There it is, I said it. I don't like it any more than any of you but you know its crossed your mind. I think the last straw was Ensiferum's latest release Unsung Heroes. Or was it Eluveitie's Helvetos? ...Or maybe it was the most terrible release to be associated with Folk Metal yet... Turisas2013?

I can't say exactly when the decline began but folk metal seemed to reach a pinnacle around 2008. That was the first year of US Paganfest, when Ensiferum, Eluveitie and Turisas toured together across the states. At the same time bands like Moonsorrow, Finntroll and Korpiklaani were also nearing the height of mainstream metal success while maintaining integrity. These bands could arguably be regarded as "The Big 6" of Folk Metal.

Around this time many bands across Europe started hopping on the Folk Bandwagon. The labels capitalized on this and within a few years every half decent folk band in the EU had a record deal and a touring slot, flooding the genre mostly with mediocrity.

Now fast forward to 2014 and alas, "The Big 6" is crumbling. Sure, Moonsorrow and Finntroll are still cherished by many but that's only 2 of 6.. Meanwhile the 2nd generation folk bands are simply not up to par to fill their places of the pioneers of the genre, causing folk metal to hit a dead end..

And if you don't believe me yet, then here is an 2013 interview with Sami Hinkka from Ensiferum talking about how the folk metal genre will decline: @ 2:00 min http://metalstorm.net/pub/interview.php?interview_id=676

But what do you guys think? Is Folk Metal failing or am I just exaggerating?


IMO what the genre needs is a breath of fresh air, a new direction, a new influence.

Personally I would like to see folk influence from outside Europe be weaved into the genre. Eniferum made an interesting nod to American western folk in their song "Stone Cold Metal" and some other bands on the outskirts of the genre are starting to move towards Asiatic folk such as: Whispered, Wintersun and Damnation Angels. Hopefully this trend continues and spreads.

Meh, it was never that good in the first place save a few albums of note. It's probably gonna be one of those genres best remembered for those albums in particular, like glam or nu.

Folk is a lot more substantial and personal than nu metal or glam metal. Those were sell out genre pretty much from the start. I like folk metal and have recently become more exposed to it. I bought Ensiferum's Unsung Heroes and I like the album, altogether there seems to be some filler tracks. I love both of Wintersun's albums and can't wait for Time II to come out. I like Eluveitie and Finntroll too. For me the genre is fresh and it's not dying to me, but I'm not as close to it as other genre's.

Written by Guest on 25.02.2014 at 02:35

Meh, it was never that good in the first place save a few albums of note. It's probably gonna be one of those genres best remembered for those albums in particular, like glam or nu.

Interesting.. I'm trying to control my fanboyism and actually consider your point... okay, deep breaths. JK..im good.

Personally, I always thought it had more integrity than that and struck a chord that alot of metalheads could relate to, as alot of us are drawn to kind of nerdy medieval stuff but don't always want to go full nerd with Power Metal. But, seeing it from the outside looking in I see how it could be interpreted as quite gimmicky like Glam, I mean the theatrics are there, the make-up, heavy emphasis on imagery etc. Still I would consider this decline atm to just be the natural boom and bust/ebb and flow associated with all new genres in general rather than Glam and Nu in particular. Though you may be right, too early to tell.

Written by UPDIRNS on 25.02.2014 at 03:47

Folk is a lot more substantial and personal than nu metal or glam metal. Those were sell out genre pretty much from the start. I like folk metal and have recently become more exposed to it. I bought Ensiferum's Unsung Heroes and I like the album, altogether there seems to be some filler tracks. I love both of Wintersun's albums and can't wait for Time II to come out. I like Eluveitie and Finntroll too. For me the genre is fresh and it's not dying to me, but I'm not as close to it as other genre's.

I agree. Folk took a long time to get as popular as it is today and even then it's not nearly as popular as Glam and Nu ever was. Glam and Nu transcended the Metal genre and hit mainstream attention, Folk will never do that. Plus Folk is actual Metal. Glam and Nu is fringe at best(and no offence to these genres as I was once a big Glam fan in my day).

Well if you have just gotten exposed to it, it's not a surprise it feels fresh. Also Unsung might sound good if you have no reference point, so have you listened to Ensiferum's back catalog yet? Cuz once you compare the oldies to Unsung, no contest.

