Skaldic Metal from the Veluwe
Now that the season of the deer rut approaches, and loud mating calls can be heard echoing through the forest, a long-awaited moment has come: ALVENRAD’s momentous new album!
Standing on the shoulders of giants such as Borknagar, Vintersorg, Falkenbach, Enslaved, Empyrium, Ancient Rites & Heidevolk to bring you their third album, ALVENRAD proudly presents Veluws IJzer (Veluwian Iron), which honours the nature, history, and folklore of one of the largest lowland forest areas in Western Europe. Conceptually drawing from the iron that was delved in these moraine hills for centuries, they have forged their strongest work to date, taking the listener on a journey over endless heath and through lonely woodland to the heart of the Veluwe.
Veluws IJzer will see its release on the 23rd September 2022, the autumn equinox. The music offers balanced diversity from exalted clean vocals to ghastly screams, from energetic metal compositions and orchestral swells to folk music; all expertly intertwined. This is accompanied by fascinating artwork from Gust van de Wall Perné (1877 – 1911)* featured most notably in the album booklets (CD & Vinyl).
Staande op de schouders van reuzen: Borknagar, Vintersorg, Falkenbach, Enslaved, Empyrium, Ancient Rites, Heidevolk.
As free-spiritedly as ever, though always mindful of their unique heritage, ALVENRAD continues to blaze their own trail. Tales of medieval metallurgy, barren heathlands, the deer rut, a realm of saga’s, battle for existence and the mythical origin story of the Veluwe are all interwoven with Germanic alliteration in the lyrics, local dialect, and folk music from the Netherlands. The band also reached out to Veluwian locals for a helping hand and added depth to their stories.
Alvenrad are:
Jasper Strik – keys, vocals
Mark Bertszoon – vocals, guitar
Nathanael Taekema – drums
Thijs Kwint – bass
Featuring the following seasoned guest musicians: Tineke Roseboom (classical singer of Bach en Händel), Thomas Cochrane (Vetrar Draugurinn, ex-Ancient Rites, brass), Hanna van Gorcum (works with Heidevolk, violin), Antal van Ass (Boanna Boyne, recorder), Rosie Taekema (Ayreon Project, cello), Thirza Fekkes (Ayreon Project, woodwinds).
Drums recorded in E-Sound Studio’s. All other recordings in Luidheim studio in the Wenummermarke. Mixing and mastering by Markus Stock (Ash of Ashes, Hel). Self-published under the label Luidheim.
*Gust van de Wall Perné dedicated his heart and soul (as have ALVENRAD) to Veluwian and Nordic mythology. This was best expressed in his renowned work Veluwsche Sagen.
Veluws IJzer is available on the following formats: gatefold 12” vinyl, jewelcase cd and all common digital channels.
