German/Norwegian gothic metallers LEAVES' EYES have posted another new audio sample from their forthcoming album, Meredead. Check out the track 'Kråkevisa' on the band's official Facebook page.

About the track, singer Liv Kristine describes:

"'Kråkevisa' ('The Crow Song'), also called 'Mannen Og Kråka' ('The Farmer And The Crow'), is a traditional folklore in the genre Scandinavian medieval ballads. I know it from primary school as we used to sing it in the school's choir. There are different versions in Norway, which also uses other melodies. It is one of the best known folk tunes in my home country, however, it is also well-known in Sweden, Denmark and across the Faeroe Island. It's interesting that Kråkevisa is said to be related to 'Hákun Ríður Í Timburskóg', the Faeroese children's rhyme.

Let me translate Kråkevisa's first verse; first the Norwegian version, then the English one:

Og mannen han gjekk seg i vedaskog,

Hei fara, i vedaskog.

Då sat der ei kråka i lunden og gol.

Hei fara, faltu riltu raltura.

The man went into the firewood forest

Hei fara, to the firewood forest

There he heard crowing from the grove

Hei fara, faltu riltu raltura

What happens to the crow in the following verses, I guess is not hard to imagine, for it's definitely not a romantic love story! However, the end is what makes real sense to me personally. The message is: A man is not worth a crow if he doesn't realize its value. In a modern sense, I see clearly a connotation to the unfair, insane, money-controlled meat-industry, versus those peoples, like the Aborigines and the Eskimos, who are able to survive only because they have inherited knowledge over generations about fair trade with and careful treatment of Nature.

Thank you, Anette, for having this wonderful idea, and for singing along!

I sang it this morning, walking through the forest!"

Leaves' Eyes recently issued a new video trailer for their forthcoming album, Meredead. Check it out below:

On April 19th, Leaves' Eyes' five-track EP, Melusine, will be featured in the May edition of Sonic Seducer magazine. The EP contains exclusive tracks and versions of songs which have not been released in this form previously. The title track was recorded only for this EP and Sonic Seducer magazine. For more info on the issue go here.

The band will have a limited amount of the magazine on their upcoming tour and will make them available for purchasing at the merch stand.

Melusine EP tracklisting:

‘Melusine’

‘To France’ (sonic mix)

‘Tell-Tale Eyes’ (alternate version)

‘The Battle Of Maldon’ (remastered version)

‘Legend Land’ (acoustic version)

Leaves' Eyes will release their new album, Meredead, on April 22nd in Germany, Austria and Switzerland via Napalm Records. The album will be available exclusively as limited edition Mediabook CD including bonus track and bonus DVD Live At The Metal Female Voices Festival 2010, strictly limited edition Deluxe Box Set and regular jewel case.

The Deluxe Box Set (pictured below) is limited to 1000 copies and includes the Mediabook CD including bonus track and bonus DVD Live At The Metal Female Voices Festival 2010 plus pendant (Celtic Cross with LE Branding).

Meredead was produced by Alexander Krull at Mastersound Studio and features the following tracklisting:

'Spirits’ Masquerade'

'Étaín'

'Velvet Heart'

'Kråkevisa'

'To France'

'Meredead'

'Sigrlinn'

'Mine Tåror er ei Grimme'

'Empty Horizon'

'Veritas'

'Nystev'

'Tell-Tale Eyes'

'Sorhleod' (Bonus Track)

Bonus DVD - Live at Metal Female Voices Festival 2010

Tracklisting:

'Njord'

'My Destiny'

'Ragnarok'

'Elegy'

'Frøya's Theme'