I'm a big Folk-fan, and have been for some years now. I prefer the older releases from bands as Ensiferum, Eluveitie and Finntroll, because the newer stuff lacks the quality and feel that the older releases had. Maybe the quality of the releases is killing the genre, along with the shortage of bands. Can't expect a small handfull of old bands to keep the spirit alive. Would be nice if someone would breathe a little life into the folk-metal genre with something innovative and exciting.
It might be a natural thing to. Maybe people just prefer other types of metal in 2014?

I hope and think it will die, because in my opinion it has never been good, or perhaps hopefully it's time for something good coming out of the genre, but i doubt that.

Written by UPDIRNS on 25.02.2014 at 03:47

Folk is a lot more substantial and personal than nu metal or glam metal. Those were sell out genre pretty much from the start.

I wouldn't call nu sell out from the beginning, not early KoRn. It was first in late 90's it started to sell out.

Written by Aristarchos on 25.02.2014 at 12:16

I hope and think it will die, because in my opinion it has never been good, or perhaps hopefully it's time for something good coming out of the genre, but i doubt that.

No reason to hope for the death of a genre just because you don't like it. Ever considered not listening to it?

Anyway, I agree that it is time for something really good to emerge from the genre again.

From an outsider's perspective (as in someone who barely ever listens to folk metal or pays attention to the folk metal scene) it seems to be dwindling at the very least.

You can't consider Turisas's album as "folk" anymore, probably a weird combination of heavy metal with hard rock and maybe some really bad weed. There are some folk metal bands that released some great albums lately but did not get enough attention, such as Dalriada, Trollfest, Nordheim, Cruachan, and Adorned Brood. Not to mention bands from Russia and Ukraine "Check out Izmoroz Изморозь,Svartby, Butterfly Temple, Alkonost, Grai and many more..."

I never thought it was a major movement of exponential proportions to begin with, seems like business as usual to me.

Folk Metal is one the decline but to be fair a lot of metal is, since the "The great fall of 2009" people stopped caring about the traditional satanic black metal, metalcore, numetal and extreme power metal and probably way more genres. One of the bands that got hit the hardest of the folk metal decline is Equilibrium, not really Ensiferum or Eluveitie (even thought they are also examples of the decline) they rode such a high when it came to popularity and just suddenly it all dropped. Folk metal will not be like Numetal or Glam metal as it was never that popular to be a mainstream trend, a band such as Skyclad the creators of the genre never got major popularity even when the folk metal hype was riding high. I think the whole problem with folk metal was that there were way too many drinking song type bands or just typical "For glory! in the name of my ancestors!" bands. There need to be more bands such as Moonsorrow, Skyclad, Falkenbach who puts some real effort into it. Bands also need to experiment far more.

Written by VPeter on 26.02.2014 at 02:28

I think the whole problem with folk metal was that there were way too many drinking song type bands or just typical "For glory! in the name of my ancestors!" bands. There need to

Agree, i heard bands like agallock emperium uarual and falkenback so i thought i'd explore, i found a hole lot of cheesey shit bands with themes like the ones mentioned above, that didn't even sound like the ones that got me interested . I could definitely see that part of it go into decline

Written by Gothmog_Motsham on 26.02.2014 at 00:24

You can't consider Turisas's album as "folk" anymore...

That's why I say "associated with folk".

Written by VPeter on 26.02.2014 at 02:28

Folk Metal is one the decline but to be fair a lot of metal is, since the "The great fall of 2009" people stopped caring about the traditional satanic black metal, metalcore, numetal and extreme power metal and probably way more genres.

I noticed this as well and actually almost made the post about these modern metal genres in general. It's true, Extreme Power is virtually burnt at this point, Metalcore/Nu Metal no longer mainstream, and I see Symphonic Metal starting to hiccup as well due to every band trying to attention grab with the headline: "So-and-so-band to incorporate Full 80-piece Orchestra into next album!" ...it's not original anymore.. Though I think it would be wrong to say Sympho is down and out as there are still some exciting releases to look forward too.

Nonetheless it seems many genres are fading, I wonder what new metal genres will arise to fill the gaps?

