The Best Scandinavian Folk Music Bands

Scandinavia is home to some of the best folk music bands in the world. If you’re a fan of folk music, make sure to check out these bands!

Viking metal

While relatively new to the music scene, Viking metal has been gaining in popularity in recent years. This unique genre combines the best aspects of heavy metal with traditional Scandinavian folk music. If you’re looking for a new metal band to check out, be sure to give Viking metal a try.

Amon Amarth

Yes, that’s right. The Swedish national obsession with all things Viking has even made its way into the metal scene. Amon Amarth is one of the most well-known bands in the Viking metal genre, and they take their themes very seriously. Their music tells the stories of Norse mythology, and their live shows are complete with pyrotechnics and actors in full Viking regalia. If you’re a fan of metal, or of Vikings, Amon Amarth is definitely worth checking out.

Bathory

Viking metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by a lyrical focus on Norse mythology, Viking culture, and paganism. Bathory was one of the first bands to embrace this style of music, and their influence can still be heard in many modern Viking metal bands.

Bathory was formed in 1983 by Quorthon (real name Thomas Forsberg) and originally consisted of himself on vocals and guitar, with session musicians playing the drums and bass. The band’s debut album, “Bathory”, was released in 1984 and featured eight tracks of raw, primitive black metal. Although it was not well-received at the time, “Bathory” is now considered to be one of the most influential black metal albums ever released.

Bathory’s second album, “The Return…”, was released in 1985 and featured a more polished production than its predecessor. The album also saw the addition of a full-time drummer, Fredrik Andersson. “The Return…” is now considered to be one of the classic Viking metal albums and features such classics as “A Fine Day to Die” and “Under the Sign of the Black Mark”.

In 1986, Bathory released their third album, “Under the Sign of the Black Mark”, which is widely considered to be their masterpiece. The album features some of Bathory’s most well-known songs, such as “Enter the Eternal Fire” and “13 Candles”. “Under the Sign of the Black Mark” would go on to inspire countless other bands in the Viking metal genre.

Bathory would go on to release eight more studio albums before Quorthon’s untimely death in 2004. Although they were never able to replicate the success of “Under the Sign of the Black Mark”, Bathory remain one of the most important and influential bands in heavy metal history.

Enslaved

Enslaved is a Norwegian extreme metal band formed in Haugesund in June 1991. The band was founded by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson, and their first drummer was Frost. Since their formation, Enslaved has released thirteen studio albums, three EPs and two split albums.

Enslaved’s music is most easily categorized as black metal, but they have incorporated influences from Viking metal, progressive metal, folk metal and extreme metal into their sound. Their lyrical themes have varied over the years, but center around Norse mythology, philosophy, nature and ecology.

Enslaved is currently signed to Nuclear Blast Records. They have released thirteen studio albums, three EPs and two split albums. The band’s debut album, Vikingligr veldi, was released in 1994 and was followed by Frost in 1995. Enslaved’s third album Blodhemn (1998) showed a significant change in musical style, as it incorporated clean vocals for the first time. In 2000 the band released Mardraum – Beyond the Within, which featured even more clean vocals than Blodhemn. The following year they released Monumension; while still incorporating heavy elements, this album was their most experimental to date and featured no blast beats whatsoever. Upon its release it reached the Norwegian top 20 album chart peaking at number nineteen

After several tours in support of Monumension the band took a break before returning with Below the Lights in 2003; this album featured a more stripped down sound with less emphasis on clean vocals and keyboards than its predecessor. Isa (2004) continued in this vein; it was written during a six-month stay on an isolated farm in Iceland and once again reached the Norwegian top 20 album chart peaking at number seventeen. In 2006 they released Ruun which also entered the Norwegian top 20 where it peaked at number fifteen; this was followed by 2008’s Vertebrae which reached number twelve on the chart.

Death metal

Entombed

Formed in Sweden in 1987, Entombed is widely credited as being one of the bands that pioneered the death ‘n’ roll subgenre, fusing death metal with elements of rock ‘n’ roll. The band’s debut album, Left Hand Path, is considered a major influence on the Swedish death metal scene, and their 1991 follow-up Clandestine cemented their reputation as one of the genre’s foremost exponents. Entombed continued to evolve over the years, incorporating more punk and hard rock influences into their sound while still maintaining their metal core. The band has undergone several lineup changes over the years, but founding member Lars-Göran Petrov has remained at the helm throughout, ensuring that Entombed’s original vision remains intact. With a career spanning three decades and nine albums, Entombed is one of the most important bands in Scandinavian metal history.

Dismember

Dismember is a Swedish death metal band. They were formed in 1988 by Fred Estby and Robert Sennebäck. The band’s debut album, Like an Everflowing Stream, was released in 1991 and was followed by a number of other albums, including The God That Never Was (2006), which was their last album before their disbandment in 2011. Dismember’s musical style is characterized by its slow and heavy riffs, and its use of melody, which is often reminiscent of Swedish folk music.

