It’s tough to think of a genre of music that’s more intriguing and awe-inspiring in name alone than Viking metal. Known for their fearsome warriors and conquerors of the past, putting the term ‘Viking’ on anything empowers it greatly. In music, Viking metal more than lives up to its billing, blending the many lines of heavy and thrash metal with hardcore solo runs, atmospheric soundscapes, and plenty of infusions of more folksy notes.
As an incredibly diverse genre, there’s a lot to like about Viking metal, especially now that it’s found its feet as an entrenched style in its own right. The appeal of the subgenre can be traced from its unique style through to the ongoing appeal of Norse-inspired entertainment. Of course, Viking metal wouldn’t be enjoying this surge if it wasn’t for a hefty collection of excellent albums.
It’s quite tough to bracket all Viking music together as the genre is so diverse and varied in the construction of its tracks. Overall, though, there tends to be a leaning on the themes and tales of Norse mythology, coupled with elements of folk music from Scandinavia and, of course, metal. While its origins are found in black metal bands of the 1980s and prior, some Viking metal tracks merely have fleeting ties to black metal now.
Most circles point to late-80s Swedish band Bathory as being the progenitor of the Viking metal genre. That said, other rock and metal bands had dipped a toe in the Norse setting prior, like Led Zeppelin with Immigrant Song in 1970. To this day, Bathory’s Hammerhead from 1990 remains among the best Viking metal albums. Towards the end of the decade, there was a flurry of top-tier albums that brought the subgenre into focus.
Going full-throttle, and then some, Enslaved’s 1997 album Eld is often cited as the quintessential Viking metal album that helped to define it as its own subgenre. That year, Borknagar’s The Olden Domain showcased their evolution from black metal to Viking metal, leaning heavily on atmospheric elements to create a sense of being in an ancient setting. Then, in 1998, Vintersorg debuted with Till Fjälls to become the prime example of each element of the subgenre.
Viking metal has been offered a good bump in its popularity over the last decade, aligning with the surge in interest in Norse mythology featuring in entertainment. The clearest place to see this is with the show Vikings, which brought in the Danish band Danheim to contribute to the soundtrack. Beyond the show, there’s also a great interest in tales, characters, and settings from Norse mythology, which is why there’s even a slingo game with the theme.
You perhaps wouldn’t expect it, but it turns out that the slingo formula that blends slot gaming and bingo is also rather adept at sinking into popular themes. Thus, Slingo: Journey to Asgard remains one of the gaming genre’s most popular additions. Zooming out further, and you can see other games like Assassin’s Creed Vikings selling very well, The Last Kingdom being a hit during its run on the BBC and Netflix, and Thor being a staple of the MCU.
Norse legends continue to be hugely influential in entertainment media right now as many of them still resonate with people of today. It’s many of these same tales that inspire the lyrics and sounds of Viking metal, making them very appealing to just about anyone who is intrigued by Norse myths. Now, you only have to listen to Brymir, Finntroll, Grimner, Korpiklaani, or Týr to experience these myths in a new, distinctly outrageous way.
Viking metal is incredibly diverse, and despite being relatively young, it already boasts several legendary albums and bands. In August 2025, Midgardsblot in Norway will offer fans a grand showcase the subgenre that anyone intrigued in the music would very much enjoy.
The post Exploring the Mighty Viking Metal Subgenre and its Appeal appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...
As an incredibly diverse genre, there’s a lot to like about Viking metal, especially now that it’s found its feet as an entrenched style in its own right. The appeal of the subgenre can be traced from its unique style through to the ongoing appeal of Norse-inspired entertainment. Of course, Viking metal wouldn’t be enjoying this surge if it wasn’t for a hefty collection of excellent albums.
Building the Viking Metal Scene
It’s quite tough to bracket all Viking music together as the genre is so diverse and varied in the construction of its tracks. Overall, though, there tends to be a leaning on the themes and tales of Norse mythology, coupled with elements of folk music from Scandinavia and, of course, metal. While its origins are found in black metal bands of the 1980s and prior, some Viking metal tracks merely have fleeting ties to black metal now.
Most circles point to late-80s Swedish band Bathory as being the progenitor of the Viking metal genre. That said, other rock and metal bands had dipped a toe in the Norse setting prior, like Led Zeppelin with Immigrant Song in 1970. To this day, Bathory’s Hammerhead from 1990 remains among the best Viking metal albums. Towards the end of the decade, there was a flurry of top-tier albums that brought the subgenre into focus.
Going full-throttle, and then some, Enslaved’s 1997 album Eld is often cited as the quintessential Viking metal album that helped to define it as its own subgenre. That year, Borknagar’s The Olden Domain showcased their evolution from black metal to Viking metal, leaning heavily on atmospheric elements to create a sense of being in an ancient setting. Then, in 1998, Vintersorg debuted with Till Fjälls to become the prime example of each element of the subgenre.
Drawing in the Masses
Viking metal has been offered a good bump in its popularity over the last decade, aligning with the surge in interest in Norse mythology featuring in entertainment. The clearest place to see this is with the show Vikings, which brought in the Danish band Danheim to contribute to the soundtrack. Beyond the show, there’s also a great interest in tales, characters, and settings from Norse mythology, which is why there’s even a slingo game with the theme.
You perhaps wouldn’t expect it, but it turns out that the slingo formula that blends slot gaming and bingo is also rather adept at sinking into popular themes. Thus, Slingo: Journey to Asgard remains one of the gaming genre’s most popular additions. Zooming out further, and you can see other games like Assassin’s Creed Vikings selling very well, The Last Kingdom being a hit during its run on the BBC and Netflix, and Thor being a staple of the MCU.
Norse legends continue to be hugely influential in entertainment media right now as many of them still resonate with people of today. It’s many of these same tales that inspire the lyrics and sounds of Viking metal, making them very appealing to just about anyone who is intrigued by Norse myths. Now, you only have to listen to Brymir, Finntroll, Grimner, Korpiklaani, or Týr to experience these myths in a new, distinctly outrageous way.
Viking metal is incredibly diverse, and despite being relatively young, it already boasts several legendary albums and bands. In August 2025, Midgardsblot in Norway will offer fans a grand showcase the subgenre that anyone intrigued in the music would very much enjoy.
The post Exploring the Mighty Viking Metal Subgenre and its Appeal appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...
