Folk / Medieval / Metal / Rock

Orphaned Land is a metal band from Israel that combines various metal genres, primarily death and doom metal, with traditional oriental folk sounds. Instruments such as the oud, darbuka, kanun, and typical oriental percussion are frequently used, complemented by vocals and choirs from the Middle East.

A central theme of their lyrics is the three Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—which are often interwoven in terms of content. Through this unique combination, Orphaned Land…

Subway to Sally is a band from the Potsdam region that was founded in 1990 and has evolved over time from a folk-oriented project to a mixture of folk and metal. Their debut album still contained many songs with English lyrics, but they later added Latin and Gaelic passages to their music. Today, the band sings mainly in German and is known for its profound, poetic lyrics.

The band's origins go back to the friendship between Simon Levko ("Simon") and Michael Boden ("Bodenski"), who had known…

Korpiklaani, which means "clan of the wilderness" or "clan of the forest" in Finnish, is a folk metal band from Lahti, Finland, characterized by its strong incorporation of traditional folk music. Their songs often deal with mythological themes, nature, and celebration, with instrumental pieces also forming an integral part of their repertoire. The band considers itself heavily influenced by humppa, a Finnish dance music style.

Korpiklaani was formed in 2003 from the previously disbanded band…

Brachmond is a medieval rock band from Olching. Powerful vocals and sweet violin sounds are complemented by bagpipes and electric guitars. Newcomers of the Year 2016 and winners of the Amper Slam Band Battle.

Nachtgeschrei is a German folk metal and medieval rock band from Frankfurt am Main that has been active since 2006. The group was formed by former members of the folk rock band Black Sheep and the melodic death metal band Paimon, combining different musical influences.

In 2006 and 2007, they released a promo CD each, which brought them initial attention in the scene. Their official debut album Hoffnungsschimmer was released on May 2, 2008, on the Massacre Records label and featured a powerful…

Feuerschwanz is a German medieval rock band from the Erlangen area, founded in 2004. Tobias Heindl, violinist with the folk rock band Fiddler's Green, and bassist Andre Linke are responsible for founding the band. The band is supposed to be a parody band in the tradition of J.B.O., although some members had already left the band because they couldn't identify with the humorous concept.

Have you ever wondered what happens when you mix traditional German folk music, a horn full of mead, and…

Ensiferum, whose name comes from Latin and means "sword-bearer," is a Finnish metal band that is primarily associated with the Viking and folk metal genres. The group was founded in 1995 by Markus Toivonen, Sauli Savolainen, and Kimmo Miettinen. Of the founding members, only Toivonen is still active in Ensiferum today, and he is also primarily responsible for composing most of the songs. To date, the band has released six regular studio albums and one EP, as well as a live DVD and reissues of…

Finntroll is a folk metal band from Helsinki, Finland, founded in 1997 by Teemu "Somnium" Raimoranta and Jan "Katla" Jämsen. In January 1998, Raimoranta (guitar and bass) and Jämsen (vocals and keyboard) recorded their first demo, Rivfader, with the drums played by a drum machine. The demo is about 21 minutes long and contains three complete songs as well as three instrumental pieces or intros. All three songs were later re-recorded for the debut album. The demo recordings are now available…

Ignis Fatuu (from the Latin term for "will-o'-the-wisp") is a German medieval rock band from Nuremberg that has been around since 2004. The group was founded by Alexander Trappe, who is the creative center of the band.

In 2007, Ignis Fatuu released their first promo CD with five songs, which brought them initial attention in the medieval scene. A year later, the band performed at the renowned Festival Medieval and shared the stage with well-known acts such as Ingrimm, Arundo, and Zwielicht.

In…

Týr is a metal band from the Faroe Islands, named after the Germanic god of war Tyr. The band combines traditional Faroese music with metal elements and is known for incorporating Faroese ballads and legends into their songs.

Most of the songs are written by Heri Joensen, the creative mind and singer of the group. His lyrics and melodies are often based on the rich folklore and history of the Faroe Islands.

Týr was founded in January 1998 in Copenhagen when Joensen reunited with his former…

Eluveitie (pronounced "el-veiti") is a pagan metal band from Winterthur, Switzerland, consisting of eight members who originally come from different regions of Switzerland. Musically, the band combines Celtic folklore with metal elements, mostly from death and black metal. Eluveitie is therefore classified as Celtic metal.

The group's lyrics revolve around the history, everyday life, and spirituality of the Celtic tribe of the Helvetii and are partly written in a reconstructed form of Helvetian…

Alestorm is a power metal band from Perth, Scotland, which tongue-in-cheek describes itself as the great "true Scottish pirate metal." The band was originally founded in 2004 under the name Battleheart.

In 2006, the group released two EPs—Battleheart and Terror on the High Seas—which were available for free download on the band's website at the time. The first EP included a cover version of the Korpiklaani song "Journey Man."

Their debut album, Captain Morgan's Revenge, was recorded in the summer…

Saltatio Mortis (Latin for "Dance of Death") is a well-known German medieval rock band. Since its founding in 2000, it has been known for its energetic live performances and its blend of traditional medieval music and modern rock. Their trademark is not only their powerful melodies but also their profound lyrics, which often address historical themes and social issues. A central motto of the band is: "He who dances, dies not." This reflects their philosophy of celebrating life, even in the face…

Arkona (Russian: Аркона) is a Russian folk and pagan metal band. The band's name comes from a Slavic place of worship at Cape Arkona.

Since their formation, these impressive musicians have released at least six albums and a live DVD. What sets them apart from other bands, however, is their focus on historical and cultural authenticity as well as their musical innovation. The use of traditional Russian instruments and genres gives their tracks a unique touch.

One of the band's most outstanding…