What is Folk Metal?

Born in the 1990's, and perhaps the earliest examplein the early 90's. This made Bathory style the
is the British band Skyclad, folk metal is an offshootstandard for all Viking metal. Viking metal usually deals
of heavy metal that typically uses folkish instrumentswith powerful riffs that are about a forgotten time.
and occasionally folk singing styles. This genre ofAmon Amarth has taken death metal and Viking
music has began to go mainstream and approach themetal and combined them into their own unique style.
marketing. More and more bands and styles areEnsiferium have the bars set high for Viking metal.
generating more folk. Folk is very popular in theThey are one of the most popular and defined Viking
European market. The northern regions are wheremetal bands in the genre today.
the musicians create their music and lyrics fromMasculinity and Nationalism are prideful in Folk metal.
inspiration from the tradition tales and history. SomeThere are a few bands that label themselves part of
of the most popular songs and lyrics come fromthe NSBM or Nationalism Socialism Black Metal. These
pagan romanticism beliefs.are usually not very popular or accepted by the
Oriental, Celtic and Viking are some other subgenresmetal community. Most bands will have publicly
in folk metal. The band Cruachan arguably started thedenounced racism within their music because of this.
Celtic genre when the guitarist expressed interest inThere are many festivals for folk metal, where they
fusing traditional black metal with the folk music ofhave a large group of die-hard fans. Notably
Ireland. Primordial and Waylander help make thePaganfest, Heathen Fest and Noctis Valkyries Metal
transition to folk metal.Festival. As the genre becomes more popular, so will
In 1991 the progressive death metal band Orphanedthe festivals. They have been hosted in the cold
Land formed and immediately drew media attentionnorthern lands of which they came from and starting
with their unusual and sometimes bazaar melding ofto come over to the States.
Arabic and Jewish folk music with a heavy andFolk for the future has been known to be a 'passing
progressive undertone. This started of a newfad', but not likely. Some will appreciate the style of
subgenre of music, Oriental Metal. Where at timesthe music and the powers of each generation of
has been to incorporate different distinctive stylesmusicians have passed on. For the metal community,
from the Middle East.folk metal will always have its place for those fans
Viking metal, which incorporates anything from flutesthat want a different and unique style of metal
to hurdy-gurdys, clean chanting vocals to death-metalmusic.
growls was pioneered by the Swedish band Bathory