Possibly the most important medieval music outlet in the United States, and if not that, definitely one of the most representative of the genre, The Soil Bleeds Black (composed by the Riddick brothers, Mark and Michael, musicians/graphic designers/label managers, and by singer Eugenia Wallace) are back out on the road to middle age folk perdition and the paganism of the six senses with their sixth official release. Originally released as a limited edition vinyl with slightly different tracklist and graphics, this "Mirror of the Middle Ages" comes out as an eco-packaged CD, an entire year after the 12", which isn't the most fair course of action in my opinion... Musically it shows a band striving to achieve a greater authenticism. This choice is quite obviously revealed in the selection of more traditional tunes and the type of instruments (a departure from electronic gear and an embracing of acoustic percussions, flutes and other breath instruments, stringed instruments etc). In the past years I can only remember one band that was equally intense and realistic (the italian medieval art collective La Camerata Mediolanense) so if you are a lover of this genre you shouldn't miss out, unless of course you already have the 12".