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List of Viking metal bands

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Enslaved performing live at Roadburn Festival, April 2015

This is a list of Viking metal bands. Viking metal is a style of heavy metal music with origins in black metal and Nordic folk music, characterized by a lyrical and thematic focus on Norse mythology, Norse paganism, and the Viking Age. Viking metal is quite diverse as a musical style, to the point where some consider it more a cross-genre term than genre, but it is typically manifested as black metal with influences from Nordic folk music. Common traits include a slow-paced and heavy riffing style, anthemic choruses, use of both clean and harsh vocals, a reliance on folk instrumentation, and often the use of keyboards for atmospheric effect.

Viking metal emerged during the late-1980s through the mid-1990s as a rejection of Satanism and the occult, instead embracing the Vikings and paganism as the leaders of opposition to Christianity. It is similar, in lyrics, sound, and thematic imagery, to pagan metal, but pagan metal has a broader mythological focus and uses folk instrumentation more extensively. Most Viking metal bands originate from the Nordic countries, and nearly all bands claim that their members descend, directly or indirectly, from Vikings.

Though artists such as Led Zeppelin, Yngwie Malmsteen, Heavy Load, and Manowar have previously dealt with Viking themes, Bathory from Sweden is generally credited with pioneering the style with its albums Blood Fire Death (1988) and Hammerheart (1990), which launched a renewed interest in the Viking Age among heavy metal musicians. Enslaved, from Norway, followed up on this burgeoning Viking trend with Hordanes Land (1993) and Vikingligr Veldi (1994). Burzum, Emperor, Einherjer, and Helheim, among others, helped further develop the genre in the early through mid-1990s. Through the work of artists such as the German project Falkenbach, Viking metal soon spread from the Nordic countries to other nations with Viking history or an even broader Germanic heritage, and has since influenced musicians across the globe. The death metal bands Unleashed and Amon Amarth, which emerged in the early 1990s, also adopted Viking themes, broadening the style from its primarily black metal origin.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Band Formed Origin Notes
Adorned Brood 1993 Germany [1]
Ingeborg Anna Baumgärtel of Adorned Brood, 2007
Amon Amarth 1992 Sweden [2][3][4]
Ted Lundström of Amon Amarth
Ancient Rites 1988 Belgium [5]
Antestor 1990 Norway [6]
Ronny Hansen at Blast of Eternity, Neckarsulm, Germany, 2012
Ásmegin 1998 Norway [7][8]
Barbariön 2007 Australia [9]
Barbariön, 2010
Bathory 1983 Sweden [10]
Black Messiah 1992 Germany [1]
Black Messiah, 2016
Borknagar 1995 Norway [11][12]
Brothers of Metal 2012 Sweden
A photo of seven people on a stage, all dressed as Vikings, holding instruments like microphones and guitars, with drums in the back. There is a poster of their album Emblas Saga in the background.
Brothers of Metal, 2022
Burzum 1988 Norway [13]
Varg Vikernes of Burzum
Claim the Throne 2004 Australia [14]
Claim the Throne
Darkwoods My Betrothed 1992 Finland [15]
Destroy Destroy Destroy 2003 United States [16]
Doomsword 1997 Italy [17]
Drottnar 1996 Norway [18][19]
Sven-Erik Lind of Drottnar
Einherjer 1993 Norway [3]
Einherjer
Elexorien 2004 Netherlands [20]
Eluveitie 2002 Switzerland [21]
Eluveitie, 2012
Emperor 1991 Norway [22]
Ensiferum 1995 Finland [23]
Ensiferum, 2016
Enslaved 1991 Norway [3][24]
Ivar Bjørnson of Enslaved
Equilibrium 2001 Germany [25]
Jen Majura of Equilibrium
Falkenbach 1989 Germany [26]
Fejd 2001 Sweden [27]
Fejd, 2013
Finsterforst 2004 Germany [28]
Finsterforst
Folkearth 2003 International [29]
Folkodia 2007 International [30]
Forefather 1997 England [31]
Glittertind 2001 Norway [32]
Torbjørn Sandvik of Glittertind
Grand Magus 1996 Sweden [33]
Janne Christoffersson of Grand Magus
Heidevolk 2002 Netherlands [34]
Heidevolk
Hel 1999 Sweden [35]
Helheim 1992 Norway [36]
Helheim
Holy Blood 1999 Ukraine [37]
Isengard 1989 Norway [38]
Fenriz of Isengard, seen here in 2007
Ithilien 2005 Belgium [39]
Ithilien in 2016
Kampfar 1994 Norway [40]
Kampfar
Kivimetsän Druidi 2002 Finland [41]
Korpiklaani 2003 Finland [40]
Tuomas Rounakari of Korpiklaani
Leaves' Eyes 2003 Germany
Norway 		[42]
Liv Kristine of Leaves' Eyes
Månegarm 1995 Sweden [43]
Månegarm
Metsatöll 1999 Estonia [44]
Lauri Õunapuu of Metsatöll
Mithotyn 1993 Sweden [45]
Myrkgrav 2003 Norway [46]
Lars Jensen of Myrkgrav
Moonsorrow 1995 Finland [47][48]
Ville Sorvali of Moonsorrow
Obscurity 1997 Germany [49]
Agalaz of Obscurity
Primordial 1987 Ireland [50]
Alan "Nemtheanga" Averill of Primordial
Satyricon 1991 Norway [38]
Sigurd Wongraven "Satyr" of Satyricon, 2008
Skálmöld 2009 Iceland [51]
Björgvin Sigurðsson of Skálmöld
Skeletonwitch 2003 United States [52]
Scott Hendrick of Skeletonwitch
Slechtvalk 1999 Netherlands [37][53]
Slechtvalk
Solefald 1995 Norway [54]
Storm 1994 Norway [55]
Kari Rueslåtten of Storm, seen here with The Sirens, 2015
Svartsot 2005 Denmark [56]
Svartsot
The Sword 2003 United States [57]
J. D. Cronise of The Sword
Thyrfing 1995 Sweden [58][59][60]
Thyrfing
Trollech 1999 Czech Republic [61]
Turisas 1997 Finland [62]
Warlord Nygård of Turisas
Týr 1998 Faroe Islands [63][64]
Heri Joensen of Týr
Ulver 1993 Norway [38]
Kristoffer Rygg of Ulver, 2007
Unleashed 1989 Sweden [2][3][65]
Johnny Hedlund of Unleashed
Vardøger 1994 Norway [66]
Vintersorg 1994 Sweden [67]
Windir 1994 Norway [68]
Wintersun 2003 Finland [69]
Wintersun
Wolfchant 2003 Germany [70]
Gvern of Wolfchant

