Best Folk Metal Bands

truemetal

The Top Ten

1 Ensiferum Ensiferum Ensiferum is a Finnish folk metal band from Helsinki. The members of the band label themselves as "melodic folk metal."

Absolutely amazing! They have such huge variation in each of their songs, with melodic instrumentals and powerful vocals. Definitely one of my favourite bands of all time.

Best folk metal band ever...

Guardians of fate, warriors without war, heroes in dream, kings of Finland, and the best band ever - Odinest

They don't play Folk Metal. They play Pagan Metal. - UniqueUser

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2 Eluveitie Eluveitie

Folk music + heavy metal + dragon & valkyrie' vocal
What could have been better? M/

They're simply amazing! The songs are so beautiful, just listen to songs like "inis mona"!

Their composition is just way awesome and also the vocals!

The best feminine voice I have ever heard

V 33 Comments
3 Wintersun Wintersun Wintersun is a metal band from Helsinki, Finland and was originally created by guitarist, keyboardist, bassist, songwriter and vocalist Jari Mäenpää as a side project to folk metal band Ensiferum for whom he was lead singer and guitarist.

I wouldn't really call them Folk Metal, more on the lines of Avant-garde Power Metal, or Symphonic Power Metal; great band none-the-less and definitely worth checking out if you haven't already.

Symphonic folk metal. Everything they do is literally gold. Jari and his team makes wonderful music. Sons of winter and stars, fly into the sky, dark of the sun. Still waiting for the new album, though.

That's not folk metal but I love this band jari and kai are real geniuses

Wintersun is more Symphonic or Melodeath than Folk Metal, but does count. Debut album always had a viking vibe to it, and Time I has obvious folk influences, like the oriental Japanese themes in the intros and scattered throughout the main songs.

Not my favorite though in terms of Folk Metal, Ensiferum and Eluveitie beat it. Just thought I should explain WHY people call it Folk Metal. - Penguincamp

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4 Korpiklaani Korpiklaani

Korpiklaani is my first choice without thinking here! Was deeply surprised not to see them in top 3. I'm sure they will climb higher. They are a most fine representation of Folk Metal, not too extreme as Ensiferum is for that matter, and very uplifting! And the lyrics very much match the mood the music creates! Korpiklaani is Folk Metal!

It's impossible of being on a bad mood when listening Korpiklaani.
Their songs are simply wonderful, seems that they were born with their instruments in the hand. They are just the best. I am a big folk metal fan, and they are my favourite.

Korpiklaani is the group that defined the term folk metal without them we will don't have folk metal

Awesome band, all around... where does one even begin to describe perfection... every time I listen to their albums I wanna go get some mead and drink 'till I pass out. their Albums are a must have for any Folk Metal enthusiast. 10/10

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5 Equilibrium Equilibrium Equilibrium is a German folk metal band. The band's music combines elements of folk music, power metal, black metal and symphonic metal with various other influences.

How I got into Folk metal in the first place

This band have song that one of the best music ever created, and that is "MANA".

If it weren't for these guys, I wouldn't have discovered folk metal in the first place. - LostDream258

They don't play Folk Metal. They play Pagan Metal. - UniqueUser

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6 Tyr Tyr Týr is a Faroese heavy metal band. Their subject matter revolves almost entirely around Viking lore, mythology, and history, taking their name from the Norse god of law and justice.

I wish they would come to Georgia in The States. Every time I want to see them preform live, they are no where near me. I guess you could say it makes me shed a "Tyr".

My first folk metal band and until now one of the best for me

This Tyr it's my favorite folk metal band of all time I love everything

There debut album "Eric the Red" will also be on repeat for me

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7 Finntroll Finntroll Finntroll is a folk metal band from Helsinki, Finland. They combine elements of black metal and folk metal.

It may not be the most technical of the bands out there, but it is certainly top-of-the-class folk metal! Catchy, folky melodies mixed with black metal and everything else possible.

They should be in the top 5 I think. they rock, I can make Party when they are playing, I almost lose my mind!

This is the best folk metal band

This was the first folk metal band I've listen to. Solsagaan, trollhammeren and hasbyxrd were my favorite tracks of them.

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8 Alestorm Alestorm Alestorm is a heavy metal band originally from Perth, Scotland. Their music is characterized by a pirate theme, and as a result they have been dubbed a "pirate metal" band by many critics and their fanbase.

This band got me into folk metal. However I am not surprised that they are so far down on the list as they are highly underrated

I like them. They have sense of humor. Great Band.

Listen Alestorm. Drink beer. Become a pirate

The Best!

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9 Turisas Turisas Turisas is a Finnish metal band from Hämeenlinna. They were founded in 1997 by Mathias Nygård and Jussi Wickström, and named after an ancient Finnish God of war.

Turisas is just...amazing. The music itself varies like crazy & the stories are great! #1 Folk Metal band in my honest opinion.

Turisas number 1. Ensiferum is also really great, but Turisas wins! (but I'm not sure if Turisas is actually folk metal... )

A kickass combination of folk, viking and symphonic metals with all their upsides.

best

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10 Moonsorrow Moonsorrow Moonsorrow is a pagan metal band formed in Helsinki, Finland, in 1995. Musically, the band incorporates elements of black metal and folk metal in their sound.

