NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Viking Metal

Viking metal is a term used in reference to heavy metal music with a dramatic emphasis on Norse mythology, Norse paganism, and the life and times of Northern and Central Europeans prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia. It is still debated whether or not Viking metal can be considered a stand alone "genre", or merely an ideological off-shoot of other genres, as the influence of style being played varies among artists. Bands associated with Viking metal cover a broad range of musical genres and influences, such as folk metal, thrash metal, death metal, black metal and power metal. Heavy metals, in chemistry, are chemical elements of a particular range of atomic weights. ... This article is about the musical genre. ... Folk metal is a diverse collection of music, encompassing a wide variety of different styles and approaches. ... For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... An electric guitar An electric guitar is a type of guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into electrical current, which is then amplified. ... A sunburst-colored Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as a cowbell, wood block, chimes or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer. ... Piano, a well-known instance of keyboard instruments A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. ... Political map of the Nordic countries and associated territories. ... This is a timeline of heavy metal and hard rock, from its beginnings in the mid 1960s to the present time. ... Norse, Viking or Scandinavian mythology comprises the indigenous pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian peoples, including those who settled on Iceland, where most of the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... Norse paganism or Nordic religion is a termed used to abbreviate the religion preferably amongst the Germanic tribes living in Nordic countries under pre-Christian period that are supported by archaeology findings and early written materials. ... Heavy metal redirects here. ... Norse, Viking or Scandinavian mythology comprises the indigenous pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian peoples, including those who settled on Iceland, where most of the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... Norse paganism or Nordic religion is a termed used to abbreviate the religion preferably amongst the Germanic tribes living in Nordic countries under pre-Christian period that are supported by archaeology findings and early written materials. ... For the purposes of this article the Christianization of Scandinavia refers to the process of conversion to Christianity of the Scandinavian and Nordic peoples, starting in the 8th century with the arrival of missionaries in Denmark and ending in the 18th century with the conversion of the Inuits and the... Folk metal is a diverse collection of music, encompassing a wide variety of different styles and approaches. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by the high speed and aggression. ... This article is about the musical genre. ... This article is about the musical genre. ... Power metal is a style of heavy metal music typically with the aim of evoking an epic feel, combining characteristics of traditional metal with thrash metal or speed metal, often within symphonic context. ...

Viking metal may be traced to its references to Nordic gods and warfare. The first group to use an early version of Viking metal was Led Zeppelin with songs like "Immigrant Song" and "No Quarter" with references to famous Vikings and Viking gods; but the first album to be dominated by such an ideology can be traced to the Swedish black metal band Bathory, with the release of their fourth album in 1988, Blood Fire Death. The album blended the aesthetics of black metal with an atmosphere of war and Norse mythology. Quorthon (the leader of Bathory) explains some of the philosophy behind the musical and lyrical changes from black metal to Viking metal in Bathory on the official website. [1] For the bands 1969 eponymous debut album, see Led Zeppelin (album). ... Immigrant Song is the opening track on English rock band Led Zeppelins third album, Led Zeppelin III, released in 1970. ... Under the laws of war ... it is especially forbidden . ... This article is about the musical genre. ... Bathory was a highly influential Swedish thrash metal/black metal/viking metal band, and were regarded as one of the forefathers of black metal and founder of viking metal. ... Blood Fire Death is the fourth album by Bathory, which continued the transition towards more epic songwriting begun on the bands previous album. ... This article is about the musical genre. ... Norse, Viking or Scandinavian mythology comprises the indigenous pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian peoples, including those who settled on Iceland, where most of the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... Quorthon (Thomas BÃ¶rje Forsberg) Thomas Quorthon Forsberg (February 17, 1966 â€“ June 7, 2004) was the founder and main song writer of the pioneering Swedish heavy metal band Bathory. ... This article is about the musical genre. ...

