‘Reader of the Runes – Luna’ is the final part in a trilogy that, in my opinion, forms Elvenking’s best work to date. After experimenting with different styles, the Italian sextet found out that folky power metal is what they do best around the time ‘The Pagan Manifesto’ (2014) was conceived, and they perfected the formula on the previous two ‘Reader of the Runes’ albums. ‘Reader of the Runes – Luna’ isn’t quite as dark as ‘Reader of the Runes – Rapture’ (2023) or as immediate as ‘Reader of the Runes – Divination’ (2019), but it once again shows a knack for catchy power metal songwriting.

While Elvenking is one of the pioneers of folk metal, I hesitate to use that moniker for what they are doing these days. Sure, the melodies are generally quite folky, and Lethien is one of the very few violinists in the genre who truly understands how to enhance the music even if folky melodies aren’t front and center, but ultimately, singer Damna and guitarist Aydan excel at writing uncomplicated power metal songs with huge choruses. ‘Reader of the Runes – Luna’ is exactly that, but with slightly more subtle hooks that need a little more time to sink in than before.

Although that might come off as criticism, ‘Reader of the Runes – Luna’ may actually the Elvenking album with the most replay value. Its secrets reveal themselves over time and it feels less like you’re moving from chorus to chorus as a listener. For example: ‘On These Haunted’ shores has a fairly big chorus, but also is one of the album’s more dynamic tracks due to how its pulsating melodeath-style riffs and the more tranquil interludes enhance each other. It resembles the “let’s throw everything against the wall and see what sticks” approach of Elvenking’s 2001 debut ‘Heathenreel’, but with an increased understanding of their own sound, and songwriting in general.

If you’re just here for a good, hooky power metal song, Elvenking still has got you covered. Opening track ‘Season of the Owl’ is the most successful take at it, in my opinion. I am quite fond of the more epic power metal approach of songs like ‘Throes of Atonement’, the interestingly structured, cinematic semi-ballad ‘The Weeping’, and the dynamic ‘Starbath’, which might have the best riffs and melodies on the album. ‘The Ghosting’ experiments with a more subdued, darker style that creates an awesomely haunting atmosphere, while the eleven-minute closer ‘Reader of the Runes – Book II’ feels like a victory lap – though a fairly melancholic one – across all approaches of the past three albums.

Maybe it was the overarching ‘Reader of the Runes’ concept, but Elvenking truly outdid themselves on these three albums, and I hope they will continue to do so on whatever they release next. There aren’t many bands attempting this balance between power metal, folk metal and subtle hints of thrash metal and melodeath in the riffing. And really, the only thing I can think after hearing ‘Reader of the Runes – Luna’ is: why not? If you wish Orden Ogan wasn’t quite so bombastic, Falconer was more unequivocally metal, or folk metal in general wasn’t quite so drinking song-oriented, all three of Elvenking’s ‘Reader of the Runes’ albums are for you.

Recommended tracks: ‘Starbath’, ‘Reader of the Runes – Book II’, ‘Season of the Owl’