Jump to content

Viking Metal


Lady_Maggot

Recommended Posts

Re: Viking Metal

In all fairness, "Viking" Metal is more or less Black/Folk. Enslaved had a somewhat Progressive edge (from perhaps their mid-period forward) that separated them from the pack. Imagery and obviously lyrics caused the shift style change but there are also a few musical differences. I stopped listening to them after Mardraum - Beyond The Within because what I heard afterwards wasn't my cup of tea. However, I will regard this band as Prog/Viking because that's what they sound like to me. Also, screw Metallica. They are the sound of suck anymore. I'd also ignore ANYTHING wikipedia has to say because it's really unreliable. I'm sure there are some factual things spread throughout its pages, but too many people have the ability to mess with what's there.
The 2. link shows that they are self-claimed Extreme Metal. Enough of that, my ancestors were vikings and they only listened to the "skald", singing stereotypical things to keep the job- I like Viking Metal, because it makes me fantasize about the people who lived where I am for ca. 1100 years ago.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Re: Viking Metal VikingBerserkr wrote: "Enslaved" don't like being called Viking Metal, they're actually Black Metal. No, Enslaved are actually the band that coined the term Viking Metal. The inside cover of the album Frost says "Viking Metal" at the bottom of the page, and while they invented the term, they claim that they're not the first band to play in the style (Bathory). The best Viking bands are the early ones IMO, Bathory, Enslaved, Hades, Moonsorrow, Manegarm, Thyrfing, etc...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

Re: Viking Metal iceni The vikings get so much credit because we live in a western culture. In western culture typically western influences are dominant. If you go to China, Japan, India, i'm sure you will find eastern dominated metal such as you are proposing. Also viking's are associated with much of what western metal is all about (Drinking, Fighting, Fucking, and exploring)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 10 months later...

I'd rather have Viking Metal overpopulated —okei, everything has a limit— than forgotten. Still, it'd be awesome to have another bands dedicated to other cultures, but still everything would be Folk Metal... Also, you may be forgetting than in China there aren't so many metal bands. I have friends there that say they can't have even long hair, 'cause they could be fired from their works...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd rather have Viking Metal overpopulated —okei, everything has a limit— than forgotten. Still, it'd be awesome to have another bands dedicated to other cultures, but still everything would be Folk Metal... Also, you may be forgetting than in China there aren't so many metal bands. I have friends there that say they can't have even long hair, 'cause they could be fired from their works...
Viking metal is more about a big, epic atmosphere invoking images of battles, nature, and viking related topics. Some use native folk instrumentation, some don't, but folk metal is metal that does focus on using native instrumentation, songwriting, and/or chord and vocal progressions. Some bands can be both, but there are differences.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

I've never understood those that don't believe that Viking metal is an actual subgenre. Sure it has elements of black and folk but there are stylistic differences that emerged from Bathory's legacy and the earlier Norwegian bands like Enslaved and Storm that make it a separate entity from black metal, and indeed even smaller subgenres such as Pagan metal which is a fusion of black/Viking prove that its distinct enough to be identified as a subgenre. Enslaved are of course are a massive influence on the genre, I can hear a huge influence of their stuff in early Graveland even which I never believed until I started to listen to Blodhemm and Eld.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Viking Metal The other old school Norwegian Viking metal bands round out my favorites in the style along with Enslaved, those being Hades and Helheim. Not there aren't other great bands from other countries, Hellveto, Graveland, Manegarm, Moonsorrow, Thyrfing, etc..., but those are the ones that do it the best in my book. Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...
  • 7 months later...
  • 2 months later...
  • 7 months later...

I went through a huge viking metal phase about twelve years ago. I usually keep all my viking metal CDs in the same section as the Folk Metal, and Pagan Metal. I tend not to make too close a distinction between these three so called genres. 

My favourite viking metal bands are: Thyrfing, Einherjer, old Enslaved, Falkenbach, and the first two Tyr albums and Moonsorrow. I do include Moonsorrow as a viking metal band as their first few albums in particular were very much on those themes. 

