This was painfully difficult. For those who like these, also check out:
The rest of Amon Amarth (especially The Avenger, which nearly made the list instead)
The rest of Enslaved (particulalry the first two albums)
Bathory's Hammerheart, Nordland 1
Cirith Gorgor's Onwards to the Spectral Defile
The first four Ensiferum albums
Equilibrium's Turis Fratyr
Heidevolk's Walhalla Wacht
Manegarm's Dodsfard
Moonsorrow - Suden Uni and Kivenkantaja
Nokturnal Mortum, pretty much any album
Svartsot's Ravenes Saga
Thyrfing's Urkraft
More Windir
and Ulver's Nattens Madrigal if you have the ear for it.

Some suggestions for you:
Falkenbach - ...Magni Blandinn Ok Megintiri...
Turisas - The Varangian Way
Lumsk - Troll

http://www.metalstorm.net/bands/index.php?b_where=s.style&b_what=Folk&prefix=Viking - lots of other viking themed bands that you could check out.

Written by CyberSymphony on 04.11.2014 at 22:30

Falkenbach - ...Magni Blandinn Ok Megintiri...

First band that came to mind after noticing that it's not on this list. Seems like quite an essential band to this subgenre, even though I don't know them very well yet (I'm working on that).

People still label Amon Amarth as viking metal?

Written by [user id=101272] on 05.11.2014 at 01:31

People still label Amon Amarth as viking metal?

Care to tell why they aren't? Their lyrics/lyrical themes are about vikings and Norse mythology, right?

Then again, they are a bit of a Tolkien band as well (Amon Amarth meaning "Mount Doom"). I don't know them very well, so I can't say, but I'm guessing the debut is Tolkien-themed/influenced.

Written by Erik M. on 05.11.2014 at 22:42

Written by [user id=101272] on 05.11.2014 at 01:31

People still label Amon Amarth as viking metal?

Care to tell why they aren't? Their lyrics/lyrical themes are about vikings and Norse mythology, right?

Why ? Because genre labels are defined by the music, not the lyrics/imagery. Or are Unleashed also Viking Metal ? Soundwise, AA is pure melodeath.

Written by Erik M. on 05.11.2014 at 22:42

Care to tell why they aren't? Their lyrics/lyrical themes are about vikings and Norse mythology, right?

Then again, they are a bit of a Tolkien band as well (Amon Amarth meaning "Mount Doom"). I don't know them very well, so I can't say, but I'm guessing the debut is Tolkien-themed/influenced.

Lyrics about vikings a viking metal band does not make. Viking metal has origins in black metal and folk music. Amon Amarth play melodeath and simply have lyrics about vikings (among other things) compared to actual viking metal bands like Bathory, early-Enslaved, ect, but for some reason are still labeled as such. You're not gonna label Deicide or Vital Remains as black metal for having anti-christian themes, now are you?

Written by Vombatus on 05.11.2014 at 22:59

Why ? Because genre labels are defined by the music, not the lyrics/imagery. Or are Unleashed also Viking Metal ? Soundwise, AA is pure melodeath.

I think "viking metal" is called as such mainly because of the (lyrical) themes. If viking metal isn't defined by its themes (at least partly), then show me a viking metal band without any of those lyrical themes and appearances that go along with them.

Written by [user id=101272] on 05.11.2014 at 23:08

Lyrics about vikings a viking metal band does not make. Viking metal has origins in black metal and folk music. Amon Amarth play melodeath and simply have lyrics about vikings (among other things) compared to actual viking metal bands like Bathory, early-Enslaved, ect, but for some reason are still labeled as such.

So what if viking metal has origins in black and folk metal/music? Are you honestly trying to argue that a blackened folk band without any sign of viking/Norse mythology themes (in their appearance, lyrical themes, etc.) can be called a viking metal band? I'd say a band like that would be blackened folk band. Nothing more, nothing less.

Quote:
You're not gonna label Deicide or Vital Remains as black metal for having anti-christian themes, now are you?

This is faulty reasoning, because you're implying black metal to be inherently anti-christian, and that obviously is totally untrue (loads of BM bands don't use any religious lyrical themes). So your comparison, while I understand it, makes little sense.

