Viking metal

Viking metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by a lyrical and thematic focus on Norse mythology, Norse paganism, and the Viking Age. Viking metal is quite diverse as a musical style, to the point where some consider it more a cross-genre term than a genre, but it is typically heard as black metal with influences from Nordic folk music. Common traits include a slow-paced and heavy riffing style, anthemic choruses, use of both sung and harsh vocals, a reliance on folk instrumentation, and often the use of keyboards for atmospheric effect. Viking metal emerged from black metal during the late 1980s and early 1990s, sharing with black metal an opposition to Christianity, but rejecting Satanism and occult themes in favor of the Vikings and paganism. It is similar, in lyrics, sound, and thematic imagery, to pagan metal, but pagan metal has a broader mythological focus and uses folk instrumentation more extensively. Most Viking metal bands originate from the Nordic countries, and nearly all bands claim that their members descend, directly or indirectly, from Vikings. Quotes about Viking metal To someone unfamiliar with the history of heavy metal, the premise of a metal sub-genre dedicated exclusively to Norse themes would sound positively ludicrous. And yet! In the late ‘80s, Viking metal started gaining traction, thanks, in large part, to the works of Sweden’s Bathory, and, specifically, their seminal trilogy of albums: 1988’s Blood Fire Death, ‘90s Hammerheart, and ‘91’s Twilight of the Gods. Then, as the heavy metal Valkyries descended across all of Scandinavia in the early ‘90s – launching major “scenes” around Norway’s black metal, Sweden’s death metal, and Finland’s folk metal – it was only a matter of time before these new bands began finding inspiration in their heritage. Marrying Norse history and legends, its bloodthirsty gods, and pagan rituals with heavy metal’s violent sounds, gothic tones, and natural aggression was almost too easy! External links Category:Heavy metal music