See also

References

  • Freeborn, Robert (June 2010). Anderson, Rick (ed.). "A Selective Discography of Scandinavian Heavy Metal Music". Sound Recording Reviews. 66 (4): 840–850.
  • Hoad, Catherine (2013). Wilson, Oli; Attfield, Sarah (eds.). "'Hold the Heathen Hammer High' - Viking Metal from the Local to the Global". Shifting Sounds: Musical Flow - A Collection of Papers from the 2012 IASPM Australia/New Zealand Conference. Dunedin: International Association for the Study of Popular Music: 62–70. ISBN 9780975774793.
  • Kahn-Harris, Keith (2007). Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge. Oxford: Berg Publishers. ISBN 978-1-84520-399-3.
  • Weinstein, Deena (2014). Weston, Donna; Bennett, Andy (eds.). "Pagan Metal". Pop Pagans: Paganism and Popular Music. London: Routledge. ISBN 9781317546658.

Notes

  1. ^ a b Manea, Irina-Maria (April 16, 2015). "Primal Roots: Ancestry and Race in Extreme Music Discourses". Proceedings of IAC-SSaH 2015: International Academic Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities in Prague 2015. Czech Institute of Academic Education: 187–188. ISBN 978-80-905791-2-5.
  2. ^ a b Kahn-Harris 2007, pp. 106
  3. ^ a b c d von Helden, Imke (2010). Rosemary Hill and Karl Spracklen (ed.). "Scandinavian Metal Attack: The Power of Northern Europe in Extreme Metal" (PDF). Inter-Disciplinary Press: 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 28, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  4. ^ Bowar, Chad. "Amon Amarth interview". About.com. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  5. ^ Steiff (February 2015). "Review - Ancient Rites - Laguz" (PDF). Metal Only.de (in German). Wolfgang Steiner. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  6. ^ Drummer Svein Sander of Antestor in an interview with Art for the Ears webzine, 1998, Art for the Ears
  7. ^ Matthijssens, Vera (April–May 2015). "Asmegin - Arv". Lords of Metal (157). Horst Vonberg. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  8. ^ Van Horn, Jr., Ray. "Asmegin - 'Arv'". About.com. IAC. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  9. ^ Staff Writer (March 6, 2015). "Hear Why This Viking Metal Band Should Have Gone To Eurovision". The Music. Street Press Australia. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  10. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Blood Fire Death review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  11. ^ Weinstein, pg. 60.
  12. ^ Freeborn 2010, pg. 846.
  13. ^ Huey, Steve. "Burzum". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  14. ^ Giffin, Brian (2002). Encyclopaedia of Australian Heavy Metal. Bendigo: Moonlight Publications. p. 2051. ISBN 978-0-9943206-1-2.
  15. ^ Harris, Craig. "Darkwoods My Betrothed". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  16. ^ Kurosu, Jason (January 9, 2009). "Tennessee metalheads Destroy to the third power". Highlander Newspaper. College Publisher. Retrieved May 15, 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  17. ^ Cle, Bruder (2003). "Doomsword - Let Battle Commence". Rock Hard (in German). Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  18. ^ Cranson, David (February 1, 2001). "Drottnar - Spiritual Battles". Cross Rhythms Magazine No. 61. Cross Rhythms Radio. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  19. ^ Sharpe-Young, Garry. "Drottnar". MusicMight. Archived from the original on 2012-09-15. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  20. ^ Sharpe-Young, Garry. "Elexorien". MusicMight. Archived from the original on 2012-10-14. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  21. ^ Dieters, Frank (July–August 2006). "Eluveitie - Spirit". Lords of Metal (61). Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  22. ^ Huey, Steve. "Emperor". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  23. ^ Bowar, Chad. "Victory Songs review". About.com. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  24. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (2007-11-08). "On the Road to Spread the Word of Good, Old-Fashioned Evil". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  25. ^ Bowar, Chad. "Equilibrium". About.com. Archived from the original on 2010-10-15. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  26. ^ Bowar, Chad. "Heralding: The Fireblade review". About.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2006. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  27. ^ Sharpe-Young, Garry. "Fejd". MusicMight. Archived from the original on 2017-01-04. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  28. ^ Jervis, Marcus. "Finsterforst - Rastlos Review". About.com. IAC. Archived from the original on 2015-04-06. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  29. ^ Matthijssens, Vera (December 2006). "Folkearth - By The Sword Of My Father". Lords of Metal (65). Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  30. ^ Sadeghi, Nima (August 2013). "Folkodia - The Fall Of The Magog". Lords of Metal (138). Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  31. ^ Sharpe-Young, Garry. "Forefather". MusicMight. Archived from the original on 2012-09-30. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  32. ^ Schmidt, Nadine (November 19, 2013). "Glittertind - Djevelsvart". Metal.de (in German). Versus:Media UG. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  33. ^ Prato, Greg. "Iron Will". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  34. ^ Zed, Natalie. "Heidevolk - Batavi Review". About.com. The New York Times Company. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  35. ^ "Hel". MusicMight. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  36. ^ Hoad 2013, pg. 63.
