Folk Metal Bands: B

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

Folk Metal Bands: A

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

Adorned Brood

Country: Germany
Recommended album: Kuningaz (2012)

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. 

Country: Russia

Recommended album: Goi, Rode, Goi! (2009)

Similar artists: Alkonost; Dalriada; Grai

Auringon Hauta

Country: Finland

Recommended album:– Muinaisia Muisteloita, Noita Syntyjä Syviä (2010)

Similar artists: Nest; October Falls; Korpiklaani

Folk Metal A - Z

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.

to be continued...

20 Under-rated Folk Metal Bands

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)

Bloodstock 2017

I was going to write a long post about this, but I realised that so few people really read these post, even fewer are actually going to Bloodstock and those that are already know who they are going to be watching...so here are the bands that I'll be watching. Maybe I'll see some of you at the left hand side of the stage.

Thursday:

Sophie Stage: Gurt

Friday:

Sophie Stage: Dendera, Black Moth, Inquisition.

Ronnie Stage: Devilment, Soilwork, Decapitated, Testament, Amon Amarth.

Saturday: 

Hobgoblin Stage: Ba'al

Sophie Stage: Kroh, Red Rum, Xentrix

Ronnie Stage: Fallujah, Winterfylleth, Annihilator, Municipal Waste, Hatebreed, Kreator, Ghost.

Sunday:

Sophie Stage: GraVil, Wretched Soul, Wolfheart, Wintersun

Ronnie Stage: Broken Teeth, Possessed, Obituary, Brujeria, Hell, Skindred, Arch Enemy, Megadeth.

New Release Highlights: 4th August 2017

Band: Accept
Album: The Rise of Chaos
Genre: Trad Metal

German veterans, Accept have actually managed to pull of the (almost) impossible by reforming in 2009 without vocalist Udo Dirkschneider who had been in the band since 1976 and doing so successfully. Actually, the band are more successful now than they have ever been, with the three albums released since the reformation actually being their best selling albums to date. That brings us neatly to new album, The Rise of Chaos. Don't expect any new tricks from these old dogs, however. This is still very much the balls to the wall Metal that Accept are so damn good at. That a band can still be releasing albums this good after over 40 years is astonishing. Another solid Accept release.

Track: The Rise of Chaos

Band: Shade Empire
Album: Poetry of the Ill-minded
Genre: Symphonic Melodic Death / Black

Inevitable comparisons have been made to Greek Symphonic Death Metal masters, Septic Flesh, but although there are definitely similarities, Shade Empire bring a little Finnish flair to the party, along with a horn section (a la Sear Bliss), which lends the album a lot of atmosphere. There is some blinding musicianship to be found here, with the band really utilising some beautiful keyboards, subtle soft guitars and spoken word samples to offset the thundering brutality of the rhythm section and the harsh vocals. If you're a fan of the genre then chances are that you are already familiar with Shade Empire, but if not, Poetry of the Ill-minded isn't a bad place to start.

Track: Anti Life Saviour

Band: Thor
Album: Beyond the Pain Barrier
Genre: Heavy Metal

Ok, so this isn't exactly a highlight, but it deserves a place on this list for being so ludicrous! Beyond the Pain Barrier is, unbelievably, the 18th album from Canadian buffoon, (Jon) Thor, a former body builder who has been recording terrible Heavy Metal since 1977, which is actually an achievement in itself. If you want an idea of the how the band sounds, imagine an even more ridiculous Manowar, just without the musical or vocal talent. To be fair, there are some half decent song ideas on here, but unfortunately that's all they are as the pedestrian playing, sub-par singing and dated production scupper any chance of them being fully realised. Despite it being on this blog post, this is actually probably best avoided.

Track: The Calling

New Release Highlights: 28th July 2017

Band: Prong
Album: Zero Days
Genre: Groove / Hardcore / Crossover)

Prong are one of the most infuriatingly inconsistent bands in the Metal world. There have always been sparks of greatness and we all know Tommy Victor has it in him to pen a belter when he really wants to. Sadly though, the band's career has been mired by average albums and only the very occasional gem. Probably best known for mid-90s, Beavis & Butt-head endorsed Industrial stomper, Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck, Prong struggled to find their place as the years rolled by. On Zero Days however, they have come as close to filling their obvious potential as they ever have. With a crushing Groove Metal / Thrash crossover sound bolstered by Victor's Punk-like vocal delivery, chugging Hardcore riffing and some catchy-as-herpes choruses. The best album Prong have put their name too? Very possibly.

Track: Divide and Conquer

Band: Byzantine
Album: The Cicada Tree
Genre: Groove Metal
  
Byzantine have had a tempestuous career, having split and reformed on more than one occasion. Maybe this is the reason that they haven't really made a real mark on the scene. Either way, they are back again with album number 6, The Cicada Tree, and while it isn't likely to ever be deemed essential, it is a decent Groove Metal album. Recommended for fans of Chimera, Lamb of God, Soilwork and The Kandidate.

Track: Vile Maxim

Band: Dvne
Album: Asheran
Genre: Prog Sludge / Stoner
  
Sci-Fi themed Progressive Stoner / Sludge anyone? This is actually a blinder of a debut album. It's always nice to hear a new band and to have no pre-concieved ideas or expectations as it gives you chance to listen to new music with a completely open mind. Scotland's Dvne (pronounced Dune, apparently) are a rather interesting band, taking the bog standard Sludge / Stoner / Doom sound and then then mixing things up with some nice Psych / Prog Rock influences.

Track: Thirst