| Starting in the 1990's, Folk Metal was created by a | | | | other bands that have taken this Viking metal style |
| British band called Skyclad. They used heavy metal | | | | and put to death metal. Amon Amarth is one band |
| style with foklish instruments and singing. In the early | | | | that has death metal music with Viking themed lyrics. |
| years this genre has began to grow as more | | | | A Swedish Viking metal band called Ensiferium has put |
| newcomers and bands start to fall into this category. | | | | them on top of the list for Viking metal. |
| In Europe there is a lot of tradition, tales, stories and | | | | Most bands that are in folk metal show strong |
| history that goes along with folk metal. This region is | | | | masculinity and nationalism in their music. The |
| where most folk bands get their ideas and metal | | | | Nationalism Socialism Black Metal community tries to |
| music songs inspiration from. The lyrics also tend to | | | | get accept and prove a point in this genre of music. |
| deal more with pagan beliefs and romanticism of | | | | This misunderstanding has lead many bands to publicly |
| pagan culture. | | | | denounce racism, whereby clearing the air of any |
| Within this sub-genre itself there a sub-genres and | | | | speculation. |
| fusions the most notable being, Oriental metal, Viking | | | | As with other genre's, folk metal has inspired a quite |
| metal and Celtic metal. Cruachan was a pioneer of | | | | the die -hard fan base and with that many festivals |
| Celtic metal when we was experimenting with folk | | | | that have the primary focus of pleasing these fans. |
| music of Ireland and put some traditional black metal | | | | Heathen Fest, Notably Paganfest and Noctis Valkyries |
| elements into the music. Some other bands that are | | | | Metal Festival. In the United States, folk metal is |
| responsible for folk metal are Primordial and | | | | become more popular to the metal community and |
| Waylander. | | | | more and more festivals have been hosted here. |
| There was some media attention for folk metal in | | | | Some have labeled this genre of metal music a fad |
| 1991. When Orphaned Land, a death metal | | | | and will die out, other think not. For those that truly |
| progressive band, had an Arabic and Jewish style of | | | | understand and appreciate the sometimes esoteric |
| music. This started of a new subgenre of music, | | | | nature of the music, it will inevitably prove to have |
| Oriental Metal. Where at times has been to | | | | staying power, and with each generation of fans and |
| incorporate different distinctive styles from the | | | | musicians passed it will continue to venture into |
| Middle East. | | | | unknown realms with endless possibilities. Folk metal is |
| Viking metal music has flutes, clean melodic vocals | | | | for casual metal listeners that have monotony |
| and death metal growls incorporated into their music. | | | | breakdowns and chugs to influence today's metal |
| Bathory was an early pioneer of this style in the | | | | fans. |
| early 90's. This made Bathory style the standard for | | | | Additional Reference |
| all Viking metal. Powerful ballads are combined with | | | | Metal Forum |
| paganism and mythology in Viking metal. There are | | | | What is Nu Metal? |