Just amazing stuff. I was pretty obsessed back in 2001-2007, walking around listening to these bands and thinking I was olde school Odin. Good times. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 years later...
On 7/27/2020 at 1:41 AM, Valso said:

Finally! I was beginning to think I was their only fan. ? There's just no other band like them, especially this song is one of a kind!

 

Fantastic band, and that's their best album in my opinion. Such a great album. The booklet also contains some of the best 'band-in-forest' shots I've ever seen. 

Nice choice! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Join Metal Forum

    joinus-home.jpg

  • Our picks

    • Whichever tier of thrash metal you consigned Sacred Reich back in the 80's/90's they still had their moments.  "Ignorance" & "Surf Nicaragura" did a great job of establishing the band, whereas "The American Way" just got a little to comfortable and accessible (the title track grates nowadays) for my ears.  A couple more records better left forgotten about and then nothing for twenty three years.  2019 alone has now seen three releases from Phil Rind and co.  A live EP, a split EP with Iron Reagan and now a full length.

      Notable addition to the ranks for the current throng of releases is former Machine Head sticksman, Dave McClean.  Love or hate Machine Head, McClean is a more than capable drummer and his presence here is felt from the off with the opening and title track kicking things off with some real gusto.  'Divide & Conquer' and 'Salvation' muddle along nicely, never quite reaching any quality that would make my balls tingle but comfortable enough.  The looming build to 'Manifest Reality' delivers a real punch when the song starts proper.  Frenzied riffs and drums with shots of lead work to hold the interest.


      There's a problem already though (I know, I am such a fucking mood hoover).  I don't like Phil's vocals.  I never had if I am being honest.  The aggression to them seems a little forced even when they are at their best on tracks like 'Manifest Reality'.  When he tries to sing it just feels weak though ('Salvation') and tracks lose real punch.  Give him a riffy number such as 'Killing Machine' and he is fine with the Reich engine (probably a poor choice of phrase) up in sixth gear.  For every thrashy riff there's a fair share of rock edged, local bar act rhythm aplenty too.

      Let's not poo-poo proceedings though, because overall I actually enjoy "Awakening".  It is stacked full of catchy riffs that are sticky on the old ears.  Whilst not as raw as perhaps the - brilliant - artwork suggests with its black and white, tattoo flash sheet style design it is enjoyable enough.  Yes, 'Death Valley' & 'Something to Believe' have no place here, saved only by Arnett and Radziwill's lead work but 'Revolution' is a fucking 80's thrash heyday throwback to the extent that if you turn the TV on during it you might catch a new episode of Cheers!

      3/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 10 replies
    • I
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/52-vltimas-something-wicked-marches-in/
      • Reputation Points

      • 3 replies

    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/48-candlemass-the-door-to-doom/
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • Full length number 19 from overkill certainly makes a splash in the energy stakes, I mean there's some modern thrash bands that are a good two decades younger than Overkill who can only hope to achieve the levels of spunk that New Jersey's finest produce here.  That in itself is an achievement, for a band of Overkill's stature and reputation to be able to still sound relevant four decades into their career is no mean feat.  Even in the albums weaker moments it never gets redundant and the energy levels remain high.  There's a real sense of a band in a state of some renewed vigour, helped in no small part by the addition of Jason Bittner on drums.  The former Flotsam & Jetsam skinsman is nothing short of superb throughout "The Wings of War" and seems to have squeezed a little extra out of the rest of his peers.

      The album kicks of with a great build to opening track "Last Man Standing" and for the first 4 tracks of the album the Overkill crew stomp, bash and groove their way to a solid level of consistency.  The lead work is of particular note and Blitz sounds as sneery and scathing as ever.  The album is well produced and mixed too with all parts of the thrash machine audible as the five piece hammer away at your skull with the usual blend of chugging riffs and infectious anthems.  


      There are weak moments as mentioned but they are more a victim of how good the strong tracks are.  In it's own right "Distortion" is a solid enough - if not slightly varied a journey from the last offering - but it just doesn't stand up well against a "Bat Shit Crazy" or a "Head of a Pin".  As the album draws to a close you get the increasing impression that the last few tracks are rescued really by some great solos and stomping skin work which is a shame because trimming of a couple of tracks may have made this less obvious. 

      4/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 4 replies
×
×
  • Create New...