Exploring the World of Folk Metal
Some of my favorite folk metal artists
Folk Metal is perhaps one of my top three favorite metal sub-genres. Why? I’m glad you asked! Acoustic interludes are what pulled me into the metal realm in the first place. There’s something about the juxtaposition of aggression and clean melodies that really enhances the music for me.
The genre doesn’t seem to get nearly as much attention as it deserves. These artists are a mix of established and fresh on the scene, and long beloved by me and newly discovered. Many of them have made a folk-only album at some point. This list of course is not exhaustive, because it would go on forever and I’m constantly discovering more of it.
Agalloch (Portland, Oregon, United States)
Even though Agalloch disbanded back in 2016, I still consider them to be my absolute favorite band. Throughout their career, they explored many adjacent sub-genres such as atmospheric black metal, doom metal, post-rock, and experimental. There’s a signature dark, ominous and nature-inspired mood underlying their music. The Mantle may be their most perfect example of their folk metal style, with a very consistent acoustic strumming in the background of nearly every song, even when it’s otherwise a heavy barrage of instruments and harsh vocals.
I considered this to be my favorite album for many years, but I think Pale Folklore has dethroned it now, which has a rawer sound that leans more towards atmospheric black metal. Agalloch has also released a pure neofolk EP, The White, which is worth checking out as well.
Favorite albums: Pale Folklore, The Mantle, Ashes Against the Grain
Panopticon (Kentucky/Minnesota, United States)
Panopticon has steeply risen to become one of my favorite bands in recent years. Originally from Kentucky, they’re notable because they have several albums I would consider “Bluegrass Metal”. It’s basically folk metal, but the acoustic guitar is replaced with a banjo, fiddle and tin whistle.
When I first heard this, I didn’t think I would like it at all, not being a fan of country or bluegrass music whatsoever. It also may sound silly or ridiculous, but they make it work amazingly well. Not all their albums have those influences, however. They’ve become quite respected in the metal community and rightfully so.
Favorite albums: On the Subject of Mortality, Social Disservices, Roads to the North
Best example of folk metal: The Scars of Man on the Once Nameless Wilderness I and II, also a stripped down acoustic-only version exists — Scars II (The Basics).
Best example of “Bluegrass Metal” — Kentucky, Roads to the North, Autumn Eternal
Kauan (Russia/Ukraine/Estonia)
Kauan is one of the most fascinating bands I know, and one of the hardest to categorize. Notably, they sing in Finnish but are originally from Russia, and have since moved to two other countries. Shortly after discovering them, they quickly become one of my most cherished artists. They can be quite unpredictable, in an exciting way, as they continue to evolve and explore new influences. Some of those influences are post-rock, folk, atmospheric rock, ambient black metal and doom metal.
As they continue to release new albums, they seem to be inching toward a more cinematic and progressive quality. That being said, I still think they have heavy folk influences for a metal band and are worth checking out no matter your musical background.
Favorite albums: Sorni Nai, Aava Tuulen Maa, Kaiho
Negură Bunget are a unique progressive/atmospheric/folk metal artist that uses many traditional Balkan woodwind and percussion instruments and influences. Their albums can be very complex and difficult to digest, and because of that, I only have two of them so far. I’m excited to slowly make my way through their discography, however.
Favorite albums: Vîrstele pămîntului, Om
Falls of Rauros (Portland, Maine, United States)
This band is a relatively new discovery for me. I know they’ve been around a while, but for some reason their music didn’t stick with me for a long time. A couple years ago I checked out The Light that Dwells in Rotten Wood and from that moment I wondered why they didn’t click before. Their organic, folky, atmospheric style of metal is right up my alley and I still have a lot of their work to discover.
Favorite albums: The Light that Dwells in Rotten Wood, Patterns In Mythology
This band takes their “folk” side from a more traditional South American palette, including bagpipes, strings, and flute. From what I’ve heard so far, this band has very smooth and pristine production, and the folk elements are sprinkled throughout an atmospheric black wall of sound. Umbras de Barbagia has been one of the most addicting albums for me in the last year or so.
Favorite album: Umbras de Barbagia
Alda (Tacoma, Washington, United States)
I only have one album of Alda’s so far, but it’s a very organic, somewhat raw atmospheric black metal masterpiece with plenty of folky influences. I can’t wait to check out some of their other material.
Favorite album: Tahoma
This band can be a little hit or miss for me. Most of their albums are straight-up neofolk, with deep German chanting. Their earlier albums have more of a symphonic/doom metal touch. Interestingly, their newest album, Über den Sternen might be my favorite so far, which is unusual for a band that’s been around as long as they have. This album blends their old and new styles with a fresh spin and is probably the best example of folk metal they have so far.
Favorite albums: Über den Sternen, Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays, Weiland
This band started out as a purely instrumental neofolk band and has continued to release several albums and EPs in that style. They also have many black/folk metal albums which are excellent in their own way. Both of their styles have a relaxing and organic feel and there are plenty to check out.
Favorite albums: A Collapse of Faith, Womb of Primordial Nature
Crown of Asteria (Michigan, United States)
I’m in the beginning stages of checking out this fascinating and obscure one-woman band. Her music is quite experimental and integrates touches of black, doom, atmospheric, folk and ambient styles. Her early albums are very raw and slowly meander between different ideas and movements, creating a very soundscape-like album. She has many more albums to check out and I’m looking forward to doing just that.
This is an extremely interesting and promising band I discovered last year. China is certainly not known for its black/folk metal scene, but this band could start to put them on the map. They effortlessly blend traditional Chinese flutes, strings and percussion (I don’t even know the correct names for these instruments) into a black metal framework. I can’t believe how well these worlds-apart styles interact and am highly anticipating more material from this band.
Favorite album: 殞煞 Vengeful Spectre
Despite being around for a good while and being very similar to many artists I like, I just recently discovered Moonsorrow a few years ago. They produce an epic, yet relaxing and atmospheric style of folk/black metal. There are a few uncommon instruments such as accordion and tin whistle in their albums, as well as a plethora of keyboards. Harsh and clean vocals exist alongside each other, and even some chanting can be heard. I only have a couple of their albums so far and I look forward to checking out the rest.
Favorite albums: Verisäkeet, V: Hävitetty
This is another band that I’ve just discovered in the past couple years and my fondness of them has grown very quickly. They have an atmospheric black/doom sound but scatter many emotional folk and acoustic interludes in. They even throw in cello and several traditional instruments into the mix. Their albums are complex, and even though I have all three now, I feel like I’m still digesting them all.
Favorite albums: Herbstpfad, Des Herbstes Trauerhymnen MMXX
This band incorporates a more “epic” folk sound, with lots of keyboards and a fast-paced, high-energy feel. They have both clean and harsh vocals and can get quite heavy at times, but they’re always an enjoyable listen.
Favorite albums: Sagas, Turis Fratyr
Most people in the extreme metal community will have at least heard of this outlandish, keyboard-laden, Swedish-singing, polka-inspired, blackened folk metal band. That might sound ridiculous, but Finntroll is a widely respected band in this space, and always makes for a fun listen while remaining aggressive and true to their style. If you haven’t heard them, it’s an absolute must.
Favorite albums: Jaktens Tid, Nattfödd
