Band of the week 29/2026
Origin: Netherlands
Genre: Epic Folk Metal
Hier geht’s zur deutschen Version.
The band about itself:
Ilmarinen is an Epic Folk Metal band from the Netherlands. Through their music, and an eccentric stage show, they aspire to tell old folktales, legends and myths to their audience. The music is a blend of metal and folk music. Loud grunts and distorted guitars combined with danceable folk instruments like the violin and whistles. The keyboards add an orchestral layer, to put the „Epic“ in Folk Metal.
Editorial commentary:
Search for the name Ilmarinen and you end up in finnish mythology: Ilmarinen is the eternal smith of the Kalevala, who forged the Sampo, a magical artefact and shaped the sky itself. A band from the Netherlands carrying that name sounds odd at first. Once you hear them, it makes sense.
The sextet around keyboarder Wesley has reshuffled its lineup a few times since forming in 2016. Today it’s Paul on vocals, Chris on guitar, Roy on bass, Rutger on drums, Kasper on violin and Wesley on keys. Live, the whole thing is more than just a show: the audience gets recruited as an army, dragged into an adventure and collectively tasked with taking down an evil king. That sounds more ridiculous than it is. Anyone who’s been there will want to go back again.
Sonically, Ilmarinen sit somewhere between Turisas and Finntroll: grunts, guitars, folk melodies, Kasper’s violin holding it all together and the keyboard laying the orchestral frame over everything. The genre is familiar, the formula too. But the band believes in what they’re doing so obviously that you stop caring.
On December 21st, 2025, the shortest day of the year, Ilmarinen released Ascension, their first full-length album. Six tracks, the first half of a two-part story following Ragnar Lodbrok’s journey east into the world of the Kalevala. Compared to the Gold EP from 2023, there’s more space here, more tension in the songwriting. The melodies hit just as hard, but this time the record stands on its own. It doesn’t feel like a promise. It feels finished. Though part two is welcome anytime.
Music recommendation:
Live-Dates:
19.09.2926 Zillebeke BE – Devil‘ Rock
13.2.2027 Apeldoorn NL – March Into Walhalla
26.2. – 27.2.2027 Oberhausen – Mead & Greed
Links:
Webseite
Bandcamp
Facebook
Instagram
Spotify
YouTube
Band of the week is our weekly posting about a band we recommend and is posted every Tuesday at 8pm (CEST). These are bands that are either just at the beginning of their career or we think they should receive more attention.
You can also find all the bands we’ve featured this year in our playlist on Spotify!
Antworten