►► Huldufólk • Album • 2022 ◄◄
4 / 5
➤ "… has a very powerful, epic and encouraging feel … one can call it 'feel good' music but very Metal and never boring … CELTIC HILLS' music has grown on me quite quickly and I find myself rather happy to see this band creating more awe-inspiring albums."
(Knac COM)
9 / 10
➤ "... interesting fusion of Power Metal with Folk and melodic elements ... conveys the passion and love for the scene ... a promising band ... represents the creative ability of this Italian trio ... if you are a fan of the genre, this is an album you could definitely enjoy ..."
(La Magia Absalón)
13 / 15
➤ "… I'm honestly surprised why no major record company has knocked on the Italians' door yet ... great and extremely versatile Power Metal of the extra class!"
(My Revelations)
8,7 / 10
➤ "… the full focus on Power Metal makes them sound more impetuous, elegant and dynamic …"
(The Dark Melody)
85 / 100
➤ "… dealing with classic Power/Speed Metal known from German bands like Helloween and Gamma Ray … a good album, which is even really superb in many parts …"
(Epic Metal Blog)
85 / 100
➤ "... possesses the glory and power that lovers of Metal, whether classic, power, speed or epic, seek ... but always with CELTIC HILLS's originality ... improving from release to release the superb musical and lyrical foundation that sets them apart ... a long player not to be missed!"
(Loud And Proud Italy)
12 / 15
➤ "… the album offers only few breathers … maltreats the double bass … unpacks the wildest riffing … convince with their unrestrained joy of playing … those who like their Metal passionate and powerful can find their happiness here …"
(Legacy)
8 / 10
➤ "… and if the influences of bands like GAMMA RAY only came through sporadically on the predecessor, they become even more obvious this time ... full of power ... give me a lot of pleasure …"
(Saitenkult)
8 / 10
➤ "… where it is again Jonathan Vanderbilt's voice and his powerful guitar that unleash a majesty I haven't heard in power bands for a long time ... in typical Teutonic style ... a very good album ... for niche power lovers it could almost be a 10 …"
(Metallari Friuliveneziagiulia)
8 / 10
➤ "… a band that loves to modify itself, loves to change its skin, it's not easy to find bands like this and that above all obtain such a valuable result both from the point of view of sound and of the topics dealt with ('After The Earthquake' is a clear example) … a band to listen to and appreciate because they love their music and express it in the best possible way …"
(Hot Music Zine)
8 / 10
➤ "... we are dealing with a breaker, prisoners are not taken ... full speed ahead, without many flourishes or progressive sounds or breathers ... will please friends of Speed Metal ... every headbanger will celebrate it ..."
(Rocknews CH)
8 / 10
➤ "... combination of fantastic keyboards and very fast played guitars and drums that fit well into the Speed Metal drawer ... singer Jonathan swings confidently through all possible octaves, from low and rough to the Power Metal typical high pitches, creating a lot of variety ... energetic ... are just fun ..."
(Der Hörspiegel)
8 / 10
➤ "... I listened with great pleasure ... included is the amazing 'Metal Message', and yes, we should all send the message and spread our favourite Heavy Metal to the ends of the earth ... fantastic ... all very well framed by the music that pleases and excites us ... I really traveled with this album with the melody, the rhythm and the narrative nature of its presentation ... I highly recommend it!"
(Metalzone Hellas)
8 / 10
➤ "… a good, original work …"
(World Of Metal)
8 / 10
➤ "… again something special … great new compositions … extravagant music character … simply amazing … even more powerful, even more melodic, even more epic … hymnic refrains … every song has an enchanting magic … priceless musical jewels … imagine a weird edition of Gamma Ray with many folk, epic and true Metal elements … will become your company of a long, long time …"
(Myth Of Rock)
75 / 100
➤ "… a convincing record, capable of surprising and delighting its listeners as any good Metal album should do; to date it turns out to be Celtic Hills' most complete and mature work …"
(TrueMetal IT)
7,5 / 10
➤ "… promising ... typical Italo Power Metal with fast guitars, many melodies, a lot of double-bass, high vocals and anthemic choruses ... I feel reminded of their compatriots from Rhapsody, Labyrinth, Secret Sphere or Skylark ... of course the Finns Stratovarius or Helloween with Michael Kiske must not be missing in this listing …"
(Crossfire)
7,5 / 10
➤ "… mixture of speed, power and melodic Metal ... cool what the 3 hereby put on the legs ... some hits ... very strong performance …"
(Rock Garage)
7,5 / 10
➤ "... very distinctive ... a brisk and entertaining Speed/Power Metal album, which here and there brings back memories of Helloween, Primal Fear and Gamma Ray ..."
