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Melodic Black Metal (and other) bands.


lossah

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Hey!

 

First, im sorry for my english.

I find it stupidly hard to find really good metal bands. Ive been listening to this kind of Metal (Folk, melodic black, Viking) almost my whole life but im really picky.  My favourites so far is Wintersun (they are on a own league tbh. Totally amazing), Nachtblut, Equilibrium, Kromlek. I almost only listening to these bands now. I really love a good melody, some mystery influence, together with awesome growl.

Any recommendations for a melodic black metal/viking band? I usually go to metal-archives.com and go through the list but takes lots, lots of time. :(

Music like:

Thanks alot! 

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20 hours ago, BlutAusNerd said:

Hmm, I don't hear much black or Viking metal in what you posted. That said, it did remind me of a few bands, so hopefully this helps.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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Im not really sure tbh what genre they belong. But I agree its not really black, maybe death. :P

 

Thanks for your recommendation! Ive heard and listened to all before. I like them. :) Especially Kalmah. 

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Im not really sure tbh what genre they belong. But I agree its not really black, maybe death. [emoji14]
 
Thanks for your recommendation! Ive heard and listened to all before. I like them. [emoji4] Especially Kalmah. 
Hmm, I'll have to try to think of something more obscure then. I'll think on that and get back to you.

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1 hour ago, BlutAusNerd said:

Hmm, I'll have to try to think of something more obscure then. I'll think on that and get back to you.

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Thanks! 

 

I also like Dorn, their first album,

 

 

Im in love with keyboards and growl. :D

 

But again, good tips, thats that kind of music im looking for. 

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On 3/19/2018 at 5:48 AM, lossah said:

Hey!

 

First, im sorry for my english.

I find it stupidly hard to find really good metal bands. Ive been listening to this kind of Metal (Folk, melodic black, Viking) almost my whole life but im really picky.  My favourites so far is Wintersun (they are on a own league tbh. Totally amazing), Nachtblut, Equilibrium, Kromlek. I almost only listening to these bands now. I really love a good melody, some mystery influence, together with awesome growl.

Any recommendations for a melodic black metal/viking band? I usually go to metal-archives.com and go through the list but takes lots, lots of time. :(

Music like:

 

Firstly, I concur 100% about your comments on Wintersun. They don't have a huge number of fans around these parts, and we all have a chuckle at Jari's oddball behaviour, but 'The Forest Seasons' was close to my album of 2017. It's simply amazing and I get chills just talking/typing about it. 

As for more viking/melodic sort of material, have you heard the band Moonsorrow? They're certainly not black metal, but they're a Finnish band whose first three or four albums yielded songs like the following that I think you'd really love: 

and

 

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They're certainly not black metal, but they're a Finnish band whose first three or four albums yielded songs like the following that I think you'd really love:  


Thank you! I get sick of hearing people try to lump them in with black metal, but the people who do are usually the fools that think Viking metal isn't a real thing. Just the first 3-4 though? You don't like V: Hävitetty or Tulimyrsky?

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7 hours ago, BlutAusNerd said:


Thank you! I get sick of hearing people try to lump them in with black metal, but the people who do are usually the fools that think Viking metal isn't a real thing. Just the first 3-4 though? You don't like V: Hävitetty or Tulimyrsky?

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like those releases but I don't love them like I do the first four.

I find 'V: Havitetty' to be a bit ponderous, with huge build-ups that don't really have any pay-off. The 30 minute and 25 minute track idea isn't too bad on paper for a band like Moonsorrow, but I find it a bit of a chore to listen to. It almost feels like they used up all of their greatest riff ideas on the first four albums - which contains great 'songs' - and then tried to tread water or something with these huge lumbering beasts that aren't very much fun to listen to. I hardly ever listen to this album. 

'Tulimyrsky' suffers from the same problem with its lead track, but I love their cover of 'For Whom the Bell Tolls', which makes this release all the more interesting and worthy. It's a cool EP.

'Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa' is also quite bland in its riffage. I don't know what's going on with their songwriting but all of the exciting epic yet melodic riffs seem to have disappeared. I'm also not super keen on the post-apocalyptic theme, although I grant that they were becoming stale/bored/uninspired with the pagan/viking vibe. Still, all those sound effects of walking around on gravel and stuff. Ridiculous...

I haven't even bought the latest album 'Jumalten Aika', which is indicative of my growing coldness for the band. :(

Could we start a thread in the Folk Metal forum for these guys? I want to talk about viking metal and epic pagan metal but feel that 'folk metal' doesn't quite fit. Advice please, moderator. ;) 

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like those releases but I don't love them like I do the first four.

