While they generally focus on pagan folk and fantasy folk events, Idavoll decided to kick things up a notch to end 2024 and threw a folk metal night. Not too crazy a sidestep given how much overlap in people there is between the pagan folk & metal scenes. They put a lot of effort in making their events all ages, which seems to pay off, as we even spotted some kids running around. Never too early to start the young ones on some heavy music!

Skål, a largely instrumental party folk metal band from Wallonia, got to kick off the night. “Instrumental party folk”, you say? How does that work? By adding fun gimmicks and simple catchphrases for the crowd to shout along. The music is rather eclectic in style despite the name, keeping things fresh throughout. They’ve been around for several years already, and it shows in a very solid sound.

Next up were the locals from Hert. They blend the black-influenced pagan metal style with power metal and violin for some catchy tunes good for headbanging and jumping around.

Sorcières from France headlined the first (?) Metal Sessions. Unfortunately, without a drummer since last summer, though we heard a replacement has been found and is in training. They didn’t let that hold them back and brought some great, darker, witchy atmosphere to close the night with. Though we spotted dancing too!