(Bleeding4Metal)
3,5 / 5
➤ "… more catchy melodic solutions … own recipe directed especially towards Power/Speed Metal … leaves us speechless … we cannot help but give top marks … the anthemic 'The Secret Of the Grail' and 'Metal Message' together with 'After the Earthquake' … very good musical compositions …"
(All Around Metal)
72 / 100
➤ "… quite catchy … a good example of a fresh and dynamic Metal that convinces … a pleasant and interesting record, you can feel the origins and influences of the trio, but also the imprint that leaves a personality like theirs … if you're a lover of the genre in question, don't miss this new release …"
(Metalwave)
7 / 10
➤ "... gripping, catchy tracks ... anthemic Power Metal ... solid silver disc ..."
(Obliveon)
7 / 10
➤ "… anthem-oriented ... melodic ... for fans who swear by classic Melodic Heavy/Power Metal between Dragonforce, Majestica, Helloween, Trick Or Treat and Skeletoon. …"
(FFM-Rock)
3,5 / 5
➤ "… Fans of Labyrinth, Rhapsody and the like, could discover a pearl for the shelf here ... many moments worthy of enthusiasm ... leave hardly anything to be desired in the spectrum of Melodic Power Metal with 'Huldufolk' …"
(Metal Underground AT)
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
➤ "An intense album from beginning to end, fast, versatile, with tremendous riffs, excellent structure and no weak points with a great production. First level Power Metal."
(Metal Pedia)
➤ "… fast-paced sounds and high, fervent vocals - just the way the fans like it. From this develops a strong dynamic that simply carries away and therefore fans of the genre should definitely give the Italians a chance …"
(Metalmamas Neuigkeiten)
➤ "… it’s impossible to me to say that it’s predictable … this combination of Power Metal with many Symphonic elements is the thing that attracts me the most. Add to that all the epic feeling and emotional mooding with insane guitars and flawless instrumentals my dear fan will get what I call best moments of Power Metal …"
(Metal Addicts)
➤ "… a strong ‘Speed Metal/Prog Metal’ combination with some fantastic theatrical themes and elements mixed in for a more ‘grand’ feel and polished production … badass album … literally got everything a Metal head could want: -Conceptuality -Technicality -Creativity -Powerful vocals -Savage instrumentation …"
(Asphyxium Zine)
➤ "Epic album, fast, strong and great. 3rd LP with great chorus, verses and memorable guitar solos, a pleasant and fabulous experience. Excellent example of Melodic/Power fusion."
(Riff Of Metal)
➤ "This record exceeded all expectations and created a 'Metal Album Of The Year' contender!"
(Sagas Metal Podcast)
➤ "... gives the listener a chance to forget his worries for the forty-five-plus minutes during which the band belts out one Gamma Ray-inspired anthem after another in exuberant, hard-to-resist style ... trigger outbreaks of fistbang mania all over the continent ... nothing unusual - but since when is creating simple, easily digestible, sing-along Heavy Metal something that should be criticized?"
(Sentinel Daily)
➤ "… solid Power Metal ... light Rhapsody (Of Fire) vibes ... well implemented ... every fan of the genre can certainly be pleased with this …"
(MetalZone - Support The Underground)
➤ "… a masterful recording … takes the listener through a fantastical journey and keeps us wanting more … powerful, melodic, and full of remarkable musicianship … many of the songs are sweeping … if you love melodic, thrashy powerful songs then you will definitely dig CELTIC HILLS' 3rd full-length release …"
(CGCM Radio)
➤ "… dynamic and richly complex intensity of the riffs, vocals … thunderous rhythm section … a monster of an album … totally rocks …"
(Brews And Tunes)
➤ "The mixture of elements from different Metal genres makes 'Huldufólk' an interesting choice for those who like Power!"
