Euro Folk Metal is a genre people either love (and lots and lots of beers can help anyone do that) or loathe for the, let's face it, silliness of it all (sorry, Napalm Records). It's sort of cool, all the pipes and whistles and dance-fantastic possibilities if the listener is inebriated or, again, just really, really into it, but those who don't get it probably stand on the sidelines, head tilted, wondering.

Swiss Folk Metal tandem ELUVEITIE are a different breed. Yes, anyone could imagine dancing in limited apparel amid the blazing sun and half-drunken pints at Wacken going off on this stuff, but for those who wish this genre was a little more muscular, these guys (and lovely ladies) have it covered. For while the Folk is certainly present, it's more of a shading rather than a primary color, and the throes of Melodic Death Metal provide the dominant servings. Therefore, it's pretty AND brutal, always a fine combination.

On ELUVEITIE's fourth album "Everything Remains (As It Never Was)", the clan is ready as ever to get legs moving and heads thrashing over these 13 tracks that contain a near handful of scene-setting intervals designed to let the listener gasp a breath. Fans of SOILWORK, IN FLAMES, and even the mighty IRON MAIDEN could find value here, gnashing away with the Celtic-flavored basher "Thousandfold" or even wailing away with a band of like-minded metalheads singing along to the anthemic "(Do)Minion".

Frontman/multi-instrumentalist Chrigel Glanzmann is in command, sharply growling his adventurous tales on the fiery title track and quaking "Kingdom Come Undone" (that one would leave anyone wood-winded), yet he's complemented by the gorgeously stunning backing sirens of Meri Tadic and Anna Murphy on pop-minded "Legdūnon" and the majestic "Quoth The Raven", which easily could break this band huge with anyone currently unfamiliar.

ELUVEITIE certainly aren't your everyday Pagan Folk tribe. They're better, punchier, and maybe a little more drunk, meaning this is bound to be a rowdier party than anyone imagined.