Bathory would continue on to innovate the genre further with their next release in 1990, titled Hammerheart. The album further explored the romantic elements of the previous album, and experimented with Scandinavian folk instruments and musical form. Along with Skyclad's The Wayward Sons of Mother Earth, Hammerheart helped form the metal subgenre folk metal. The album is regarded by many as an important and influential release in Viking metal's history. Hammerheart is the fifth album released by Bathory. ... For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... A folk instrument is an instrument that developed among common people and usually doesnt have a known inventor. ... The lineup at the time of the FolkÃ©mon album. ... The Wayward Sons of Mother Earth is the first album by British folk metal group Skyclad, and is thus probably the first ever folk metal album, with the track The Widdershins Jig in particular pointing the way for the genre. ... Hammerheart is the fifth album released by Bathory. ... Folk metal is a diverse collection of music, encompassing a wide variety of different styles and approaches. ...

Style and themes

Common among Viking metal is a reverence for pagan Germanic, or specifically Viking, culture with a rejection of contemporary Christianity and disdain for the Christianisation of Northern Europe in favor of a pre-Christian, Pagan society. Thus, most Viking metal bands are derived from Norwegian and Swedish black metal groups, and are native Scandinavians and Germans, often associating themselves with pagan and Ásatrú beliefs. Pagan may refer to: A believer in Paganism or Neopaganism Bagan, a city in Myanmar also known as Pagan Pagan (album), the 6th album by Celtic metal band Cruachan Pagan Island, of the Northern Mariana Islands Pagan Lorn, a metal band from Luxembourg, Europe (1994-1998) Pagans Mind, is... For other uses, see Viking (disambiguation). ... Topics in Christianity Movements Â· Denominations Â· Other religions Ecumenism Â· Preaching Â· Prayer Music Â· Liturgy Â· Calendar Symbols Â· Art Â· Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul Â· Church Fathers Constantine Â· Athanasius Â· Augustine Anselm Â· Aquinas Â· Palamas Â· Luther Calvin Â· Wesley Arius Â· Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury Â· Catholic Pope Coptic Pope Â· Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box: Christianity is... This article is about the musical genre. ... Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism is any of a heterogeneous group of new religious movements, particularly those influenced by ancient, primarily pre-Christian and sometimes pre-Judaic religions. ... Mjolnir, the hammer of Thor, is one of the major symbols of ÃsatrÃº. This article is about the reconstruction of Norse paganism in particular. ...

The music is often highly romanticized and epic in composition and sound, reflecting Norse mythology itself, and creates an atmosphere rich both in Germanic heroic and metal music tradition. While some bands sing in English to reach a wider audience, many write lyrics in their own native languages (Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish or Icelandic) or archaic versions thereof.

Troll metal

"Troll metal" is a term coined by fans of bands with lyrical themes revolving around trolls. Although not a real genre it makes classification more specific. Some bands, notably Finntroll, have shifted the focus of their music from the heroic humans or Gods of Norse mythology towards the creatures of more recent Scandinavian peasant folklore, most notably trolls. Like Viking metal, it often contains anti-Christian themes, with the trolls and monsters being a representation of the pre-Christian pagans of Northern Europe.^{[citation needed]} These lyrics are seldom entirely serious, though, as they are as much anti-human as they are anti-Christian, and could even be seen as tongue-in-cheek, parodying the radical anti-Christianity of certain black metal bands. Finntroll is a folk metal band from Finland. ... For other uses, see Troll (disambiguation). ... Anti-Christian prejudice is a negative categorical bias against Christians â€” both individually and collectively â€” or against Christianity as a whole. ... Pagans may mean: Paganism, a belief in natural religion. ... Northern Europe Northern Europe is the northern part of the European continent. ...

Confusion with Nazism and far-right extremism

Some viking metal fanbases, such as the online viking metal broadcasting channel Valhala Radio, have experienced actions from anti-Nazi groups. Valhalla Radio has been forced to put up a disclaimer on their site that clarifies that neither they nor viking metal is linked to Nazism or racism. National Socialism redirects here. ...

