Your Favorite Viking/Folk Metal Band

[Einherjar86]

Yeah, probably true. I consider what you believe to just be "folk" influences as the tenets of Viking metal. I understand that they were drawing influences from the history and heritage of their homeland, but I see these moreso in the lyrical subject matter than in the musical elements themselves. I don't really see how any of the above songs sound like power metal; but I think you're right, I doubt we'll reach a common ground.

 

[JGMetalhead]

So, how many of you out there listen to Viking/Folk Metal?

I'd have to go with

1. SuidAkra
2. Eluveitie
3. Ensiferum
4. Turisas
5. Finntroll
6. Glittertind
7. Thyrfing
8. Mael Mordha

So, lets see what you guys think

Nice list. Never heard of Mael Mordha and Glittertind though some new stuff to check out.

1. Turisas
2. SuidAkrA
3. Ensiferum
4. Black Messiah
5. Eluveitie
6. Korpliklaani
7. Thyrfing
8. Bal-Sagoth

 

[Hypnos]

imo, viking metal is just folk metal with lyrics about norse culture and norse history

 

[Einherjar86]

What band would you say is strictly "folk" metal? I've always considered the term "folk" to be more of a descriptive term than an entire genre designation.

 

[StoneWoman]

Oh, Bal-Sagoth! Never listened to them before, their stuff is great! Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Eligos]

Myrkgrav really speaks to my soul. Everything I like about extreme metal can be found in their/his music.

 

[~Derek~]

I can tell you're not being a dick, so no worries.

I don't have AIM, or MSN unfortunately. I mean, I would gladly just have the discussion here, unless you don't want to. Either way, to answer your question of a band that is strictly Viking metal, I don't believe there are very many. However, I personally feel that a few bands could fall into the category.

Bathory, for one; obviously not all their albums, but Hammerheart is Viking metal.

I also believe that Thyrfing and Einherjer are very strict Viking metal bands. Sure, they might stray sometimes; but for the most part, the drums and guitar riffs fall into what I would classify as "Viking" metal. I also think Fjoergyn is strictly a Viking metal band.

I think Viking metal combines the "chugging" aspects of doom metal with faster, double-bass drum rhythms to imitate a galloping/marching effect. I'm finding this very difficult to describe, but I sincerely believe it exists.

Here's are some songs that I believe fit the Viking metal description:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1grAuAM8Q4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDcpVbRx_hI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvUObrM_nTo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiToNVGMamU&feature=related

I like that Einherjar Hammer Haus song.

 

[lnfidel]

Falkenbach.

Does that count?

I was never good with genres.

 

[Einherjar86]

I like that Einherjar Hammer Haus song.

It's off their album Blot, which is a fantastic album if you ask me.

Falkenbach.

Does that count?

I was never good with genres.

Falkenbach counts. Nice.

 

[Hypnos]

folk metal is imo metal with folk elements, such es traditional instruments or folkish song structures. the same goes for folk blackmetal.

 

[Belligerent]

Falkenbach.

Does that count?

Yes, and Falkenbach is great.

 

[Einherjar86]

folk metal is imo metal with folk elements, such es traditional instruments or folkish song structures. the same goes for folk blackmetal.

See, in my opinion, bands that are dubbed "folk" metal always have some greater genre distinction than simply the folk elements. You can always boil a band down further, whether it's to black metal, death metal, doom metal... whatever.

 

[Omni]

I've heard plenty of bands that would be fairly hard to identify as a genre of music beyond folk metal.

 

[Einherjar86]

Which bands?

 

[Omni]

Skyclad is a really good example. Other bands like later Cruachan and Tuatha de Danann are also bands that clearly adhere to a folk metal base without really conforming to another genre and adding folk influences.

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

Pagan Reign is another good one.

 

[Einherjar86]

I concede your point. I can't think of anything else to call those bands. I hadn't thought of Cruachan or Tuatha de Danaan, and now that V5 mentions Pagan Reign, I realize that Tverd also is hard to classify other than folk metal.

That said, it must be a very lonely genre.

 

[Einherjar86]

So, Moonsorrow's last release (their EP Tulimyrsky) didn't blow me away. Does anyone have any idea when their next full-length release due?

 

[Belligerent]

I thought their cover of Merciless "Back To North" was outstanding. In case nobody here has heard it:

Id have to agree about Tulimyrsky as a whole. It doesn't hold a candle to
Kivenkantaja thats for sure.

 

[Einherjar86]

Absolutely. Kivenkantaja is a fucking powerhouse album; every song is great, and epic as all hell.

Tulimyrsky had its moments (that cover is pretty cool), but overall it just didn't stack up. I'm ready for their next release.