Heavy Metal Celtic Music to Headbang to This St. Patrick’s Day

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Looking for something a little different to headbang to this St. Patrick’s Day? Check out our top 10 picks for heavy metal Celtic music!

Celtic Metal

Celtic metal is a genre of heavy metal music that combines elements of Celtic music with heavy metal. Celtic metal is a subgenre of folk metal. The earliest known examples of Celtic metal are the bands Cruachan and Waylander, who both formed in the 1990s. Celtic metal is often characterized by the use of Celtic instruments such as the tin whistle, the bodhrán, and the Celtic harp, as well as traditional Irish and Scottish ballads.

What is Celtic Metal?

Celtic metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines elements of Celtic music with heavy metal. It is typically characterized by the use of traditional Celtic instruments such as the fiddle, tin whistle, bagpipes, and drums, as well as guitars and traditional heavy metal instrumentation.

Celtic metal bands often have lyrical themes that focus on Celtic mythology, Irish heritage, and paganism. Some bands also incorporate elements of folk metal and black metal into their sound.

While Celtic metal is not as commercially successful as other subgenres of heavy metal, it has gained a small but dedicated following among metalheads who are interested in exploring the darker side of their Celtic heritage.

The History of Celtic Metal

Celtic Metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that incorporates Celtic mythology and folk instruments. It began in the late 1980s with the formation of the Irish bands Cruachan and Primordial, who blended black metal with traditional Irish music. Celtic Metal has since spread to other countries, such as Scotland (e.g. Fairyland, Hegemony), Wales (e.g. Memoranda), Australia (e.g. Eluveitie, Arkane), Canada (e.g. Age of Tarot), France (e.g. Arkénide) and even South America (e.g., Waylander).

Celtic Metal typically features electric guitars, bass guitar, drums and vocals, as well as traditional Celtic instruments such as the tin whistle, bagpipes, fiddle and bodhran. The lyrics often deal with Celtic mythology and folklore, as well as modern themes such as pa

Celtic Metal Bands

It’s that time of year again! St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than by headbanging to some heavy metal Celtic music? There are a lot of great Celtic metal bands out there, but here are just a few of our favorites.

Cruachan

Formed in Dublin, Ireland, in 1992,Cruachan are one of the most well-known and respected Celtic metal bands in the world. They have released eight studio albums, with their most recent, Nine Years of Blood, being released in 2016. Their music is a unique blend of traditional Celtic music and instruments with heavy metal, and they are known for their epic live shows. If you’re looking for some Celtic metal to headbang to this St. Patrick’s Day, Cruachan is a great choice!

Eluveitie

Eluveitie is a Swiss folk metal band from Winterthur, Zurich, founded in 2002 by Chrigel Glanzmann. The project’s first Demo, Vên, was released in 2003.

The band’s first studio album, Spirit, was released in 2006. It peaked at No. 2 on the Swiss album charts and was ranked as the best debut album of the year by Legacy magazine. In 2007, the EP Omnos charted in several European countries and was awarded as the “EP of the Year” by Metal Hammer Germany.

The band’s second studio album, Slania, was released in 2008 and reached No. 1 on the Swiss album charts. It was ranked as one of the year’s best albums by Rock Hard magazine and Metal Hammer Germany.

The band’s third studio album, Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion, was released in 2009 and reached No. 3 on the Swiss album charts. It was ranked as one of the year’s best albums by Legacy magazine and Metal Hammer Germany.

The band’s fourth studio album, Helvetios, was released in 2012 and reached No. 1 on the Swiss album charts. It was ranked as one of the year’s best albums by Legacy magazine and Metal Hammer Germany.

The band’s fifth studio album, Origins, was released in 2014 and reached No. 2 on the Swiss album charts. It was ranked as one of the year’s best albums by Rock Hard magazine and Metal Hammer Germany

Waylander

Waylander are a Celtic metal band from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Formed in 1992, the band combines traditional Irish instruments with heavy metal to create a unique and powerful sound. Waylander have released four studio albums and one live album, and have toured throughout Europe and the United States.

If you’re looking for some heavy metal Celtic music to headbang to this St. Patrick’s Day, Waylander are a great band to check out!

Celtic Metal Albums

Celtic metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that features Celtic mythology and folk music as its primary influences. The genre began to emerge in the early 1990s with bands like Cruachan and Skyclad. If you’re looking for some Celtic metal to headbang to this St. Patrick’s Day, here are a few albums you should check out.