I find 'V: Havitetty' to be a bit ponderous, with huge build-ups that don't really have any pay-off. The 30 minute and 25 minute track idea isn't too bad on paper for a band like Moonsorrow, but I find it a bit of a chore to listen to. It almost feels like they used up all of their greatest riff ideas on the first four albums - which contains great 'songs' - and then tried to tread water or something with these huge lumbering beasts that aren't very much fun to listen to. I hardly ever listen to this album. 

'Tulimyrsky' suffers from the same problem with its lead track, but I love their cover of 'For Whom the Bell Tolls', which makes this release all the more interesting and worthy. It's a cool EP.

'Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa' is also quite bland in its riffage. I don't know what's going on with their songwriting but all of the exciting epic yet melodic riffs seem to have disappeared. I'm also not super keen on the post-apocalyptic theme, although I grant that they were becoming stale/bored/uninspired with the pagan/viking vibe. Still, all those sound effects of walking around on gravel and stuff. Ridiculous...

I haven't even bought the latest album 'Jumalten Aika', which is indicative of my growing coldness for the band. [emoji20]

Could we start a thread in the Folk Metal forum for these guys? I want to talk about viking metal and epic pagan metal but feel that 'folk metal' doesn't quite fit. Advice please, moderator. [emoji6] 

 

V is a bit ponderous, but I feel that the colossal Enslaved style riff salvos beside the sprawling epic processions that they had mastered at this point are plenty of payoff. It has a lot of buildup, but it builds to something totally worthwhile for me. I prefer that sound over the more folky outings of their pre-Kivenkantaja days, but I like everything I've heard from them. Unscented heard anything from beyond Tulimyrsky, as my interest in Viking metal was waning at the time, but I still love listening to all of my Moonsorrow albums.

 

I'm sincerely not sure why this site features genre sections for "battle metal" (which isn't even a thing), NWOBHM (which is redundant, since it isn't a separate genre from heavy metal, which is in the fucking name), and "djent" (which is mostly bullshit), but not for Viking metal. It's not a huge genre, but it certainly deserves its place more than the ones I mentioned above. I don't have control over that, and we've lobbied the admin before, but I don't think he has ever responded. In any case, I don't think it's different enough from folk metal for Viking metal bands to have threads there. By all means, post away!

 

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33 minutes ago, BlutAusNerd said:

 

V is a bit ponderous, but I feel that the colossal Enslaved style riff salvos beside the sprawling epic processions that they had mastered at this point are plenty of payoff. It has a lot of buildup, but it builds to something totally worthwhile for me. I prefer that sound over the more folky outings of their pre-Kivenkantaja days, but I like everything I've heard from them. Unscented heard anything from beyond Tulimyrsky, as my interest in Viking metal was waning at the time, but I still love listening to all of my Moonsorrow albums.

I'm sincerely not sure why this site features genre sections for "battle metal" (which isn't even a thing), NWOBHM (which is redundant, since it isn't a separate genre from heavy metal, which is in the fucking name), and "djent" (which is mostly bullshit), but not for Viking metal. It's not a huge genre, but it certainly deserves its place more than the ones I mentioned above. I don't have control over that, and we've lobbied the admin before, but I don't think he has ever responded. In any case, I don't think it's different enough from folk metal for Viking metal bands to have threads there. By all means, post away!

 

I'd be interested in hearing what you think about 'VKKM' (the dystopian album). You might like it. 

I'm taking this as a green light for me to hammer the Folk Metal forum with posts about Moonsorrow, Thyrfing, Einherjer and other greats of viking metal, a genre that I haven't discussed as much as my other passions, probably due to the lack of a viking metal/pagan metal forum. Folk Metal it is! 

Hail Odin. 

 

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5 minutes ago, Requiem said:

I'd be interested in hearing what you think about 'VKKM' (the dystopian album). You might like it. 

I'm taking this as a green light for me to hammer the Folk Metal forum with posts about Moonsorrow, Thyrfing, Einherjer and other greats of viking metal, a genre that I haven't discussed as much as my other passions, probably due to the lack of a viking metal/pagan metal forum. Folk Metal it is! 

Hail Odin. 

 

Thyrfing did a real good job on Gary Moore’s  song over the hills and far away 

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I'd be interested in hearing what you think about 'VKKM' (the dystopian album). You might like it. 
I'm taking this as a green light for me to hammer the Folk Metal forum with posts about Moonsorrow, Thyrfing, Einherjer and other greats of viking metal, a genre that I haven't discussed as much as my other passions, probably due to the lack of a viking metal/pagan metal forum. Folk Metal it is! 
Hail Odin. 
 
Ensiferum fits the folk metal theme better than the rest of those, but I can't think of any Viking metal bands that don't have folk influences, so why not? I would think that we have some random threads here and there for bands and the genre in general, but I don't know where they are offhand. In any case, I love me some Viking metal. Spring has sprung, and this is kind of the ideal season for that kind of sound, so I'm totally game for spinning some Viking and folk metal.