Due to petty arguing over genre definitions (lol, I kid), I am going to refer to this as "My Favorite Metal Albums that have to do with Vikings or Folk topics." Everyone happy?

Also, couldn't get into Falkenbach or Turisas, haven't heard of Lumsk.

Written by Erik M. on 05.11.2014 at 22:42

Written by [user id=101272] on 05.11.2014 at 01:31

People still label Amon Amarth as viking metal?

Care to tell why they aren't?

Perhaps because viking metal doesn't exist? As it's just one more of those tags like tolkien metal, pagan metal and such things that are not more than folk metal per se =P

Written by Karlabos on 06.11.2014 at 23:09

Perhaps because viking metal doesn't exist? As it's just one more of those tags like tolkien metal, pagan metal and such things that are not more than folk metal per se =P

Totally agreed. A while ago I removed all "viking" and "pagan" genre-tags from my lists and replaced them with "folk". Like you said, I also think it's like Tolkien metal. In other words: a style determined by the lyrical themes and not the actual music. Summoning is a Tolkien band as well, but I would never use "Tolkien metal" as an actual genre-tag, just like I won't use "viking".

Written by Erik M. on 06.11.2014 at 21:43

I think "viking metal" is called as such mainly because of the (lyrical) themes. If viking metal isn't defined by its themes (at least partly), then show me a viking metal band without any of those lyrical themes and appearances that go along with them.

Not sure... I think when talking about viking metal, we enter the realm of complexe metal subgenres. No one seems to agree on what it is, if it exists or not.
After all, the words "viking", "folk", "pagan" are thrown in randomly most of the time. But tagging all as "folk" might be a bit too broad, it would be way too large to have a clear idea of what the subgenre is suppose to sound like.
Also, the attribution of the lyrical themes as genre defining seems to be quite random when it comes to metal and based on subjective thought. Like the example I said about Unleashed and AA is a good one (why is one said to be viking and not the other ?). Or with stuff such as NSBM, where it is considered a "genre" based on the lyrics/imagery but standard 2nd wave is simply called BM isntead of Satanic BM ? Yeah, subgenres in metal get quite tedious sometimes... people should call whatever they want as long as it helps to understand the sound

Good lord people, I didn't think this was going to turn into a ridiculous debate. I just wanted to share my recommendations for songs of a particular style. While some of them have elements of melodeath, black, folk, etc.; they all share some basic ideas in one way or another. Just enjoy the music or don't. It's fine either way as long as you try.

Written by flightoficarus on 07.11.2014 at 16:50

Good lord people, I didn't think this was going to turn into a ridiculous debate. I just wanted to share my recommendations for songs of a particular style. While some of them have elements of melodeath, black, folk, etc.; they all share some basic ideas in one way or another. Just enjoy the music or don't. It's fine either way as long as you try.

Why can't we enjoy the music while discussing?

Written by Karlabos on 07.11.2014 at 17:08

Written by flightoficarus on 07.11.2014 at 16:50

Good lord people, I didn't think this was going to turn into a ridiculous debate. I just wanted to share my recommendations for songs of a particular style. While some of them have elements of melodeath, black, folk, etc.; they all share some basic ideas in one way or another. Just enjoy the music or don't. It's fine either way as long as you try.

Why can't we enjoy the music while discussing?

I do give credit that opinions have not devolved into idiotic mud-slinging. So I guess have at it if it makes you happy :-P

How about Forefather?




Personally I'm not a fan of using viking metal, or pagan metal as genres as musically they can fall into a number of different camps.

My interpretation of viking metal is that it's a specific type of black/folk hybrid that has a prominent emphasis on atmosphere, as well as lyrical themes revolving around, or at least loosly connected to, old Scandinavian/far northern Europe culture/history/mythology.

What about Ereb Altor?

At the rate we are going we might as well throw in Immortal given their whole fantasy world they have created.

Written by CyberSymphony on 04.11.2014 at 22:30

Some suggestions for you:
Falkenbach - ...Magni Blandinn Ok Megintiri...
Turisas - The Varangian Way
Lumsk - Troll

http://www.metalstorm.net/bands/index.php?b_where=s.style&b_what=Folk&prefix=Viking - lots of other viking themed bands that you could check out.

Had not heard Lumsk before and really enjoying them. Thanks.

Though i would always chose Hammerheart over Blood Fire Death...