To the Ends of the Earth by Cruachan

To the Ends of the Earth is the third full-length album release by Irish Celtic metal band Cruachan. It was released in 2000 on Candlelight Records. The title refers to the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, in which ancient Ireland was united under one High King, Brian Boru.

The album is a concept album, with each song telling a different story from Irish mythology. It ranges from the lighthearted “The Voyage” to the dark and brooding “Dawning of a New Age”. There are also several re-tellings of well-known stories, such as “Cúchulainn”, “The Freedom Fighters” and “Fianna”.

To the Ends of the Earth was very well received by critics, with many calling it Cruachan’s best album to date. It is considered a classic of Celtic metal and is still enjoyed by fans today.

Origins by Eluveitie

Eluveitie is a Swiss folk metal band from Winterthur, Zurich, founded in 2002 by Chrigel Glanzmann. The band’s first album, Spirit, was released in 2006. Origins is the band’s eighth studio album, and was released on August 1st, 2014.

The album charted at number one in the Swiss charts, number three in the German charts, and number seven in the US Billboard Top Heatseekers chart. It is considered to be one of the band’s best albums by fans and critics alike, and features some of their most well-known songs such as “King”, “The Call of the Mountains”, and “Inis Mona”.

Reawakening Pride Once Lost by Waylander

This album is one of the most influential in the Celtic metal subgenre, and it is a great starting point if you are interested in this type of music. The album was released in 2006 by the Irish metal band Waylander, and it is a concept album that tells the story of a group of people who are trying to reawaken their Celtic pride.

The music on this album is a mix of traditional metal and folk music, and it features a lot of traditional Celtic instruments like the bagpipes and the bodhran. The lyrics are all in Gaelic, which adds to the atmosphere of the album.

If you are looking for an album that will make you headbang and also make you feel proud to be Irish, then this is the album for you.

Why You Should Listen to Celtic Metal

If you’re looking for something a little different to listen to this St. Patrick’s Day, then you should check out Celtic metal. This genre of music takes traditional Celtic folk music and fuses it with heavy metal. The result is an energetic and unique sound that is sure to get you headbanging.

The Catchy Melodies

Celtic metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that combines traditional Celtic music with heavy metal. It first emerged in the early 1990s with British bands like Skyclad and Cruachan, and has since gained popularity all over the world.

Celtic metal is characterized by its use of traditional Celtic instruments like the tin whistle, fiddle, and bagpipes, as well as simple but catchy melodies. The result is a unique and powerful sound that has something for both metalheads and fans of Celtic music.

If you’re looking for some heavy metal Celtic music to headbang to this St. Patrick’s Day, check out these 10 essential Celtic metal bands.

The Powerful Vocals

The Celtic metal genre is characterized by the use of Celtic instrumentation and themes with heavy metal music. The Celtic influence comes from the traditional music of countries such as Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Brittany. The metal element is derived from genres such as hard rock, heavy metal, and power metal. Celtic metal bands often have singers with powerful vocal ranges who can reach high notes that are sometimes impossible for other heavy metal singers to reach.

The Heavy Instrumentals

Celtic metal is agenre of heavy metal music that emerged in the late 1980s. rooted in traditional Irish and Scottish music, the genre employs the use of traditional Celtic instruments such as the bagpipes, fiddles, and bodhrans. Celtic metal bands often incorporate elements of folk metal, and some have even gone so far as to experiment with black metal and death metal.

Despite its origins, Celtic metal is not just for those of Irish or Scottish descent. In fact, the genre has gained a considerable following amongmetalheads all over the world. And with St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, there’s no better time to dive headfirst into this unique and exciting style of music.

Here are just a few of the many reasons why you should give Celtic metal a try:

The Heavy Instrumentals: One of the most appealing aspects of Celtic metal is the lavish use of traditional Celtic instruments. From the haunting sounds of the bagpipes to the energetic rhythms of the bodhran, these instruments add an entirely new dimension to heavy metal music. And when combined with thunderous guitar riffs and gut-punching drums, they create an epic sound that is sure to get your head banging.

The Melodic Vocals: Another great thing about Celtic metal is that it features both male and female vocalists. This not only adds variety to the music, but it also allows for some truly beautiful harmonies. Whether you’re a fan of growling deathmetal vocals or clean folk singing, you’re sure to find something to love in Celtic metal.

The Powerful Lyrics: In addition to being incredibly catchy and well-written, the lyrics in Celtic metal songs often carry a deep meaning. With themes ranging from Gaelic mythology to current affairs, there is something for everyone in this genre. And if you’re looking for something truly moving, be sure to check out “Maidens IV,” a song by Finnish band Korpiklaani about female warriors who lost their lives in battle.

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