Visions From A Crystal Light is a stellar debut for Mirrorshield

I think you’d be hard pressed to find a band quite like Mirrorshield.

Sure, over the years you may have come across pirate metal, viking metal or pagan metal, but high-fantasy infused symphonic folk metal? That’s a new one. 

Set amongst the ash-riddled ruins of Eremoss, the groups debut, Visions From A Crystal Light, invites listeners into a reverie of 11 high-fantasy tales that’ll have you ready to race through the woods on horseback, sword in-toe. 

Mirrorshield – Visions From A Crystal Light

• Label: Independent
• Release: 12 Dec

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From the whimsical fables of PixieDruid Nif Petalfig to the horrific battles of Eldenblot, Visions From A Crystal Light impressively hones in on narrative, foley and obscure synth settings to create traditional medieval folk soundscapes, which are then matched alongside deeply lore-ridden tales and tech-heavy power metal riffs. Kind of like if Jethro Tull’s Thick As A Brick and Children of Bodom’s Follow The Reaper had a baby, and that baby caught up with Judas Priest’s Painkiller for a game of Dungeons and Dragons.

For those less interested in the albums narrative, tracks like ‘Woods of Oraya’ and ‘Osthill Mystic’ lean into traditional power metal, delivering adrenaline fuelled, riff-heavy shred-fests, while ‘Dawns Embrace’ and ‘Battlemage Requiem’ toy with folk-driven balladry, tying in inclusions of the mandolin, slower tempos and ritualistic chants.

It definitely won’t be for everyone, but for those that like something a bit different, Visions From A Crystal Light is a fun release that you can’t help but get lost in – as if it’s a soundtracking a movie that’s only playing in your mind. Even if it’s not for you, it’s hard not to admire the originality.

Listen to the debut album for Mirrorshield here.

Words by Alex Callan