes beyond the basic open chord strumming. There is a bit of american primitive guitar here too.
https://taivaskivi.bandcamp.com/album/lex-bothnia

Mentioning the acoustic primitive guitar, one could also mention Samuli Näsi. Have the tape and seen his only gig. There is modest noise connections here. I recall it was Residual who did some finishing touches for the mastering.
https://brownhillmafia.bandcamp.com/album/ruckus

Of course over here, Pyhä Kuolema, Tervahäät, Kaarna, all that doing things as always, but it probably doesn't seem very visible outside Finland?

I agree with Freakanimalfinland on this matter. I don't think that the spirit of neofolk is really compatible with the rise of "populistic" right in Europe at all. I view the essence of neofolk to be more elitistic, spiritual and ambivalent than the materialistic and more banal right-wing party politics. It is more rooted in industrial culture and hauntological considerations than party politics. It really transcendents the political left and right paradigm.

I would assume "rise of the right" happening in Europe may call for analysis what type of "right" it is. At least in Finland, they say we have the most right wing government at the moment, and I'd assume soundtrack for their worldview would be the bling bling hip hop pop music with a little dose of nostalgic finn rock, hah... 

Finnish neo folk, I guess language barrier may set it into margins of margins. Ruusuriimu is pretty new project that is both quite new, and not a right wing music project. When I first heard it, thought it does genre music pretty well, but that's about it. Seeing this live clip of their live gig displayed it is not all about sweet melancholic guitar strumming, but experimental elements play bigger role.
https://ruusuriimu.bandcamp.com/track/muistan-sinut-maa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyfuNvis36w

Not sure was it already mentioned, but Taivaskivi may not be "neofolk", but "expressionist acoustic guitar work", from project before Commando 15. It may work for those interested in acoustic guitar stuff that goes beyond the basic open chord strumming. There is a bit of american primitive guitar here too.
https://taivaskivi.bandcamp.com/album/lex-bothnia

Mentioning the acoustic primitive guitar, one could also mention Samuli Näsi. Have the tape and seen his only gig. There is modest noise connections here. I recall it was Residual who did some finishing touches for the mastering.
https://brownhillmafia.bandcamp.com/album/ruckus

Of course over here, Pyhä Kuolema, Tervahäät, Kaarna, all that doing things as always, but it probably doesn't seem very visible outside Finland?

I agree with Freakanimalfinland on this matter. I don't think that the spirit of neofolk is really compatible with the rise of "populistic" right in Europe at all. I view the essence of neofolk to be more elitistic, spiritual and ambivalent than the materialistic and more banal right-wing party politics. It is more rooted in industrial culture and hauntological considerations than party politics. It really transcendents the political left and right paradigm.

I would assume "rise of the right" happening in Europe may call for analysis what type of "right" it is. At least in Finland, they say we have the most right wing government at the moment, and I'd assume soundtrack for their worldview would be the bling bling hip hop pop music with a little dose of nostalgic finn rock, hah... 

Finnish neo folk, I guess language barrier may set it into margins of margins. Ruusuriimu is pretty new project that is both quite new, and not a right wing music project. When I first heard it, thought it does genre music pretty well, but that's about it. Seeing this live clip of their live gig displayed it is not all about sweet melancholic guitar strumming, but experimental elements play bigger role.
https://ruusuriimu.bandcamp.com/track/muistan-sinut-maa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyfuNvis36w

Not sure was it already mentioned, but Taivaskivi may not be "neofolk", but "expressionist acoustic guitar work", from project before Commando 15. It may work for those interested in acoustic guitar stuff that goes beyond the basic open chord strumming. There is a bit of american primitive guitar here too.
https://taivaskivi.bandcamp.com/album/lex-bothnia

Mentioning the acoustic primitive guitar, one could also mention Samuli Näsi. Have the tape and seen his only gig. There is modest noise connections here. I recall it was Residual who did some finishing touches for the mastering.
https://brownhillmafia.bandcamp.com/album/ruckus

Of course over here, Pyhä Kuolema, Tervahäät, Kaarna, all that doing things as always, but it probably doesn't seem very visible outside Finland?

I agree with Freakanimalfinland on this matter. I don't think that the spirit of neofolk is really compatible with the rise of "populistic" right in Europe at all. I view the essence of neofolk to be more elitistic, spiritual and ambivalent than the materialistic and more banal right-wing party politics. It is more rooted in industrial culture and hauntological considerations than party politics. It really transcendents the political left and right paradigm.

I think that notion is indeed correct. Neofolk as a whole truly seems to transcend any sort of straight line and especially modern day politics, it's certainly a lot more esoteric in general and probably because of it being rooted in industrial culture like mentioned before is the most likely reason why.

[DrRichard]

It is more rooted in industrial culture and hauntological considerations than party politics.

A very classy way of saying "The Reich lost the war, the Aryan world empire will never happen, I'm going to sulk while strumming my guitar instead of trying to save what can be saved".