The Swedish band Fejd is a riveting fusion of metal and Nordish folk music. As their web site describes it, the combination of genres incorporates “the best of both worlds - the weight of heavy metal in symbiosis with the typical melodic language and sadness of the nordic folk music.”

The artists have three downloadable albums available. Eld is their latest recording. While the rock elements are strong, the overall feeling is folkish and traditional. Instruments such as bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy, and moraharpa mixes easily with keyboards, bass, and drums. The biggest surprise is how full their sound is considering there are no electric guitars. The vocals are hearty and full of emotion. The title track is an especially powerful example. It starts acoustically with a masculine vocal that is soon equaled by a solid wall of sound. I also like the first track “Bergakungen”, a powerful vocal acompanied by jew-harp, moraharpa, and a beat somewheres between rock and jig.

The albums Huldran and I En Tid Som Var gives us more of this fascinating folk-rock hybrid. Actually the folk elements are even more in the foreground than on Eld. Of these two, I prefer I en Tid Som Var which has a dancable quality. Give all three a listen.

The three albums are available in 128kbps MP3.

Download
Eld (no longer free)
Huldran
I en tid som var