It seems to me like almost every new metal band play old school metal these days. Back to the 80's. Can't really call it new genres, but there is an ongoing trend when it comes to old school sounding metal. Speed, thrash, heavy, death and so on. These bands pop up all over the world. You have bands like Blood Ceremony, that kind of combines Black Sabbath sound with flutes and female vocal. Actually kind of folk-sounding when I think about it. There is also a lot of new stoner/doom bands popping up here in Norway. Don't know if any other countries experience this as well. Maybe these are the "new" genres? Just old and well-known genres, renewed?

Written by toxx on 26.02.2014 at 08:47

It seems to me like almost every new metal band play old school metal these days.

Some of them may be, but most?
What about industrial metal, experimental black metal, djent, metalcore, avant-garde metal, shoegaze, post metal, ... Are those cases of renewed old school too?

Maybe there's something to this. Ensiferum's latest was good, but without a doubt their worst attempt so far. Turisas aren't even folk, nor are they any good these days. Månegarm, one of my favourites, released a solid album but suddenly with the majority of songs in English, which kinda ruined it for me. But still, that's only a couple of bands. I think it's way to early to say anything about a decline in folk metal, just because some of the big names released a bad or average album. As the first post also says, there's still bands holding it up.

Karlabos, no, I should have written "a lot of", or something. I agree that there are alot of other genres that are definitely not renewed old school. I apologise for the poor choice of words in that post.

Still, you can't argue that renewed old school is blooming nowadays

Written by Warman on 26.02.2014 at 18:13

I think it's way to early to say anything about a decline in folk metal, just because some of the big names released a bad or average album. As the first post also says, there's still bands holding it up.

IMO the bands holding the genre up are 2nd tier though and they aren't good enough to prop up the entire genre. Part of the reason these bands are the "Big 6", if you will, is because they all play such varied forms of the genre. They are the true innovators while most everyone else rehashes these guys in some form of another, so IMO there is nothing truly original or innovative happening in the genre and its been that way for a few years now, which is a bit alarming. But if you like these other bands then I can't argue with that, to each his own.

Written by toxx on 26.02.2014 at 20:33

Still, you can't argue that renewed old school is blooming nowadays

This is true. But this has been happening for over a decade now, it's not really new. Metal lied low for most the 90's and came back strong in the new millennium with all the classic 80's bands reforming and starting to tour again/putting out new albums. Hell even Glam came back in Sweden and parts of the US several years ago(which I was proudly part of that small scene in CA).

Maybe Folk will follow the same trend and die down for a decade only to re-surge 20+ years after conception? Who knows, seems trends cycle every 20 years or so.

Maybe I will read all posts at weekend, but folk metal was OK in beggining it was something new , use a folk instruments and mix metal, then media and labbles simnply manupulate bands, make then play softer, weirder, and bands seems are out of insipration
Lithianian bands Angis and Antigone , Silent Stream of Goldles Elegy, also Ulver, Auf der vand and moon(if I spell it OK) , Carved in Stone , Moonsorrow, and many more in beggining played good music, but then they lost somewhere ... but wait a sec, isnt it modern day metal story when all bands do lost?

Written by deadone on 27.02.2014 at 01:34

Written by VPeter on 26.02.2014 at 02:28

Folk Metal is one the decline but to be fair a lot of metal is, since the "The great fall of 2009" people stopped caring about the traditional satanic black metal, metalcore, numetal and extreme power metal and probably way more genres.

I agree with the concept of a "fall" but not necessarily some of the other bits (e.g. NuMetal was dead by 2002).

I think the period 2000-2007 saw Metal on another upward trend with metalcore leading the charge and the increased commercialisation of European underground developments ala melodic DM and a number of older bands releasing excellent albums after anywhere up to a decade of mediocrity.

However I think after 2007 it started to flatline - Metalcore burned itself out quickly and was replaced by Deathcore which never lasted much either.

The focus went to more proggy stuff and rehashed 1970s rock and rehashed 1980s Thrash (both have since fizzled out).

So I'd say we're in a similar rut to the 1990s in terms of old school as well as overall commercial viability.

nah Numetal was still pretty lively with bands such as Mushroomhead, Mudvayne and Disturbed tagging along with Korn and Slipknot around 2006. It officially fell of the map around 2008-09. it think Metal is now in a dormant phase, its cyclical, Metal will come back again in a few years with new genres in the spotlight.

