Metal Message Vol. V Pagan Metal Compilation Out Now!
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The Ironage Records folk metal compilation CD is now available to buy directly from Oakenshield at £5 (plus p&p). If you would like a copy, please email oakenshield@hotmail.co.uk with your name and address.
Demo Reviews "This demo is better than most full-length albums from much more well known artists" - Noktorn 8/10
Album Reviews
“Oakenshield’s Folk Metal captures the listener from the first second on.” - Metal.de(9/10)
“A first strike which does not have to shy away from comparisons with established bands of the genre.” - Nocturnal Hall(8.5/10)
"Spoken word passages, pipes & violin furthermore deepen the great atmosphere on this release so “Gylfaginning” has become a beautiful trip to coasts long forgotten." - Voices from the Dark Side Magazine
Click HERE for the Metal Message Oakenshield interview
The Story
Oakenshield began life in 2004 under the name of Nifelhel, a studio project of young Englishman Ben Corkhill. The early sound of the project was more brutal and war-like than the music you hear today, featuring no keyboards or clean vocals. After two self-produced and self-released CD’s under Nifelhel, Ben thought it was time to take a different approach to the music, and resolved to create Oakenshield. The new music would prove to be far more epic, bringing in more of a folk-like aspect while also introducing some progressive elements. Rather than producing lyrics about battles and journeys as had been done with Nifelhel, Ben wanted to produce a concept album. After reading through the legends, myths and lore of the Old Norse mythology, it was decided that the first book of the Prose Edda, "Gylfaginning" was the perfect choice for the album’s theme. Writing the material for the album started almost immediately and after some time the full eleven tracks were completed. In early 2007 four of these tracks – as well as a cover of Bathory’s "Home Of Once Brave” – were selected for a demo entitled simply "Gylfaginning Demo”. After spreading the word online, Oakenshield started to gain some acknowledgement through the internet, with a 7/10 review at Metal Storm and an upcoming review in the Pagan Herald. Demos were also sent out to various labels in Europe. Einheit Produktionen contacted Ben after hearing the CD, interested in working with him to produce and release Oakenshield’s first full-length. Eventually, after some months of emailing back and forth between Ben and the label, Oakenshield was officially signed to Einheit Produktionen in July 2007. On 28th June 2008 the debut album "Gylfaginning" was released through Einheit. The debut was met with extremely positive feedback from the press and the metal community. Oakenshield have since appeared on compilation CD's with LEGACY and TERRORIZER, two of Europe's leading extreme metal magazines.
Work on the next release will commence in the near future...
The Name
"Oakenshield" is taken from one of Tolkien's dwarves, Thorin Oakenshield. It is a literal English translation of the Old Norse "Eikinskjaldi", one of the first dwarves of the Norse mythology. Thorin Oakenshield was named so after he used an oak tree branch to defend himself when his shield was shattered at the battle of Azanulbizar. Sjúrður the dragon slayer was also said to have torn an oaken log from the ground in Regin's Ballad, which influenced Tokien's story of how Thorin received his title.
Oakenshield is not a supporter of National Socialism or any kind of Aryan supremacist ideology. Oakenshield is not affiliated with any political or religious organisation.
PENTAGRAM (CHL), die Veteranen des Old School Death- und Thrashmetal kommen nach Oberhausen. 1985 von Anton Reisenegger gegründet, hat diese Band die damals noch junge extrem Metal Szene tief beeinfluflt und mitgetragen. Ein absolutes muss für jeden Old School Thrasher!
18.07.2009 LIVE @ Helvete Club Oberhausen www.helvete.de
Proud to have you as my friend mate, really impressed with the wide range of metal chosen for Shield of Oak. Nice one man. A true credit to underground metal.
Unfortunately mounting setbacks are making me gradually more uncertain as to when it will see the light of day but I can assure you that's definitely a when.
Three years after
“Introduction to the slaughter of your gods”
we were back in the recording studio. With a new drummer and
guitarist we recorded “”V-666”.
The whole stuff is ready to download together with the cover. Enjoy!
Ostatni rozdział!
Po trzech latach,
które upłynęły od nagrania “Introduction to the
slaughter of your gods”
powróciliśmy do studia. Z nowymy ludźmi za bębnami i na
gitarze nagraliśmy ”V-666”.
Cały materiał jest do ściągnięcia wraz z okładką. Miłego
słuchania!
Hello again! Over the last week you had a chance to listen and download our first material “Awareness”. Now we want to let you do the same with our second demo(n) “Introduction to the slaughter of your gods”. After one and a half years after “Awareness”, in November 2001 we were ready to record our new songs. We had decided to change a studio which can be easily heard because the sound is much better than on our debut. What progress we had made musically you have to listen for yourselves. As previously you can download the cover. Enjoy! Czołem ponownie! Przez ostatni tydzień mieliście okazję posłuchać i zassać nasz debiutancki materiał “Awareness”. Chcemy Wam teraz zaproponować nasz kolejny stuff w całości, a mianowicie “Introduction to the slaughter of your gods”. Minęło 18 miesięcy od naszego pierwszego demo, a my już byliśmy gotowi nagrać nowe utwory. Tym razem zmieniliśmy studio, co można usłyszeć z łatwością gdyż sound jest dużo lepszy niż na pierwszym demo. A jak zmieniła się muzyka? Zapraszamy do posłuchania. Jak poprzednio udostępniamy wszystkie materiały graficzne. CORTEGE – Introduction to the slaughter of your gods (November 2001) 1.Intro 2.Inured to the sight of life 3.Beyond your ken 4.Bodies emptied from souls (rotting existence) 5.The jester 6.They hurt 7.Books of the ancient truths 8.Introduction to the slaughter gods
Hello there! In March 2000 we recorded our first demo tape called “Awareness”. You can listen to and download the whole demo and (+ cover) from our profile for the next whole week, so grab a beer and enjoy! Czołem! W marcu 2000 roku nagraliśmy nasze pierwsze demo “Awareness”. Przez kolejny tydzień możecie posłuchać i zassać całe demo (i okładkę) z naszego profilu. A więc browar w dłoń i miłego słuchania! CORTEGE – Awareness (March 2000) 1.Intro 2.Awareness 3.About Him (then) 4.Inner harmony of demons (instrumental) 5.Two coins 6.No wine 7.September 8.After midnight 9.Breath of the past (instrumental)
