Posts
Folk Metal might not be the biggest Metal
sub-genre, especially on British shores, but it does have a huge following all
over the world and there really are a staggering number of bands out there.
Sadly, with so many bands, it is inevitable that most are them are terrible and
this is especially true of Folk Metal, where there are a lot of chancers who
just whack a fiddle over a Metal riff or a violin over some Eastern European
warbler and think it’s acceptable. I have, therefore, decided to do you all a
public service by listening to every band I could find and separating the good
/ great from the inept / terrible.
In any genre there are the bands that all fans
of the genre know and which bother the Metal “mainstream” on occasion and in
the case of Folk Metal you have the likes of Eluveitie, Korpiklaani, Finntroll
and Skyclad to name but a few. However, bubbling under the surface you often
have a whole wealth of quality acts which don’t get the recognition they
deserve. Obviously, it is impossible to be genuinely impartial, so the bands
listed are all bands that I personally rate highly. They may not be the best
bands in the scene (although some will make an appearance in the best bands /
best albums lists to come later), but they are bands I think deserve a listen.
For each band I’ve also recommended an album
and given examples of similar artists so you know which bands might be to your
taste as Folk Metal can again be divided into a massive number of
sub-sub-genres. So, here goes with the first post in this vein: 20 Underrated Folk Metal bands (in
alphabetical order).
Anabioz
(Russia)
Recommended album: There the Sun Falls
Similar artists: Arkona, Korpiklaani, Svartsot, Eluveitie, Amon Amarth
Bran
Barr (France)
Recommended album: Sidh
Similar artists: Heol Telwen, Aes Dana,
Svartsot, Eluveitie
Cadacross
(Finland)
Recommended album: Corona Borealis
Similar artists: Finntroll, Children of Bodom,
Kalmah, Black Messiah, Dimmu Borgir
Dalriada
(Hungary)
Recommended album: Ígéret
Similar artists: Arkona, Niburta
Drakum
(Spain)
Recommended album: Torches Will Rise Again
Similar artists: Korpiklaani, Finntroll,
Eluveitie, Skyclad
Eldiarn
(Russia)
Recommended album: Кабаньей тропой
Similar artists: Arkona, Korn, Dalriada
Ereb Altor Sweden)
Rcommended
album: Ulfven
Similar
artists: Thyrfing, Månegarm, Vintersorg, Bathory
Equilibrium (Germany)
Recommended album:
Similar artists: Arafel, Ensiferum, Turisas
Fimbultyr
(Sweden)
Recommended album: Gryende Tidevarv
Similar artists: Thyrfing, Windir, Månegarm
Frosttide
(Finland)
Recommended album:
Similar artists: Ensiferum, Aether Realm, Månegarm
Heorot (Finland)
Recommended album: Ragnarok
Similar artists: Svartsot, Vanir
Irminsul (Sweden) (Trad Folk Metal)
Recommended album: Irminsul
Similar artists: Thyrfing, Månegarm
Kromlek
Recommended album: Strange Rumours,
Distant Tremors
Similar artists: Equilibrium,
Finntroll, Amon Amarth
Last
Wail (Russia)
Recommended album: The Tale of Endless Night
Similar artists: Svartsot, Bran Barr, Equilibrium, Arkona, Ensiferum
Nightcreepers
(France)
Recommended album: Svingeheim
Similar artists: Frosttide,
Ensiferum
Nine
Treasures (China)
Recommended album: Nine Treasures
Similar artists: Korpiklaani, Tengger Cavalry
Obtest
(Lithuania)
Recommended album: Gyvybes Medis
Similar artists: Skyforger, Metsatöll
Skyforger
(Latvia)
Recommended album: Latvian Riflemen
Similar artists: Metsatöll, Skyclad, Thyrfing, Obtest, Dalriada
Vanir (Denmark)
Recommended album: Onwards Into Battle
Similar artists: Svartsot, Bifröst, Amon Amarth,
Huldre
Waylander
(Ireland)
Recommended album: Kindred Spirits
Similar artists: Cruachan, Eluveitie, Aes Dana,
Bran Barr)
