folk metal folk metal fusion genre heavy metal music traditional folk music developed europe 1990s characterised widespread use folk instruments lesser extent traditional singing styles example danish spanish stone features soft instrumentation influenced folk rock earliest folk metal bands england ireland debut album sons mother earth released considered metal album folk influences unlike early work embraced folk element defining sound early contributors genre began emerge different regions europe israel early groups german band subway spearheaded different regional variation time known medieval metal despite contributions folk metal remained little known representatives 1990s early 2000s genre exploded prominence particularly finland efforts groups music folk metal characterised diversity bands known perform different styles heavy metal music folk music large variety folk instruments genre bands consequently featuring members regular line ups bands known rely keyboards simulate sound folk instruments lyrics genre commonly deal fantasy mythology history nature history origins english band formed vocalist left previous band began metal band added violins session musician tracks debut album sons mother earth effort described allmusic ambitious groundbreaking song debut album acclaimed particularly significant certain realms metal time player lineup band second album feature legendary style prominent inclusion playing lead lines melodies normally associated lead guitar parts rock bands departure remains active folk metal group today nearly decades formation contrast portuguese band brief tenure genre release music featured folk middle eastern influences release debut album following year band transition gothic metal matter years quickly evolved major players european metal scene formed dublin ireland outset intention mix native irish folk music home country extreme metal music debut album released folk metal album start finish italian book folk metal comprehensive history genre author credits real band acknowledges folk parts songs goes folk music heavy metal music arrangements known folk songs melodies wrote folk sounding parts early contributor folk metal finnish group formed debut album following years later sophomore effort tales thousand lakes released plenty fascinating melodies song structures drew heavily traditional folk music native country album received favorable reception fans content quickly metal underground pinnacle atmospheric achievement regional variations years distinct variations folk metal emerged different regions medieval metal german band subway formed folk rock band singing english incorporating irish scottish influences music second album released band adopted traditional approach started singing german influence subway performs blend hard rock heavy metal enriched medieval melodies songs sic flute combined romantic symbolic german speaking poetry lyrics chart success native germany credited band set wave known medieval rock distinctly german phenomenon continued expanded subsequent bands formed berlin based found chart success medieval style stage usage bizarre hand instruments scottish band experienced commercial success germany outfit describing today band employs musical arsenal includes barrel organ violin celtic metal irish band formed guitarist demo recording distributed drawing inspiration album set combine black metal folk music ireland debut album released band acclaimed having gone greatest lengths attempts expand genre folk metal combination celtic music heavy metal known today celtic metal parallel black metal act released demo recording found heralded burgeoning second wave black metal movement irish music plays big role dark subtle way chords band established unique sounding bands folk meets black metal field early representatives celtic metal include bands groups releasing demo recording development middle 1990s bands gradually emerged combine heavy metal folk music storm short lived norwegian black metal groups doom metal band 3rd mortal respectively album released use keyboards imitate sound folk instruments relied synthesizers guitars deliver dark folklore black metal music release debut album year saw debut album man black metal project multi germany known formed early band didn attention debut includes epic music keyboards viking themes folk music tendencies effectively merge viking metal folk metal joined years bands combining genres including folk metal groups spanish band formed far self titled debut album released members lineup including band evolved years combination power metal celtic flavored folk metal experienced strong chart success native spain south_america mexico lord weird pennsylvania united_states early formation dating self titled debut album released band pursued unique style combining traditional power metal folk metal czech band formed doom metal band laced pagan imagery adventurous include violins alongside expected modern day arsenal release second album shadows band began use folklore influences music explosion folk metal genre dramatically expanded turn new millennium forefront explosion revolutionary clash tradition set apart group finland known band formed demo recorded following year debut album released developed reputation obsessed things lyrics sung exclusively swedish instead finnish language apparently language better evoke spirit real reason lies band original vocalist belonging swedish speaking minority music features real innovation marriage black metal music style finnish called specifically band took alternate picking bass lines accompanied use unlikely mix extreme metal received mixed reception critics allmusic influence intended threat death metal band colleague praises band solid consistently likable effort declaring set apart peers emphasis finnish humor irony bring table second album released chart success native finland songs album feature vocals performed band finland folk metal bands began metal adding folk music started folk music turning metal roots traced folk music group house restaurant band created album folk music released relocated formed new band folk metal act based folk music albums released changed change accompanied change music traditional vocals use language dropped synthesizer replaced real folk instruments credits work catalyst shift emphasis folk metal assortment traditional instruments deliver folk metal relies keyboards finnish folk melodies played style keyboards performed performs folk metal band finland formed cousin released demos debut album blends folk metal viking metal incorporating finland traditional folk music forms elaborate symphonic arrangements typical viking metal outfits enslaved adoption folk elements rage finland point folk metal bands finland began emerge early 2000s included later notably found finnish charts single magic experienced chart success native finland folk metal acts scandinavian countries norwegian act listed played highest playing frequency norway popular radio channel song restless performed