Welcome to Dark Folk Review. Here I highlight a small selection of recent EP or album releases (of any genre) that I have discovered on Bandcamp and want to share with the world.
New reviews appear at the top. If you have a recommendation, send it my way and I may add it here. I do not receive any money for the reviews posted here, nor do I ever want to.
Chemical Waves by David Winlo
Reviewed on 3/12/2026
Chemical Waves is an acoustic album of stories, often set in harsh, difficult situations, that demonstrate the torment and resilience of their human protagonists. David’s songwriting is deliciously precise, every word and chord-change is deliberately placed, and the performances - all minimalist arrangement of vocals and acoustic guitar - are flawless. Chemical Waves is an album that gets better on every listen, as the extent of David’s lyricism and world-building is profound. Every song invites us into a new world - from political resistances gathering in the shadows, to communities rebuilding in remote mountain valleys - which is crafted meticulously around us as we listen. My appreciation of this craftsmanship increases every time I visit. Favourite track: By the Old Ginkgo Tree.
A Dark So Perfect by RYS
Reviewed on 3/11/2026
Instrumental metal is one of my favourite genres, and A Dark So Perfect by RYS is one of my favourite instrumental metal albums. RYS blends emotive melody writing with virtuosic guitar playing and milli-second, micro-tonal perfect production. More than this, RYS manages to build a sonic landscape that tells a story of adversity, bravery and triumph with three instruments (drums, guitar and bass) and no lyrics. For me, it’s a similar experience to listening to Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, where a series of technical and mathematical musical motifs (arpeggios, counterpoint and harmony) are combined to create something immensely human. I can’t recommend this album enough. Favourite track: I Could Have Killed It.
Neurochemistry by Mrs Beckett
Reviewed on 3/9/2026
I have a penchant for early 2000’s multi-track recorders. There is something creatively empowering about being limited to 8 or 16 tracks, and something that feels pure about mixing using faders and rotary encoders. This album by Mrs Beckett (of which I have had a behind-the-scenes look at its production) perfectly encapsulates the power of the multi-track recorder. The arrangements are simple, the playing is tight and the band do so much more with less. There is real craft in the songwriting here; guitar and bass weave effortlessly between leading and supporting roles, the vocal melodies are memorable and emotive, and the lyrics convincingly explore the highs and lows of adult relationships. Mrs Beckett are an example of the British rock-and-roll three piece at its best. Favourite track: Stupid.