C is a little thin on the ground as far as quality bands go, as is D, but just wait until I get to E...
Claim The Throne
Country: Australia
Recommended album: Ale Tales EP (2009) Similar artists: Alestorm; Ensiferum; Alestorm
Clanrock
Country: Luxembourg
Recommended album: Out of Ashes (2004) Similar artists: Horslips; Morgenstern; Corvus Corax
Cruachan Like Arkona, Cuachan is another band which straddles the fine line between Folk Metal and Pagan Black Metal, but which I think deserves a place on this list, as they are one of the first bands, along with Skyclad, to introduce Folk music and traditional instruments to Metal.
Country: Ireland
Recommended album: Blood on the Black Robe (2011) Similar artists: Primordial; Waylander; Skyclad; Arkona
Thanks to those who read my last post and especially to those who took the time to comment on here or on Facebook. Your time and feedback are greatly appreciated. B is a little sparser when it comes to quality bands than A, but there are some real gems here. Bifrost I'll start with a personal favourite and a definite on my all-time top 10 Folk Metal bands list, the criminally under-rated, Bifröst. Sadly, the band has been on-hold since the release of Mana Ewah back in 2016. I, for one, hope they decide to come back one day.
Country: Austria
Recommended album: Heidenmetal (2010)
Similar artists: Suidakra; Wolfchant; Svartsot; Equilibrium
Black Messiah
Country: Germany
Recommended album: Of Myths and Legends (2006)
Similar artists: Equilibrium; Wolfchant; Adorned Brood
Blodiga Skald
I was in two minds as to whether I should include these (rather daft) Italians on the list as they have only released one album, annoy me a bit by having a Swedish name and are a little ridiculous (don't even start me on the album art), but they certainly have potential and there are some fun moments on their debut. Country: Italy
Recommended album: Ruhn (2017) Similar artists: Finntroll; Trollfest; Alestorm
Boisson Divine
Country: Italy
Recommended album: Enradigats(2013) Similar artists: Eluveitie; Korpiklaani
Bran Barr
Country: France
Recommended album: Les Chroniques de Naerg (2000) Similar artists: Heol Telwen; Aes Dana; Cruachan
Bucovina
Country: Romania
Recommended album: Duh EP (2010) Similar artists: Dordeduh; Marteola; Primordial
The following are the Folk Metal bands beginning with A that I think you need to hear. I decided against an intro text for every band, but have included one where I felt it was necessary. I have listed then in alphabetical order for now as I will be posting separate lists, at a later date, of the best bands and songs (including Spotify play lists).
Abinchova
Country: Switzerland
Recommended album: Verstecktke Pfade (2011)
Similar artists: Equilibrium; Kromlek
Acyl
I was unsure at first as to whether or not to include Acyl as they are not Folk Metal in the style that most of you may be used to, rather they take their inspiration from the traditional Folk music of their original homeland of Algeria. But of course this is without doubt Folk Metal!
Country: France
Recommended album: Aftermath (2016)
Similar artists: Arkan; Melechesh; Orphaned Land; Sepultura
Similar artists: Wolfchant; Black Messiah; Equilibrium
Aes Dana
Aes Dana, like many of their French contemporaries, opt for a heavier (almost Black Metal) sound influenced by the Celtic music of Brittany.
Country: France
Recommended album: Formor (2005)
Similar artists: Heol Telwen; Bran Barr; Eluveitie; Waylander
Alkonost
Country: Russia
Recommended album: Oktagramma (2018) Similar artists: Dalriada; Arkona; Grai
Anabioz
Country: Russia
Recommended album: There the Sun Falls (2014)
Similar artists: Arkona; Korpiklaani; Svartsot; Eluveitie; Amon Amarth
AnodhoR
Country: Spain
Recommended album: Break the Silence EP (2016)
Similar artists: Alkonost; Frosttide; Claim The Throne; Drakum
Note: This is not the track I'd recommend, but is the only one on YouTube
Apocalypse Orchestra
These Swedish oddballs are definitely not your average Folk Metal band, but I feel that their Medieval Folk / Doom / Prog Metal hybrid sound means that they deserve a place on this list anyway.
Country: Sweden
Recommended album: The End is Nigh (2017)
Similar artists: Falkenbach; Circulus; Opeth; Forefather
Arafel
Country: Israel
Recommended album: For Battles Once Fought (2011)
Similar artists: Equilibrium; Månegarm; Ensiferum
Arkona
One of the heavier additions to this list, Arkona's sound straddles the line between Folk Metal and Pagan Black Metal but mostly falls, in my opinion, just on the right side to justify their inclusion. Besides, Masha is a beast of a vocalist, both live and on record.
This is a project I have been (and am still) working on for a couple of years now and it's a big one. I've been a fan of the Folk Metal sub-genre(s) for almost 30 years now since coming across a Skyclad video on MTV back in the very early 90s.
Anyway, I have decided to list all of the bands I have heard in the genre (500 and counting) and to then break this list down into bitesize pieces / separate blog posts.
To that end, I have started to listen through every album by each band, starting with those beginning with (you guessed it) A and have listed those which I personally consider to be the best of these.
For each band I have then written a brief intro text and than have noted similar artists, before finally recommending the standout song and album. Still with me? Great...so lets get started.
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