A Guide To Viking Pirate and Pagan/Folk Metal
A De-Tangling of the History of this Niche Genre
Sep 1, 2008
Wholly a European phenomenon, and abbreviated to VPPFBM (Viking, Pirate and Pagan/Folk Battle Metal), this movement seems to have its roots in the more barbaric races in history, and their associated charms, such as Viking folk and Pirate crews.
Yo Ho Ho and A Bit of Heavy Metal
Early in the 80s, when the flag of New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWBHM) was waving fervently, a German posse of metal heads decided to adopt the common theme of Satan. In addition, they developed a swashbuckling image and lyrics regarding blood, gold, high seas, exotic ports, casual larceny and excessive drinking.
This band was the almighty Running Wild.
If the splendid Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) and its two lackluster sequels proved two things, they were that the world loves Johnny Depp, and the world loves a Pirate. In many ways the idyllic anti-hero, the lifestyle of a pirate is one many people can associate with or at least admire. A Girl in every port, drinking, gambling, sailing, fighting and stealing. Genius.
From Tortuga Bay To Valhalla : Viking Metal
In a similar vein, the Norse Viking peoples of Scandinavia were rugged, strong and enjoyed many of the nowadays illegal pastimes that Pirates did. In many ways Vikings were the pirates of the north, sailing in longships rather than grand Galleons and instead of raiding another ship or seaside town, they would pillage a village or two.
Due to this tradition and cultural heritage, Scandinavia has produced the most, and, some say, best bands in this niche. Finland have the most at present, but a band from Sweden first embraced Viking appreciation and metal to an obsessive extent. That band was the truly epic Bathory.
The Swede musicians known collectively as Bathory were formed with a raw unpolished black metal sound, but emerged the other side with epic metal fused with customary local folk music. Their repertoire starts with the Hammerheart album in 1990.
Tragedy ended, but also immortalised, the legacy of Bathory with the death of main man Tomas 'Quorthon' Forsberg in 2004.
As part of the second wave of black metal, and the wave that shaped black metal into its currently accepted standard form, Norwegians Enslaved wrote about Yggdrasil, the great Tree of life and death in Norse mythology. Enslaved sang about great battles of times past, like “793 (Slaget Om Lindisfarne)” from the Eld (1997) album. The song is as epic (and maybe just as long) as the historic battle.
In the wake of Enslaved and Bathory's delve into Norse attitudes and pastimes several other Scandinavian metal bands became enamored with their Homeland history and mythology. Finnish lads Finntroll and Ensiferum emerged battling and singing away during the 90’s as well as Swedish gents Amon Amarth and Månegarm. Although Amon Amarth take their name from Tolkien lore, their thematic roots and hearts lie with Viking chronicles.
Post millennial highlights of this genre include more Finns in the forms of Korpiklaani and Turisas. The former are musically orientated around humpaa metal with heavy doses of traditional Suomi folk music with violin and accordion to boot. The latter focus more on the battle before unlike Korpiklaani who seem to focus on the drinking afterwards.
Pagans Across Europe
The Anglo-Saxon heritage of the U.K. and the Celtic pagan ways of past times in peripheral areas of the U.K. and Ireland are still held strongly by the local inhabitants. It seems these ways are also being adopted by many metal bands, at least lyrically.
Forefather, fore example, an English band who imbibe this culture by the goblet, are predominantly a black metal band in sound but have more adventurous progressive and traditional passages, similar to Enslaved.
Other bands in this sphere include the drink-obsessed Scottish pirate metal upstarts Alestorm and longstanding Irish pagan protagonists Waylander.
Back in Germany, and the home of Running Wild, we have XIV Dark Centuries who focus on the dark ages for their pagan metal experience. Another notable band worth a listen are Skyforger, from Latvia.
Many more bands play this form of metal, and to a high standard, so search far and wide. Despite many minor differences, every band mentioned here conjure the spirit of times past or arcane mythologies to write and perform emotionally engaging metal.
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