  37. ^ a b Beck, Chris. "The Patriot review". HM. Archived from the original on 2012-03-18. Retrieved 2009-11-04. "Compared to their first two albums, The Patriot is slightly heavier and has a stronger Viking metal influence a la Slechtvalk."
  38. ^ a b c Dare, Tom (December 28, 2014). "There's more to folk metal than warpaint and the hurdy gurdy". Metal Hammer. Teamrock. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  39. ^ METALGLORY, Tomektor. "METALGLORY Magazine - Reviews - From Ashes To The Frozen Land CD Review Rezension". www.metalglory.de. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
  40. ^ a b Bowar, Chad. "Kvass review". About.com. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  41. ^ Hoad 2013, pg. 64.
  42. ^ Freeman, Phil. "Njord". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  43. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Manegarm". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  44. ^ Polese, Abel; Morris, Jeremy; Pawłusz, Emilia; Seliverstova, Oleksandra (2017). Identity and Nation Building in Everyday Post-Socialist Life. Routledge. ISBN 9781351735438.
  45. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Falconer". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  46. ^ Kalis, Quentin (April 2, 2007). "Myrkgrav - _Trollskau, Skromt Og Kolabrenning_". Chronicles of Chaos. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  47. ^ Bowar, Chad. "Moonsorrow - Viides Luku: Hävitetty review". About.com. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  48. ^ "Moonsorrow". About.com. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  49. ^ Observer (24 December 2010). "Obscurity - Tenkterra". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  50. ^ Palmerston, Sean (January 26, 2008). "Primordial - To The Nameless Dead". Exclaim!. Ian Danzig. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  51. ^ Zed, Natalie. "Skalmold - Baldur Review". About.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-24. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  52. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Skeletonwitch". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  53. ^ Van Pelt, Doug (August 2010). "Top 100 Christian metal albums of all time" (PDF). HM Magazine: 25. ISSN 1066-6923.
  54. ^ Taylor, Laura Wiebe (February 27, 2007). "Solefald - Black for Death: An Icelandic Odyssey Part II". Exclaim!. Ian Danzig. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  55. ^ Sharpe-Young, Garry. "Storm". MusicMight. Archived from the original on 2009-01-12. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  56. ^ Woolley, Ellis (March 21, 2010). "Svartsot - Mulmets Viser". Rockfreaks.net. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  57. ^ Kiser, Matt (January–February 2008). "The Sword is Mightier than the Pen". CMJ New Music Monthly (153). CMJ Network: 23. ISSN 1074-6978. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  58. ^ Sharpe-Young, Garry. "Thyrfing". MusicMight. Archived from the original on 2015-04-03. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  59. ^ Serba, John. "Vansinnesvisor review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  60. ^ Bowar, Chad. "Hels Vite review". About.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  61. ^ Born, R. "Trollech". MusicMight. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  62. ^ Bowar, Chad. "The Varangian Way review". About.com. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  63. ^ Monger, James Christopher. "Týr". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  64. ^ Bowar, Chad. "Eric the Red review". About.com. Archived from the original on 2008-03-20. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  65. ^ Bowar, Chad. "Hammer Battalion review". About.com. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  66. ^ Jonsson, Johannes (n.d.). "Christian Metal reviews, V". Metal for Jesus!. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  67. ^ Walschots, Natalie Zina (July 9, 2012). "Vintersorg - Orkan". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  68. ^ Sharpe-Young, Garry. "Windir". MusicMight. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  69. ^ "Hagyományőrzés skandináv módra: viking metal Budapesten". Passzio.hu (in Hungarian). Rock Klub. November 2006. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  70. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "A Pagan Storm". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
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