Fields of Mildew - IV (2025)

Fields of Mildew is a one-man band, described on his Bandcamp page as "a German minimalist folk project originally inspired by the area around the Teufelsmoor with a conceptual focus on the late 19th/early 20th century rural life. Founded in 2015." IV is its second album. It's one of the best folk album I've heard in recent years, excelling at building a melancholic atmosphere (could also be described as dark folk and could evokes also neofolk), with great guitar playing (mostly acoustic) and vocals. I really enjoy listening to it when I'm not in the mood for roaring guitars and screams.

 

The BC page. 

 

Ramleh - Hyper Vigilance (2025)

Hyper Vigilance, the new Ramleh album keeps the psychedelic noise rock formula of the two previous albums, but is also enriching it with new elements and more diversity overall. The main new thing is the use in several songs of acoustic guitars, bringing a somewhat neofolk feel at times, with also more vocals, and on the other hand there are some harsher industrial/noise moments, making it maybe the most interesting of recent Ramleh albums. In any case, it's another awesome addition to their fantastic discography. One of my favourite album for this first half of the year. Totally recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

Shannon Rowley - The King Departs (2022)

You can always count on Svart Records for delivering something unusual, and of quality. The first album from Shannon Rowley, released in 2022 and called The King Departs could be described as an unusual take on dark americana, but it's also rocking, there's a haunted intensity and epicness that evokes heavy metal (there's a Hallowed Be Thy Name something in the first track, Says The Dead Sailor). I suppose Son House covering Birthday Party and Iron Maiden would have produced a similar vibe.  Yes, it's that good. 

The BC page.

 

Wovenhand - Silver Sash (2022)

David Eugene Edwards, mainman of Wovenhand (singer/guitarist/composer) has first been known as the leader of 16 Horsepower and their dark armericana/gothic folk feel also lives in Wovenhand (which has now released more albums than 16H I believe). But Wovenhand is also even more a rock band, and their new album Silver Sash, following the path taken by other recent albums, is rocking harder than ever. One way or another they manage to always keep the intensity at a high level and it's good.

Wovenhand website

 

Of The Wand & The Moon - Your Love Can't Hold The Wreath Of Sorrow (2021)

I usually don't listen to a lot of neofolk, but I listen a lot to the new Of The Wand & The Moon called Your Love Can't Hold The Wreath Of Sorrow. Excellent from start to end, with many memorable songs / tracks, of different kinds (dark folk parts of course but also noise, spoken words...). Great melodies and atmosphere. Easily one of my favourite albums this year (well, last year now, but I still listen to it).

The Bandcamp page.