(El Lado Oscuro Metal)
➤ "… the compositions with more of a Power and Heavy Metal component have a huge appeal … still have a Melodic Death and Thrash style, but they sound very, very good … Italy is doing its bit!"
(Nada Hay Bajo El Sol)
➤ "… pure Power Metal … on top of that comes a classic Power Metal voice with a lofty delivery, as it should be … this band can easily compete with like-minded colleagues …"
(Wings Of Death)
➤ "... prove that they could be one of the greats ... a power-packed, varied and intensely penetrating album á la Hammerfall, Helloween, Primal Fear or Gamma Ray ... not a single failure ... convincing all along the line ..."
(BlattTurbo)
➤ "... a band with a strong personality … 'Huldufólk' is a good Power Metal album that will please fans of the genre and more classical sounds."
(The Murder Inn)
➤ "… melodic power that does not neglect decidedly heavier episodes … mix of Thrash, Power, Folk and Melodic Death … appreciated the band's technical preparation; these are personalities who know their instrument well … I applaud Vanderbilt's solo and vocal performance, as he offers a timbre well suited to the genre and a guitar preparation that shines on several occasions …"
(Italia Di Metallo)
➤ "… really cool … lots of fun … guitars are amazing … drums sound fantastic … love the flute they thrown in … great job …"
(The Wolf HunterZ)
➤ "… epic … very special … catches your ear … a really effective and convincing band that has managed to evolve a lot over the years … excellent … a real pleasure …"
(Heavy Metal Maniac IT)
►► Mystai Keltoy • Album • 2021 ◄◄
[ Artwork: Sheila Franco ]
90 / 100
➤ "... an album with high energy ... strong riffs ... very, very melodic ... 'Mystai Keltoy' will enchant you!"
(Darkzen Dragon)
9 / 10
➤ "... should easily make hearts beat faster ... convince with their versatility ... downright awe-inspiringly powerful ... Jonathan Vanderbilt's incomparable voice ... the very casually interspersed guitar solos kick without equal ... recommendation!"
(KOBZR Magazine)
9 / 10
➤ "... these guys from Friuli really know what they're doing … well done and well produced, far from any schemes … finally someone dared to do something different and honestly I have to say that they succeeded … a valuable product that needs to be raised, spread and finally listened to, because CELTIC HILLS have so much to say ..."
(Hot Music Zine)
9 / 10
(Terroraiser)
4 / 5
➤ "This Italian power trio gives it all in glorious Power Metal fervor ... a great listening pleasure ... very catchy riffs and beats ... CELTIC HILLS have a sound here that should catapult them to the Metal masses."
(Metal Rules)
86 / 100
➤ "... powerful ... between power, symphonic and classic Heavy Metal ... will not disappoint any listener who was at different times respectively a 'Defender Of The Faith', a fan of the Pumpkins, the German Pirates or disciples of the best Primal Fear."
(Loud And Proud IT)
8,5 / 10
➤ "… intensive …"
(World Of Metal)
8,5 / 10
➤ "... great blend of '80s Power Metal, Symphonic Metal á la Blind Guardian and Thrash Metal of the German variety ... remarkable hybrid ... a number of earworms ... Jonathan's voice that instantly creates that trademark factor ..."
(Stalker Magazine)
8,5 / 10
➤ "… a unique album ... singer and guitarist Jonathan Vanderbilt, who can charm with his voice and create the right mood ... is not lacking elements of Iron Maiden, Iced Earth or Metal Church ... extremely attractive ... exceptionally original ... imaginative riffs, addictive riffs and hit melodies are the strengths …"
(Power Metal Warrior)
8 / 10
➤ "… a great, powerful album, which on the one hand never lacks the necessary harshness, but on the other hand, thanks to symphonic undertones, also puts a lot of emphasis on atmosphere and a mystical aura ... catchy tunes galore, where especially singer Jonathan shows his skills …"
(Powermetal DE)
8 / 10
➤ "Powerful and massive ... powerful solos ... dense rhythm ... interesting album ... tells the legends of the Celts living in Friuli and shows a band passionate about certain topics and pays homage to their homeland through music."
