Notable releases included pagan metal group Skyforger’s first album in ten years – Teikas, as well as Latgalian Viking metal ensemble Varang Nord’s album Mygla. A further memorable album released at the end of the year is In the Shade of a Camphor Tree by Japanese folk metal band Yomi. The band’s name ‘Yomi’ is the name of the mythological Japanese underworld, and they describe themselves as a combination of “death/black riffs with traditional Japanese tunes”. Powered by aggressive guitars, menacing vocals and ancient Japanese history and mythology, Yomi’s latest album In the Shade of a Camphor Tree is a worthy entry in the world of Latvian heavy metal. Kaljo began listening to Latvian music as soon as he was able to put a record on a record player, and still has old Bellacord 78 rpm records lying around somewhere.