List of notable Viking metal bands

Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ... For the Middle-Earth location commonly known as Mount Doom, see Orodruin. ... Melodic death metal, (also referred to as Gothenburg metal, melodeath, and post-death) is a subgenre of death metal. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Ãsmegin is a Norwegian folk/viking metal band formed in 1998. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ... Bathory was a highly influential Swedish thrash metal/black metal/viking metal band, and were regarded as one of the forefathers of black metal and founder of viking metal. ... Blood Fire Death is the fourth album by Bathory, which continued the transition towards more epic songwriting begun on the bands previous album. ... Requiem is the seventh album by Bathory. ... Octagon is an album by Bathory. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Black Messiah is a German Viking / symphonic black metal band, founded in 1994. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Borknagar is a progressive metal band from Bergen, Norway founded in 1995 by Ã˜ystein Garnes Brun. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Doomsword is an Epic Doom Metal/Viking Metal band from Italy. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Drottnar is a metal band with Christian members from Fredrikstad, Norway. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Einherjer band logo Einherjer was a Viking metal band from Haugesund, Norway, founded in 1993. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Finland. ... Ensiferum (Latin ensÄfÄ•rum (neuter adjective) meaning sword bearing) is a Viking / Folk metal band from Helsinki, Finland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Enslaved is a progressive black/viking metal band from Haugesund, Norway. ... This article is about the musical genre. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Equilibrium is a viking metal band from Germany. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Falkenbach is a German / Icelandic Viking Metal band. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Finland. ... Finntroll is a folk metal band from Finland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ... Folkearth is an international music project, created by musicians playing folk metal and Viking metal. ... Folk metal is a diverse collection of music, encompassing a wide variety of different styles and approaches. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Forefather are a Heavy metal band from Surrey, England. ... This article is about the musical genre. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Frostmoon was an underground viking metal/death metal band, formed in 1997 by composer Massacra and singer Tundra in the north of Norway. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Glittertind is a Norwegian Folk metal project which started in 2001. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Poland. ... Graveland is a Polish black metal band which was formed in 1992 by Rob Darken (born Robert Fudali). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Helgardh, also known as Hel (house of mists), shares a name with the goddess who rules it. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Helrunar is a black metal band from Germany, founded in 2001. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Finland. ... Heorot is the stronghold of king Hrothgar in the epic poem Beowulf. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Kampfar is a pagan folk/black metal band from Fredrikstad, Norway. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Finland. ... Korpiklaani (Forest Clan in Finnish) is a folk metal band from Finland. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Kryst The Conqueror was an American heavy metal project formed in August of 1987 by former members of the horror punk band, The Misfits. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ... MÃ¥negarm is a Swedish Viking/black metal band from NorrtÃ¤lje. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ... Mithotyn was a viking metal band from Sweden. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Finland. ... Moonsorrow are a folk/pagan metal band formed in Helsinki, Finland in 1995. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Nachtfalke is both a black metal and Viking metal band from Germany, formed in 1996 by Tino Mothes (who goes by the professional name Occulta Mors), formerly a member of several bands including Moonblood, Nargaroth, Ravenclaw, Andras and Demoniac. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ... Otyg is a Folk music/Viking metal band from Sweden. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Rebellion is a German heavy-metal band. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... Slechtvalk is a a large hairy penis that gay men have sucked This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Iceland. ... SÃ³lstafir are an Icelandic viking metal/black metal band, formed in 1994. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Stormwarrior is a speed metal band from Germany that was formed in 1998 by vocalist and guitar player Lars Ramcke and drummer Andre Schumann, adding later in the same year guitarist Scott Bolter and bass player Tim Zienert. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... SuidAkrA is a melodic death metal band from Germany, formed in 1994. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... For other uses, see The Sword (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ... Thyrfing are a Viking Metal band from Sweden. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Trelldom is a Norwegian black metal band, formed in 1992. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Trollfest are a folk metal band from Oslo, Norway. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Finland. ... Turisas is a Finnish folk metal band founded in 1997 by Mathias NygÃ¥rd and Jussi WickstrÃ¶m and named after an ancient Finnish god of war. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Faroe_Islands. ... TÃ½r (pronounced [tÊŠiËÉ¹]) is a band from the Faroe Islands which plays a combination of heavy metal and folk music, and signed a worldwide deal with Austrias Napalm Records in early 2006, while previously signed to the Faroese record label Tutl. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Vanaheim was a Viking metal band from BÃ¦rum in Norway. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ... Vintersorg is a Swedish progressive, folk/viking, black metal-influenced band formed in 1994 under the name Vargatron (Wolfthrone in English). ... Till FjÃ¤lls is the first released recording by Swedish progressive/folk metal band Vintersorg. ... Till FjÃ¤lls is the first full-length album by Swedish progressive/folk metal band Vintersorg. ... Ã–demarkens Son is the second full-length album by Swedish progressive/folk metal band Vintersorg. ... Solens RÃ¶tter (The Roots of the Sun) is the sixth full-length album by Swedish folk metal band Vintersorg. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Windir (Warrior in English) was a folkloric black metal band from Sogndal, Norway. ...