(Giornale Metal IT)
8 / 10
➤ "… difficult to assign to one genre ... very varied ... on the one hand there are tracks between Power- and Death Metal as well as numbers that could rather be assigned to Symphonic Metal or even Hard Rock ... technically very well recorded ... songwriting and musicality are creative and diverse, the sound impressively crisp …"
(Rocknews CH)
8 / 10
➤ "… good surprise and great sound ... Power Thrash of the most sympathetic kind ... will make solo lovers happy ... recommended for all heavy fans who like to listen to new bands to get some freshness."
(Soil Chronicles)
8 / 10
➤ "I especially like vocalist and guitarist Jonathan, who has an expressive and powerful voice with good vibrato, giving the songs originality ... also the use of keyboards is different from typical modern Power Metal ... in the songwriting there is a certain light touch of classical and folk ... people who prefer to listen to stuff from the 80s and 90s, but still need new music from time to time should definitely risk an ear."
(Der Hörspiegel)
8 / 10
➤ "… 100 percent Metal ... is really worthy of attention ... I was quite impressed …"
(Powerplay)
8 / 10
➤ "Already the first listen pleases ... full of natural energy, full of power, full of melodies ... the heart is formed by melodic Power Metal ... many times lightning finger riffs ... some sounds like a mixture of old Helloween and Iron Maiden ... a more than decent work …"
(Bleeding4Metal)
8 / 10
➤ "The marching route points north, catchy Heavy Metal riffs mesh with thrashy sound patterns ... Jonathan cuts a fine figure at the microphone ... again and again crashing melodies like cannon blasts …"
(Time For Metal)
12 / 15
➤ "Epic and elegiac ... possesses a raw underground charm ... inspire ... by the hooks and powerful vocals ... the full anthem board ... Royal class of classic Heavy Metal."
(Legacy)
75 / 100
➤ "What impresses the most while listening is the conviction, the confession as well as the faith that Vanderbilt and his band put into each and every note ... a precious album …"
(TrueMetal IT)
75 / 100
➤ "For fans of eccentric Folk/Power/Speed, there's a lot to like here ... powerful, practical and has an interesting Celtic touch ... amazing what this band does."
(Zware Metalen)
7,5 / 10
➤ "… Jonathan Vanderbilt's voice has developed. In some places he reminds of a young Ralf Scheepers ... thus large parts of the album also sound like old Gamma Ray ... a strong and quite independent album ... hard and with depth …"
(Streetclip)
7,5 / 10
➤ "… melodic, powerful and symphonic, with great melodies, a lot of double-bass, a singer in high pitches and with pompous choirs ... influences of Judas Priest, Primal Fear or Vicious Rumors ... Friends of Italian Metal, but also of Power Metal in general, will surely discover a little cracker for themselves here."
(Crossfire Metal)
7,5 / 10
➤ "… musically more varied ... full of interesting moments ... Heavy Metal riffs that strongly trigger adrenaline-containing discharges ... excellent songs ... great guitar work ... another excellent album by a musician with a thousand ideas ... so much passion …"
(TuttoRock)
7,5 / 10
➤ "… evocative ... epic ... really well done ... a mature and personal work …"
(Mister Folk)
7 / 10
➤ "… Power Metal of the harder variety, where I would use Primal Fear and Judas Priest as a comparison ... a plus point is the variable vocals of Vanderbilt, who can sing clean but also sometimes grunt properly ... a good record with an interesting story."
(FFM-Rock)
7 / 10
➤ "… makes your jaw drop first ... by the powerful, strongly played Metal, which sounds like a more epic version of Running Wild, not only because of the voice of Jonathan Vanderbilt, who is also a guitarist …"
(Rock Castle Franken)
7 / 10
➤ "… brilliantly solved ... does not miss its effect ... the right balance between heart and head …"
(Metal IT)
3,5 / 5
➤ "… captivating ... the right way …"
(All Around Metal)
3,5 / 5
➤ "'Mystai Keltoy' will blow your mind, so heavy and detailed it sounds, leaving you eager for more once it's over, keeping the fires of Italian Metal burning bright thanks to the great work done by the unstoppable CELTIC HILLS."