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2 hours ago, BlutAusNerd said:

Ensiferum fits the folk metal theme better than the rest of those, but I can't think of any Viking metal bands that don't have folk influences, so why not? I would think that we have some random threads here and there for bands and the genre in general, but I don't know where they are offhand. In any case, I love me some Viking metal. Spring has sprung, and this is kind of the ideal season for that kind of sound, so I'm totally game for spinning some Viking and folk metal.

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Ensiferum definitely have more folk elements, but they're also a much worse band. I have a few of their albums though and quite enjoy them. 

If only we could get the Folk Metal forum renamed to Folk/Viking Metal or something. I know there are various threads on some of these bands scattered around the forum like pagan confetti at an Icelandic wedding feast, but it would be cool to have all of these discussions in one place. 

While I know 'Folk Metal' has connotations of using folk instruments and mixing regular folk music with metal, I think it can also (at a stretch) apply to viking metal, a genre whose songs are usually about volk, history etc. 

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Ensiferum definitely have more folk elements, but they're also a much worse band. I have a few of their albums though and quite enjoy them. 
If only we could get the Folk Metal forum renamed to Folk/Viking Metal or something. I know there are various threads on some of these bands scattered around the forum like pagan confetti at an Icelandic wedding feast, but it would be cool to have all of these discussions in one place. 
While I know 'Folk Metal' has connotations of using folk instruments and mixing regular folk music with metal, I think it can also (at a stretch) apply to viking metal, a genre whose songs are usually about volk, history etc. 
Yes, they're definitely worse than the other bands were discussing. Not that I dislike them, I have a couple of their albums and can get into them when the mood strikes me, but they're no Enslaved, Moonsorrow, Falkenbach, etc...

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14 minutes ago, BlutAusNerd said:

Yes, they're definitely worse than the other bands were discussing. Not that I dislike them, I have a couple of their albums and can get into them when the mood strikes me, but they're no Enslaved, Moonsorrow, Falkenbach, etc...

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Correct, and thanks for reminding me about the mighty Falkenbach. Again, the first four albums are some of my favourites. What a great band (guy). 

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Correct, and thanks for reminding me about the mighty Falkenbach. Again, the first four albums are some of my favourites. What a great band (guy). 
I only have Magni Blandinn Ok Meg in Tori, but it's fantastic. It culls some of my favorite elements from Bathory's pioneering Viking albums and makes them sound somehow more deliberate and almost ritualistic. I love the pacing and how it doesn't have to rush to prove its point. I know, I need to get the others...

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53 minutes ago, BlutAusNerd said:

I only have Magni Blandinn Ok Meg in Tori, but it's fantastic. It culls some of my favorite elements from Bathory's pioneering Viking albums and makes them sound somehow more deliberate and almost ritualistic. I love the pacing and how it doesn't have to rush to prove its point. I know, I need to get the others...

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It's a great album, isn't it. Their debut is amazing too. Actually the first four are all incredible. The third is a lot more mid-paced with clean vocals, but just a perfect viking vibe. 

I have all their albums except the latest, 'Asa'. I suppose I'll need to get it at some point. The one before it, 'Tiurida', wasn't quite up to the usual standard, hence my sluggish approach to tracking down the latest. 

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On 2018-03-23 at 9:08 AM, Requiem said:

Firstly, I concur 100% about your comments on Wintersun. They don't have a huge number of fans around these parts, and we all have a chuckle at Jari's oddball behaviour, but 'The Forest Seasons' was close to my album of 2017. It's simply amazing and I get chills just talking/typing about it. 

As for more viking/melodic sort of material, have you heard the band Moonsorrow? They're certainly not black metal, but they're a Finnish band whose first three or four albums yielded songs like the following that I think you'd really love: 

and

 

Thanks! I agree with Wintersun. :D But I love Jari, I love that hes a perfectionist, haha. That makes his music so good I think.

 

I like Moonsorrow, especially Kylän päässä. Its sad that the music quality is so bad tho (atleast it "feels bad", its a huge difference if you compare for example Wintersun. Its not so fun to listen to) for their first albums atleast. I haven't heard their latest/last album tho, maybe its better. Will check that out. 

 

Its good recommendations so far. :) Ive noticed that german, finnish and swedish band are my "favourite-countrys" so far. Lots of good german and finnish bands especially (im from Sweden myself). 

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1 minute ago, lossah said:

Thanks! I agree with Wintersun. :D But I love Jari, I love that hes a perfectionist, haha. That makes his music so good I think.

I like Moonsorrow, especially Kylän päässä. Its sad that the music quality is so bad tho for their first albums atleast. It destroys the fun of listening to them. I haven't heard their latest/last album tho, maybe its better. Will check that out. 

