Jump to content

Metal Forum Top 10 Folk Metal Bands


The Strategos

Recommended Posts

Re: Metal Forum Top 10 Folk Metal Bands Look, how many bands are there which are purely one style? If you tried to only put bands into one genre who are pure you'll end up with more homeless bands than mongrels at a pet shelter. I think Blut's made some great picks but "Korkiplaani" etc. are not "gay shit" - it's just that for laughs they thought they might write songs which didn't involve killing people. Come on, I like bloody lyrics as much as the next man, but why a great dictatorship of subject matter?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Metal Forum Top 10 Folk Metal Bands

A lot of those are bands with folk elements' date=' that doesn't necessarily relegate them to the realms of 'folk' metal. When I think of Folk metal devoid of other genres I think of gay shit like Korkiplaani, Finntroll, or even TYR. You know, that chasing elves through the forest naked music.[/quote'] Even with the 3 bands you listed there though, we're looking at folk heavy/power metal, folk black metal (a bit of a stretch I know), and folk prog metal. All 3 cases are bands with significant amounts of folk in their sound, but the base of their sound lies elsewhere, which really isn't any different than the bands I listed. Many bands have a folk influence, but I tried to pick bands where the influence has a pretty large impact on their sound.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Metal Forum Top 10 Folk Metal Bands It's always annoyed me that there are very few folk bands that I like. I don't even think I listen to ten. Anyway, in no particular order: Heidevolk Svartsot Oskord Orphaned Land Chaska Chthonic...maybe...I'm not sure they qualify, but they're awesome anyway. Ulytau Folkstone Myrath...well, they're mainly prog. But again, like Chthonic, they are awesome.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Re: Metal Forum Top 10 Folk Metal Bands By no means an expert and some of these may not be strictly folk metal, but have elements of folk. My faves: Ensiferum Tyr Moonsorrow Turasis Korpiklanni Good thread, BTW and I'll be checking out many of the names mentioned here!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Metal Forum Top 10 Folk Metal Bands

what is with the new blood disappearing after just a couple of days? seriously if this place were a`ny deader we'd be in canada lol
Greenland might be a more appropriate metaphor...
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Metal Forum Top 10 Folk Metal Bands

I was going to say New Zealand but only my fellow Aussies would get the joke so I went with one you Americans might have appreciated
Well, you could say New Mexico, we're pretty sparsely populated... :D
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Metal Forum Top 10 Folk Metal Bands Nah, I'd get the New Zealand joke alright. I think the Canadians are nicer than the Zealanders thought because, although I'd admit they can be extremely dull, they are a very pleasant and friendly people (Iceni, Blut and NTNR may disagree about that :lol: !). Actually, it was rather nice on the pageant thing which went down the Thames they had a Maori canoe with Maori's all dressed up warlike (they must have been so COLD!). They also, before boarding, did this really cool Hakka, Hukka, whatever, you know what I mean if you have ever seen rugby ;) with their paddles, whirling them like spears. It was awesome :D !

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...
  • 3 years later...

The terms folk metal don't really do these bands justice, but if you'll allow me to cast a pagan net across folk/Viking/pagan metal I can present the following as my favourites:

Moonsorrow

Thyrfing

Tyr (first two albums only)

Finntroll

Einherjer

These are some of my favourite bands of any genre. About fifteen years ago I was obsessed with this type of music. Not so much these days. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 years later...

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...