(The Headbanging Moose)
➤ "The songs of CELTIC HILLS bring us back to the world of the Celts, whose cult and mystery embellish a truly beautiful album …"
(SOund36)
➤ "… explosive and fiery ... extraordinary bursts of frenetic guitar work ... muscular vocal style ... solid production …"
(The Razors Edge)
➤ "… one of the most exciting records I've heard in recent months ... powerful, damn powerful! ... tremendous adrenaline supply ... a real power trio! The powerful-rough, extremely variable vocals of Jonathan Vanderbilt are especially impressive, also due to a high recognition value ... buy recommendation …"
(Epic Metal Blog)
➤ "… interesting band ... 11 heavy tracks enriched by epic and even symphonic facets, where the powerful and menacing voice of Jonathan Vanderbilt stands out from the setlist soundtracks ... powerful and massive ... the soundtrack of a journey into history …"
(DrumClub Magazine)
➤ "The various influences can be heard very clearly and CELTIC HILLS manage to combine them skillfully. The result is a powerful, varied and intensely penetrating Power Metal album á la Majesty, Hammerfall or Iced Earth with a touch of Machine Head."
(BlattTurbo)
➤ "… best suited for fans of Heavy or Power Metal who prefer a very fast playing style ... varied guitar playing ... very expressive …"
(Metalmamas Neuigkeiten)
➤ "… very powerful ... like the more extreme sounds of Manowar ... epic moments, power moments, Thrash moments, and this diversity does the album good ... considerable potential, also on a commercial level ... with their sound, reminiscent of a certain Teutonic Metal of the 80s, they could certainly have success beyond the Alps …"
(Italia Di Metallo)
Action: | CELTIC HILLS |
Base: | Udine • Italy |
Genre: | Power Metal |
Title: | Huldufólk |
FFO: | Helloween, Primal Fear, Gamma Ray |
Format: | Album |
Label: | Elevate Records |
Release: | April 01, 2022 |
Jonathan 'Thunderbuilt' Vanderbilt felt multiply inspired during the songwriting for the 3rd album "Huldufólk" by the close, communicative exchange and the many private experience reports of the longtime German Heavy Metal enthusiast.
After all, in addition to gigantic musical passion and fully consolidated attitude, both sides also share a spiritual, intimate connection to Mother Nature - which comes to the fore in the video by the word crossing "Hearth" - 'Heart' & 'Earth'. Therefore Markus can also be seen on his hikes & rambles in the video.
In the core of the song lyrics, the work and creativity of Markus is sung about, who - to a certain extent as a Metal time traveler like the world-famous "Dr. Who" - has already been on the road in the wide music universe since the early 1980s.
Markus Eck himself says:
"I don't know if this huge honor has ever been bestowed upon any other promoter. I am deeply touched and happy about such a unique appreciation and very much looking forward to further, both sides so all-round happy cooperation with CELTIC HILLS. My very best wishes to Jonathan and the band - METAL is the MESSAGE!"
Band comments:
"'After The Earthquake' is a song that tells of the strength and aggregation of the people after the terrible earthquake of May 6, 1976 in Friuli. A text that tells the tenacity, the solidarity for what has gone down in history as the Great Reconstruction of Friuli. A hymn to remain united and help each other during the tragedies that afflict the peoples of the whole earth."
"Huldufólk" sees a shift in the sounds of CELTIC HILLS towards a melodic Power Metal, not denying however the powerful sounds that have distinguished them from the beginning. Also in this album the lyrics speak of stories related to the band's territory, namely Friuli and the north east of Italy.
FLASHBACK:
On April 16, 2021 Elevate Records released the official music video for the album song "The Tomorrow Of Our Sons":
CELTIC HILLS are a trio consisting of Jonathan Vanderbilt on guitars and vocals, Jacopo Novello on bass and Simone Cescutti on drums.
The stylistically unwavering formation was brought to life in 2010 - but it was to take a few more years before the world would get wider notice of their rock-solid and independent POWER METAL. Between 2010 and 2020 they circulated their demo "Horns Helmet Fighters" in the underground.
So, with great enthusiasm, CELTIC HILLS decided to go back to the studio to record the second album "Mystai Keltoy", produced and recorded by Michele Guaitoli, vocalist of Temperance, Vision Of Atlantis and Era.
Power, speed and good melodic lines characterize CELTIC HILLS. The played style of the fervent Udinians is difficult to classify into a single Metal vein, as there are many influences ranging from Death to Power, with sound elements that can also remind of a certain kind of 90s Thrash. The vocals are also quite varied for a Metal band and may even seem quite unusual to some listeners.
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