If genres were tradable stocks, I’d be dumping my finances into power metal— the style continues to dominate across Europe, with groups like Sabaton and Powerwolf leading the righteous charge. German octet Feuerschwanz are yet another band riding that slipstream, with their particularly non-serious brand of metal antics winning over scores of fans. Listening to new record ‘Knightclub,’ it’s not hard to see why: though Feuerschwanz may not be taking full advantage of their folk roots, their hilarious shenanigans are more than enough to get the place jumping.

Diving into an album as jovial as this, we may as well rid ourselves of our most scathing critique from the off: if other bands in the genre are pushing the envelope, Feuerschwanz have been forgotten in the back of a Royal Mail van. The band’s eight members are extraordinarily talented, with a résumé including proficiency in bagpipes, harps, mandolins, flutes, hurdy-gurdies and much, much more. On ‘Knightclub’ though, these varied elements are often reduced to orchestral fluff behind each arrangement, finding a role in filling out the sound rather than defining it. Take ‘Valhalla’ for instance, which cuts particularly close to traditional power metal— taken on face value, the band seem to have no reservations burying their eclectic instruments under the booming guitars and drums. Of course, these elements do wander into the spotlight occasionally, as they do throughout ‘Sam The Brave:’ any listeners looking for a powerful folk-metal fusion had best look elsewhere though, as Feuerschwanz are less Eluveitie and more Electric Callboy in 2025.

Admittedly though, such a complaint may simply result from failing to meet the record on its own terms. Above all else, ‘Knightclub’ aims to be fun, and by the gods does it succeed. There’s a thunderous, unstoppable energy to the vast majority of tracks the group have come out with here, though its more likely to make you giggle than it is to throw you into the mosh pit: Henrici, Metzner and company’s infectious charm shines through on their newest release, making this one of the easiest feel-good records of the summer. The album’s opener earns its titular pun, blasting its way into the first of many wonderfully catchy hooks— the track feels fit to namedrop such beloved characters as Ned Stark and Obi-Wan Kenobi, though it’s really the sheer gusto put behind “let the bodies hit the floor” that has us sold. Let no-one say that Feuerschwanz can’t get a party started: ‘Knightclub’ should absolutely be the soundtrack to your next rave (especially if you happen to be attending in full medieval armour).

Really, Feuerschwanz aren’t putting a foot wrong here. Whether we’re turning our attention to the record’s boisterous production or ridiculously overblown lyrics— seriously, the group are almost parodying power metal at times as the Lord of the Rings and mythological references begin to stack up— there’s very little we can offer but praise.

“We are vikings, we are valkyries

Stand together, side by side

We are vikings, we are valkyries

Into glory we will ride

Hail the gods of thunder: Valhalla”

There’s nothing standing in the way of the central appeal of ‘Knightclub,’ that being its infectious hooks and loveable character. ‘Sam The Brave’ winds up sounding like the geekiest Iron Maiden track imaginable, using its momentous galloped rhythms and a sea of backing vocals to sell its epic tale of loyalty and heroism. Conversely, the following ‘Drunken Dragon’ pulls the scale way back, delivering one of the simplest and silliest listens on the record— Feuerschwanz often see fit to bounce between reverence and revelry, while we’re enjoying ourselves regardless.

‘Knightclub’ is a fairly safe crop of tracks, admittedly— it’s a crowd-pleaser, with very few low-lights to speak of (though we’ll be sure to list them anyway). ‘Testament’ is hardly the most definitive cut in the group’s catalogue, coming across like a band on autopilot: the closing ‘Lords of Fyre,’ conversely, is extremely memorable, though the track’s heftier sound palate fit Lord Of The Lost’s new record better than it does Feuerschwanz’s. Even those few missteps are paired with some wonderful highlights though: cuts like ‘Name der Rose’ and ‘Eisenfaust’ are undoubtedly going to become crowd-favourites with hooks as instantly infectious (and scream-able) as these. Heck, the band have even gifted us a hilariously overblown cover of PSY’s ‘Gangnam Style’ on here for good measure— though it may demonstrate how thinly veiled the group’s medieval aesthetic is, we’d be lying if we said we weren't greatly pleased at the inclusion.

On their latest album, Feuerschwanz are not reinventing the wheel, taking the unknown path, or slaying any dragons they haven’t previously vanquished: what they are doing, however, is refining an extremely loveable sound. What the group lack in originality, they make up for in charm— when all is said and done, new record ‘Knightclub’ will undoubtedly leave you grinning like a fool. Just try and stop yourself from bouncing around listening to this adorable collection of tunes: inevitably, you will fail.