Its good recommendations so far. :) Ive noticed that german, finnish and swedish band are my "favourite-countrys" so far. Lots of good german and finnish bands especially (im from Sweden myself). 

Ah, not sure what you mean by their first albums' music quality being "so bad". The two songs I posted above are from their third album, and the song you say you like, 'Kylan Paassa', is from their second album. Their first album is pretty much in that same ballpark. Are you sure you don't like their first few albums?

As for Wintersun, Jari has created one of my favourite albums ('The Forest Seasons) and put on one of the best live shows I've ever seen. His musical and performance credibility are beyond reproach for me. But those crowd-funding videos are hilarious and lame. The guy can't make the Wintersun albums he wants unless he builds his own studio?!! Come on... 

 

 

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23 minutes ago, Requiem said:

Ah, not sure what you mean by their first albums' music quality being "so bad". The two songs I posted above are from their third album, and the song you say you like, 'Kylan Paassa', is from their second album. Their first album is pretty much in that same ballpark. Are you sure you don't like their first few albums?

As for Wintersun, Jari has created one of my favourite albums ('The Forest Seasons) and put on one of the best live shows I've ever seen. His musical and performance credibility are beyond reproach for me. But those crowd-funding videos are hilarious and lame. The guy can't make the Wintersun albums he wants unless he builds his own studio?!! Come on... 

 

 

I edited my post. :D I dont know what it is. Theyre good but just not fun to listen to. Not sure what word im looking for. There is no...treble/high notes. 

 

I like the crowdfunding. :D I can understand people who dislike but tbh I dont care. Im willing to pay alot just to hear more stuff. Theyre just so much better than anything else ive heard. Got to say tho that im not really a fan of Eternal Darkness, its a...boring song. Loneliness about the same, not that bad as Eternal Darkness tho. 

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8 minutes ago, lossah said:

I edited my post. :D I dont know what it is. Theyre good but just not fun to listen to. Not sure what word im looking for. There is no...treble/high notes. 

I like the crowdfunding. :D I can understand people who dislike but tbh I dont care. Im willing to pay alot just to hear more stuff. Theyre just so much better than anything else ive heard. Got to say tho that im not really a fan of Eternal Darkness, its a...boring song. Loneliness about the same, not that bad as Eternal Darkness tho. 

It's entirely plausible that you find 'Eternal Darkness' and 'Loneliness' boring, but they make up exactly 50% of 'The Forest Seasons' album, and you apparently feel that Wintersun's "so much better than anything else you've heard". 

I'm not doubting your opinions or anything, but if you find a full half of Jari's last album "boring", then I'm not sure why you're keen about supporting a crowdfunding campaign! At any rate, I find the last two tracks from 'The Forest Seasons' pretty much in keeping with the quality of the first two. I mean, how can you love the first two more than anything else out there, but find the last two tracks "boring"? Is this a quirk of translation or something? 

I'm happy to see another Wintersun fan around here, don't get me wrong. But you're messing with my head with your Moonsorrow and Wintersun comments! 

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8 hours ago, Requiem said:

It's entirely plausible that you find 'Eternal Darkness' and 'Loneliness' boring, but they make up exactly 50% of 'The Forest Seasons' album, and you apparently feel that Wintersun's "so much better than anything else you've heard". 

I'm not doubting your opinions or anything, but if you find a full half of Jari's last album "boring", then I'm not sure why you're keen about supporting a crowdfunding campaign! At any rate, I find the last two tracks from 'The Forest Seasons' pretty much in keeping with the quality of the first two. I mean, how can you love the first two more than anything else out there, but find the last two tracks "boring"? Is this a quirk of translation or something? 

I'm happy to see another Wintersun fan around here, don't get me wrong. But you're messing with my head with your Moonsorrow and Wintersun comments! 

Well Im pretty sure you can hear a big difference between Awaken from the dark slumber and Eternal Darkness? They are both very long songs and Awaken is really brilliant the whole song, meanwhile Eternal Darkness maybe a few minutes imo. Same with Loneliness. I miss the good melodies. I know alot of people who think the same. 

 

Im not a fan of 2 songs, however I totally love every other song on every album. I dont say The Forest Seasons is the best album, but Awaken from the dark slumber is, so far, the best song ive heard, together with Sons of Winter and Stars. :)

 

And Im not sure how I can describe my problem with Moonsorrow, I think I still wanna say music quality. Its a big difference between lets say, Sons of Winter and Stars and any Moonsorrow-song. Well anyway. :D

 

Maybe I should focus on looking for symphonic metal to find something new. I also like Cruor Deum, not many know him, I love Wielding Shadows, go to 31:13:

 

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