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[miko2]

Today's Song: Ai Vis A Lo Lop by In Extremo

While screwing around on the internet this weekend tracking down obscure folk metal bands I cam across German band In Extremo. This is one of the many German Medieval bands that mixes ancient Medieval lyrics, melodies, and instruments with modern rock music. These bands come in a wide variety... from Faun who is a bit like a German Varttina to my ear (and has things in common with artists like Enya and Loreena McKennitt), to Adaro which is more pop-oriented folk (reminds me a little bit of Clannad, kinda) to Corvus Corvax which is loud rowdy Medieval folk music involving a lot of drum banging and shouting and loud wind instruments (sort of the "Stomp" version of German Medieval Rock) to Subway to Sally, which is a Medieval Rock/Folk/Punk band. Corvus Corvax also has a sister band which is metal oriented called Tanzwut, but when I downloaded one of their tracks from iTunes it was too hardcore industrial for my tastes.

Enter In Extremo... which for me is just about the perfect blend of Medieval folk and metal. My only real problem is that only a couple of their cds are on iTunes (and none on eMusic), so while I would like to feature the song Liam or maybe Vollmond, I'm picking a song that you can actually find on iTunes. So far I think Liam is my favorte song of theirs.

This band also does a nice cover of This Corrosion, my favorite tune from goth band The Sisters of Mercy. Where else will you find a goth standard played by half-naked Germans in kilts, Celtic tattoos, and playing lute, harp and homemade bagpipes? (Actually, how often do you find any metal band using bagpipes? Or anyone playing anything on homemade bagpipes?)

In Extremo - Ai Vis A Lo Lop
In Extremo - Vollmond
In Extremo - Liam
In Extremo - This Corrosion

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