Dismember was one of the first death metal bands to sign with a major label when they were signed to Earache Records in 1992. They have been compared to Entombed and Grave, two other Swedish death metal bands who were also signed to Earache Records. Dismember has been described as “one of the defining death metal bands of the ’90s”.

Grave

Grave is a Swedish death metal band that was formed in 1986. They are credited with helping to pioneer the death metal genre. The band’s early work was deeply influenced by the pioneering death metal bands of the early 1980s, particularly Possessed and Death. Grave’s 1991 debut album, Into the Grave, was released to critical acclaim and is considered a classic of the genre. The band has released ten studio albums, one live album, and one compilation album.

Black metal

Although often associated with darkness and death, black metal can also be beautiful and melodic. This type of metal is typically characterized by fast tempos, shrieking vocals, and heavily distorted guitars. If you’re a fan of black metal, check out some of these bands.

Darkthrone

Black metal is a genre of heavy metal music that originated in Norway in the early 1990s. It is characterized by fast, aggressive guitar playing, blast beat drumming, and extreme vocal styles. Black metal songs often have dark, misanthropic lyrics that deal with topics such as Satanism, death, and despair.

One of the earliest and most influential black metal bands is Darkthrone. Formed in 1986, the Norwegian group is credited with helping to pioneer the black metal sound. Darkthrone’s early albums such as A Blaze in the Northern Sky (1992) and Under a Funeral Moon (1993) are considered classics of the genre. Other important black metal bands from Norway include Emperor, Mayhem, and Burzum.

Black metal has also been hugely influential on other genres of heavy music, including doom metal and extreme metal. Many bands from different countries have adopted the black metal aesthetic, including Sweden’s Watain and Marduk, France’s Alcest, and Canada’s Beastmilk.

Emperor

Emperor is a black metal band formed in 1991 in Oslo, Norway, and considered one of the pioneers of the second wave of black metal. The band members were influenced by early black metal artists such as Venom, Celtic Frost, Bathory, and Mercyful Fate. Emperor’s debut album, In the Nightside Eclipse, was released in 1994 to critical acclaim. The album reached number one on Norwegian music charts and sold over 30,000 copies worldwide. Emperor’s third album, Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, was released in 1997 and is considered one of the greatest black metal albums of all time.

Mayhem

Mayhem is a Norwegian black metal band that was founded in 1984 in Oslo. The band is considered to be one of the pioneers of the black metal genre, and their seminal debut album, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, is regarded as one of the most influential black metal albums of all time. The band has experienced numerous lineup changes throughout their career, with bassist/vocalist Attila Csihar being the only constant member.

Mayhem’s music is characterized by its raw, abrasive sound and dark, nihilistic lyrical themes. The band’s lyrics often deal with Satanism, death, and despair. Mayhem has been associated with several notorious incidents, including the suicide of singer Per Yngve Ohlin (known as “Dead”), and the murder of guitarist Euronymous by fellow musician Varg Vikernes (also known as “Count Grishnackh”). These events have lent Mayhem a notorious reputation within the metal community, and the band has been labeled as “the most evil band in the world.”

Despite their infamy, Mayhem has exerted a considerable influence on the development of black metal, and their music continues to be revered by both fans and critics alike.

Folk metal

Finntroll

Finntroll is a Finnish folk metal band from Helsinki. They combine elements of black metal and pagan metal with traditional Finnish folk music, and sing mostly in Swedish. Founded in 1997, the band has since released six full-length albums, one live album, one EP and one DVD.

Korpiklaani

Korpiklaani is a Finnish folk metal band from Lahti. The band was originally formed in 1993 as a black metal band, but later switched to playing folk metal. The name “Korpiklaani” means “Wilderness” or “Backwoods” in the Finnish language.

The band is known for their upbeat music, and they have been described as “the most fun band in metal”. They are also one of the most successful Finnish metal bands, with their album Sales reaching gold status in Finland.

Korpiklaani’s music is influenced by traditional Finnish folk music and dances, such as the humppa and polka. They often use traditional Finnish instruments, such as the kantele and jouhikko, in their music.

Turisas

Hailing from Hämeenlinna, Finland,Turisas is a folk metal band that takes its name from an ancient Finnish God of war. The band was formed in 1997 by Mathias “Warlord” Nygård and Jussi Wickström, and they released their debut album in 2004.

Turisas is known for their use of traditional instruments like violins and accordions, as well as for their strong vocal harmonies. They often sing in both English and Finnish, and their lyrics deal with topics like Viking history and mythology.

The band has released six studio albums, the most recent of which, “The Varangian Way”, came out in 2007. They are currently working on a new album, which is expected to be released in 2020.