I think the case with Folk metal is the lack of further exploration and maturity too. I used to be a huge fan of Folk metal but grew tired of it for the obvious reasons. I got into Neofolk and noticed that Neofolk is a far more developed genre, there is ton's of stuff out there too explore.

Written by AngelofDeth on 26.02.2014 at 21:51


Maybe Folk will follow the same trend and die down for a decade only to re-surge 20+ years after conception? Who knows, seems trends cycle every 20 years or so.

I certainly hope so! I know I'll still be into folk anyway. Whatever happens, there will always be a core of fans and bands keeping it alive.

I beg to differ. Yes, for me Turisias 2013 is pure shite and I'm still wondering what the hell they were doing on the line up of Paganfest last year. But that doesn't mean that folk metal is on the decline: next to the big six there are a lot of bands that are not only keeping the genre alive but are also releasing some real high quality metal. Bands the like of Dalriada, Fferylt, Finsterforst (I'm listening to Rastloss while writing this), XIV Dark Centuries, Grai, Falkenbach, Frosttide etc. And I'm really looking forward to some new work from Equilibrium this year.
IMHO Eluveitie's Helvetios is everything but bad and Unsung Heroes took some time to get used to but now I truly enjoy listening to it, so also the big 6 aren't letting us down (BTW for me Turisas isn't one of the big 6, Tyr OTOH is).

Written by toxx on 25.02.2014 at 14:45

Written by Aristarchos on 25.02.2014 at 12:16

I hope and think it will die, because in my opinion it has never been good, or perhaps hopefully it's time for something good coming out of the genre, but i doubt that.

No reason to hope for the death of a genre just because you don't like it. Ever considered not listening to it?

Anyway, I agree that it is time for something really good to emerge from the genre again.

Yes, the genre does not need to die, only the hype about it, unless something new interesting will come out of it, but I think it's already on it's way down.

Didn't read any previous post, but here my 2 cent:

Depends, coz Folk Metal is pretty broad term.
On one side, it clearly is in decline (and probably dead by now) from the moment bands like Korpiklaani, Eluveitie and similar junk got so popular (the kind that always sing about drinking, adventures and myths and are nº1 on Nuclear Poop roster), with the subsequent appearence of folk metal bands every-fucking-where (each more boring and repetitive than the precedent). Other side would be the not so "typical folk" (mixed with black, pagan, atmospheric, etc.) still make great stuff... Like Falkenbach, Agalloch, Manegarm, Moonsorrow and similar, ya know.

Written by Vombatus on 27.02.2014 at 21:47

Didn't read any previous post, but here my 2 cent:

Depends, coz Folk Metal is pretty broad term.
On one side, it clearly is in decline (and probably dead by now) from the moment bands like Korpiklaani, Eluveitie and similar junk got so popular (the kind that always sing about drinking, adventures and myths and are nº1 on Nuclear Poop roster), with the subsequent appearence of folk metal bands every-fucking-where (each more boring and repetitive than the precedent). Other side would be the not so "typical folk" (mixed with black, pagan, atmospheric, etc.) still make great stuff... Like Falkenbach, Agalloch, Manegarm, Moonsorrow and similar, ya know.

Exactly what i was thinking, and kind of was getting at before

But as far i read people simply look a those bands what they can see , when you need dig deeper, you cant see good bands what is out there, simply look deper forgot Ensiferum, Finntroll, Turisas and so on look deeper and ou still will see good FM .... its noty only in Finland, you know

Written by Bad English on 28.02.2014 at 20:17

But as far i read people simply look a those bands what they can see , when you need dig deeper, you cant see good bands what is out there, simply look deper forgot Ensiferum, Finntroll, Turisas and so on look deeper and ou still will see good FM .... its noty only in Finland, you know

I have no problems with digging deep, and I know that there are a lot of bands releasing high quality folk. But it requires more people than me to do the digging.

Written by Bad English on 28.02.2014 at 20:17

But as far i read people simply look a those bands what they can see , when you need dig deeper, you cant see good bands what is out there, simply look deper forgot Ensiferum, Finntroll, Turisas and so on look deeper and ou still will see good FM .... its noty only in Finland, you know

So recommend me some folk metal bands that are really good? I have nothing against giving bands a chance.