PAGANFEST USA definitely makes it in the top 5 shows I attended in 2008 (along with such epics as Judas Priest and Barlow’s glorious return to Iced Earth). It was an amazing way to kick off Chicago Powerfest, and it was an outstanding lineup of bands in it’s own right. Eluveitie and Turisas blew me away, and though I wasn’t (and still am not) a huge fan of Tyr, I do have to say that they played a good show. Headliners Ensiferum closed out the night in such glorious folk metal fashion, I think most of the concertgoers didn’t even mind they were watching 4 shirtless, sweaty, longhaired Finns in skirts. It was certainly much more badass than that last sentence makes it out to be.

Well, to the glee of metalheads far and wide who enjoyed last year’s show, organizers Rock The Nation America have announced the second annual folk-fueled metalfest will be making it’s way across the U.S. of A. this upcoming year! This year’s installment will feature some truly phenomenal bands, such as fellow Finns Korpiklaani & Moonsorrow, Ireland’s Primodial, & Switzerland’s Eluveitie (who I am supremely happy to see returning from last year’s bout). Opening the show will be Canada’s Blackguard (formerly known as Profugus Mortis) and New Jersey’s own axeshredding freebooters Swashbuckle.

I’m not really clear on the promoter’s choice of Swashbuckle to open the show, considering what I’ve heard of their material sounds more along the lines of thrash than anything else… sure, they can dress like pirates all they want, but that doesn’t make them folkmetal (and since when are pirates “folksy”??). I am excited to check out Korpiklaani however. MetalSucks.com described the single “Metsämies” from their newest album Korven Kuningas as doing “a damn fine job of sounding like the Tetris theme music in metal form without actually being the Tetris theme music in metal form.” Their material is very high energy which of course means it will be perfect to drunkenly jig to. And I will be bringing my drunken jigging shoes, you can be sure of that. I can’t wait.

Expect to see some photos and news on just how much ass this year’s fest kicks when I hit up the opening night of Chicago Powerfest May 7th. To check out some tunes from this year’s installment, click the links I’ve so kindly provided below:

Korpiklaani: Official MySpace
Eluveitie: Official MySpace
Primordial: Official MySpace
Moonsorrow: Official MySpace
Blackguard: Official MySpace
Swashbuckle: Official MySpace