References

Categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007 | Heavy metal | Viking metal | Metal subgenres | Norse mythology in popular culture Heavy metal redirects here. ... Alternative metal is an form of music that gained popularity in the early 1990s alongside grunge. ... Avant-garde metal or experimental metal is generally regarded as a cross-genre reference to metal bands or more exactly as a stylistic adjunction with specific traits (just like Progressive-, Symphonic-, Viking-, Pagan-, Folk-, Industrial-). It is characterized by large amounts of experimentation and by non-standard sounds, instruments, and... This article is about the musical genre. ... Christian metal is a form of heavy metal music and its many subgenres with Christian lyrics and themes. ... Classic metal is a term used to refer to heavy metal bands from the 1970s and 1980s who peaked later than the late 1960s and early 1970s pioneers of the genre, yet before the era when mainstream and underground heavy metal became seriously divided. ... Dark metal is a subjective term used to describe metal bands from various genres that have combined traits from gothic metal, doom metal, black metal[1] as well as some symphonic elements, synthesizer use, acoustic guitar experimentation and/or operatic female vocals. ... This article is about the musical genre. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Extreme metal is an umbrella term, somewhat loosely defined, for a variety of heavy metal subgenres developed since the 1980s. ... Folk metal is a diverse collection of music, encompassing a wide variety of different styles and approaches. ... Funk metal is a type of music that incorporates hard-driving heavy metal guitar riffs and the pounding bass rhythms characteristic of funk. ... Glam metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that arose in the late 1970s - early 1980s in the United States. ... Gothic metal is a genre of heavy metal music that originated during the mid 1990s in Europe as an outgrowth of doom-death, a fusion genre of doom metal and death metal. ... Grindcore, often shortened to grind, is an evolution of hardcore punk, most commonly associated with death metal, a very different though similarly extreme style of music. ... Groove metal, often associated with half-thrash/neo-thrash/nu-thrash/post-thrash and power groove, is a term sometimes used to describe a derivative of thrash metal which took its current form during the early 1990s. ... Industrial metal is a musical genre that draws elements from industrial music and heavy metal music. ... Metalcore is a fusion of extreme metal and hardcore punk that began in the United States. ... Neo-classical metal is a subgenre of the heavy metal music heavily influenced by classical music in its style of playing and composing[1]. It implies a very technical performance and the use of elements borrowed from classical music and/or by famous classical music composers. ... Nu metal (also called aggro metal, or nÃ¼ metal using the traditional heavy metal umlaut) is a musical genre that has origins in the mid 1990s. ... Post-metal is a music genre, a mixture between the genres of post-rock and heavy metal, with roots in progressive rock and industrial music. ... Power metal is a style of heavy metal music typically with the aim of evoking an epic feel, combining characteristics of traditional metal with thrash metal or speed metal, often within symphonic context. ... Progressive metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music which blends the powerful, guitar-driven sound of metal with the complex compositional structures, odd time signatures, and intricate instrumental playing of progressive rock. ... Punk metal (also known as Crossover thrash) is an umbrella term used to describe music that fuses elements of hardcore punk and heavy metal. ... Rapcore is a musical genre that fuses the techniques of hip hop, gangsta rap, hard rock, heavy metal, alternative rock, hardcore punk and sometimes funk. ... Sludge metal is a form of heavy metal music that is generally regarded as a fusion of doom metal and Stoner metal[1], often incorporating southern rock influences. ... Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal that spawned in the early 1980s and was the direct musical progenitor of thrash metal[1] [2]. When Speed metal first emerged as a genre, it innovatively increased the tempo of the music template set forth by Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin... Stoner rock and stoner metal are interchangeable terms describing sub-genres of rock and metal music. ... Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that sound similar to a classical symphony. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by the high speed and aggression. ... Scandinavian death metal concerns the death metal bands of Scandinavian origin. ... The New Wave of British Heavy Metal (frequently abbreviated as NWOBHM or N.W.O.B.H.M.) emerged in the late 1970s and reached mainstream attention in the late 1970s, in the United Kingdom, as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as... Bay Area thrash metal, or Bay Area Thrash, referred to a steady following of heavy metal bands in the 1980s who formed and gained international status in the San Francisco Bay Area, California [1]. Along with Tampa, Florida, the scene was widely attributed as a starting point of American thrash... Judas Priest, in typical heavy metal attire, performing at the VH1 Rock Honors on May 25, 2006. ... This is a list of bands that pertain to the heavy metal genre of music. ... The heavy metal umlaut, or rock dots, is an umlaut over letters in the name of a heavy metal band, such as MÃ¶tley CrÃ¼e or MotÃ¶rhead. ... Extreme metal is an umbrella term, somewhat loosely defined, for a variety of heavy metal subgenres developed since the 1980s. ... This article is about the musical genre. ... This article is about the musical genre. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by the high speed and aggression. ... ... Drone metal, also known as drone doom, is a subgenre of doom metal that takes the heaviness and slowness of its progenitor to a new extreme. ... It has been suggested that sludge metal be merged into this article or section. ... Melodic black metal is a sub-genre of black metal. ... Melodic death metal, (also referred to as Gothenburg metal, melodeath, and post-death) is a subgenre of death metal. ... This article is about the musical genre. ... Sludge metal is a form of heavy metal music that is generally regarded as a fusion of doom metal and Stoner metal[1], often incorporating southern rock influences. ... Symphonic Death Metal incorporates Complex orchestral and symphonic arrangements into death metal, many times played by keyboardist but sometime an actual orchestra. ... Symphonic Black Metal is a fusion genre, combining elements of black metal and symphonic metal. ... Technical death metal, or tech death for short, is a term used to describe bands in the subgenre death metal. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Blackened death metal also called death/black metal or black/death metal (depending on which styles is dominant) is a fusion genre of extreme metal utilising elements of death metal and black metal with bands usually hailing from Europe. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Death/Doom is a fusion genre, combines the slow tempos and pessimistic mood of doom metal with the guttral vocals and guitar style of death metal. ... Deathcore is an amalgamation of two musical styles: metalcore and death metal. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Grindcore, often shortened to grind, is an evolution of hardcore punk, most commonly associated with death metal, a very different though similarly extreme style of music. ...

Contents

Troll metal

Confusion with Nazism and far-right extremism

List of notable Viking metal bands

References