song norwegian answer released length band norwegian acts include aforementioned storm recent groups bands sweden include aforementioned acts folk metal bands denmark include outside scandinavia european nations contributed growing genre groups baltic states estonia lithuania includes representatives russia include isolated examples europe include wild bosnia bulgaria hungary italy switzerland international folk metal project members different european countries inception project consisted musicians separate backgrounds folk metal music second album sword father released project boasted participation musicians european continent folk metal relatively rare known acts including aforementioned lord weird fellow americans music stark geographical eclectic avant garde folk metal sort thing expect emerge scandinavia portland oregon geographical celtic metal brazil characteristics music music folk metal diverse collection bands pursuing different heavy metal music bands like perform black metal groups lord weird trade traditional power metal base german norwegian group blends genre gothic metal progressive tendencies found bands including bands known adopt different styles heavy metal orphaned land combines folk metal progressive doom death metal band formed combining jewish arabic west asian influences mix folk music power death metal hybrid groups known incorporate styles music genres outside heavy metal examples include punk rock music post rock tendencies folk elements genre reflect ethnic background musicians case scandinavian folk music baltic folk music middle eastern background celtic music found irish groups bands outside ireland like switzerland considered country celtic history brazil country cultural ties whatsoever despite similarity country island irish myth folk music multiple regions employed groups like brazilian acts mixed tribal sounds ethnic voices instruments formed later incorporated tribal metal latin metal sounds metal groove metal inspiring acts like genre offers variety atmosphere moods fun cheerful nature characteristic groups like bands noted playing music dance contrast acts known atmosphere offers mellow style known ambient sound epic atmosphere characteristic folk metal bands like music project groups like known bands favor brutal approach found groups like instruments folk metal feature typical instruments found heavy metal music guitars bass drums vocalist folk metal groups like notion folk instrumentation rely solely traditional metal instruments bands genre generally rely folk instruments range common exotic numerous folk metal acts include dedicated line includes subway tin whistle flute found celtic metal bands flute found bands bands known highlight exotic instruments ethnic background country including use use use finnish use use absence folk instruments bands genre resort keyboards replicate sound folk instruments includes aforementioned storm acts like bands supplement folk instrument like violin keyboards include large number instruments bands rely recording studio albums live performances orphaned land able perform onstage musicians homeland israel rely computer replicate roles guest musicians concerts folk metal acts studio recordings known perform live concerts includes folk metal bands expand regular roster include musicians consequently uncommon find bands genre featuring members line genre include subway members line totals performers band includes members dedicated folk instruments rely guest musicians enhance sound example added thirteen guest musicians band seven members debut album times guest musicians known fledged members band case vocals diverse range music styles instruments matched variety vocal styles genre spine chilling death black metal shortage extreme vocals folk metal bands feature extreme vocals include contrast bands like known feature clean singing line traditional metal approach numerous bands genre known feature extreme vocals clean singing includes traditional folk singing found folk metal bands vocals featured varying degrees music folk singing folk inspired singing heard music orphaned land music orphaned land features use chants commonly encountered genre folk metal bands known use choir include chants found music bands like known feature folk melodies vocals suit viking metal style orphaned land uses english lyrics known feature languages music sound exotic unique known use multiple languages music bands genre known sing exclusively entirely native language including spanish finnish norwegian bands medieval metal tend sing largely entirely german language including subway lead female singers uncommon genre found groups like orphaned land employed guest female vocalists music lyrics popular subjects folk metal include nature fantasy mythology history folk metal associated inception left band form band wasn going far pagan british way wanted consequently lyrics known deal pagan matters band founded self described pagan label pagan metal preferred describes ideological points music doesn music bands prefer use term pagan metal self description include contrast bands pagan themes folk metal bands themes religion nature strong influence folk metal bands groups based lyrics subject band nature embraced theme siding essentially victim relationship disease members supporters organisations like ones stand battle people want save planet people want destroy pioneers genre avoided fantasy lyrics fantasy world told politicians day nonetheless folk metal bands known feature fantasy themes lyrics including fantasy themes metaphor cover deeper meanings similarly fantasy themes coverage issues deeper greater significance celtic metal known feature lyrics based celtic mythology history popular source lyrics celtic metal bands like norse mythology found lyrics scandinavian bands known featuring lyrics based history mythology culture bands treated history song include black metal bands like russia known cross folk metal vocalist views insult people like don hold fascist ideals suggests bands playing folk metal wrong reasons pagan symbols folk metal bands mistaken scene consequently bands racism went far add words nazi stuff album covers publicly denounced self penned essay band website april performers folk metal festival subject accusations nazis german issued joint video statement accusations noting biggest issues use ancient scandinavian symbols imagery like logo logo written thousands years issued written statement response controversy notes official website got idea logo album political landscape folk metal bands explicit socialist sentiments example aforementioned leftist statement album booklet releasing record original folk metal band known deal political subjects lyrics humor bands continued feature fun humorous lyrics includes obsession lyrics focused having good time drinking review way album allmusic commented listeners concept grown men singing lyrics come south write roll contends listener needs confident listen traditional lyrics young happy step floor dance
Folk metal