Magnificent, big, deep, heroic, beautiful

These guys should be WAY higher than 10th...

That band is really awesome! It caught my attention from only 1 song for them, my 2nd favourite folk metal band after Eluveite - nooreldeen

Moonsorrow is art.
(+I agree with a lot of the great names on this top ten but man seriously Dalriada?
And well this is personal -do not hit me aha- but I think Eluveitie are way over rated. But I think they really can do better

The Contenders

11 Windir Windir Windir was a black metal band from Sogndal, Norway. The band combined black metal with folk music and mythology.

I mean, I voted for Ensiferum so I guess I'm not one to talk, but despite being #11, IT FEELS SO LOW ON THE LIST. WHY?! - Penguincamp

People don't know what real folk is anymore these days

11? really?

12 Thyrfing

Very melodic, yet powerful music. One of those bands, you will fall in love with, espacially when listening to their album "valdr galga". Just like me.

13 Agalloch Agalloch Agalloch was an American black/folk metal band from Portland, Oregon. They were formed in 1995 by frontman John Haughm. They released five studios albums, four EPs, two singles, one split single, two demos, four compilation albums, and one live video before disbanding in May 2016.

Incredibly folky winter like atmospheric black metal! I love it

what 14

top five

Wow 😳
I can't understand another...
This band deserve to be one of the best bands in this genre 😐😐😐 please vote!

14 Dalriada Dalriada is a folk metal band from Sopron, Hungary that was formed in 1998 as Echo of Dalriada, but shortened their name to Dalriada in late 2006. Their third studio album Kikelet and all subsequent albums were successful in the top ten of the official Mahasz music charts.

Hungarian kickass-metalheads with a blond broad who is able to lure you into sweet slumber just to scream off your face afterwards. Epic, folk, speed, Hungarian poetry!

Their songs don't disappoint you! It's a shame that I never knew of them before 2016!

Detailed, epic, powerish

Epic, fast, kickass meta

15 Mago de Oz

Please, the guys are as old as Skyclad and they made Folk Metal popular in America (continent). They deserve a higher place because of the topics and musical composition they introduce in each album though...

Easily the best folk metal bands, and easily the best spanish band of all time. Only reason its not in the top 3 its cause its not famous outside of spanish speaking countries.

Simply the best folk metal band out there.

They introduced me to folk metal! Love em

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16 Unleashing Vengeance
17 Cruachan Cruachan Cruachan is a Folk Metal band from Dublin, Ireland that has been active since the 1990s. They have been acclaimed as having "gone the greatest lengths of anyone in their attempts to expand" the genre of folk metal.

One of the first folk metal bands, and the founding fathers of Celtic Metal, a lot today's folk metal bands are goofy are more folk then metal but Cruachan takes there music (for the most part) and balances both genres perfectly. they may not be the most mainstream but they're still my favorite sense there one of the oldest and they fuse metal with the music I hold closest to my heart; Irish Celtic music.

Cruachan is awesome. They're Irish, and their style is called Celtic Metal - ryanrimmel

Why are they so far back in a genre they helped create?

18 Skyclad

I always though to me that Ensiferum and Týr were the best Folk Metal Bands ever but when I first heard SKYCLAD I feel inlove with the band and changed my oppinion leaving the other two behind, they are definitely the best Folk Metal Band Ever m/

19 Melechesh
20 Falkenbach Falkenbach Falkenbach is a pagan black metal group from Germany that is signed to Prophecy Productions. The name means "Falconbrook" in German. The one permanent member is Vratyas Vakyas. They are one of the very first Viking metal bands, starting in 1989, with their first release that same year.

This band really moves me, with its deep love of the viking culture, told over the top of some truly masterful music

Gorgeous music. The clean vocals remind me of being a child in my fathers arms as he sings me to sleep. So comforting.

True viking metal

Truley beautiful music, makes me want to climb a mountain and slay a dragon

21 Einherjer
22 Skiltron Skiltron Skiltron is an Argentinian folk/power metal band formed in 2004 by Emilio Souto. While a fusion between heavy metal and celtic music is common in many parts of Europe, it is uncommon in South America, and especially in Argentina, Skiltron being pioneers of the genre.

Totally underrated band. Epic mixing of bagpipes with complex guitar solos. Definitely one of the best.

23 Mithotyn
24 Niburta

Something really new and amazing!

Best balcanic metal ever. :) Check out their new album. Vocals, instruments and power of their songs are killing from the first seconds! Damn good piece of music!

Try it! It's a piece of rage, melody, love etc.

Wonderful balcanic metal from Hungary! Really phenomenal!

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25 Falconer

My favorite folk/power metal band.

Best Filk Metal band without question!
Mattias (singer) has that perfect Bard type of voice.

26 Amorphis Amorphis Amorphis is a Finnish metal band formed in 1990. Initially, the band was a death metal act, but on later albums they have evolved into playing other genres, such as folk metal and progressive metal.

These guys become better every new release.

LOL. THIS BAND SHOULD BE WAY UP THIS NUMBER. LMFAO

27 Schandmaul
28 Skyforger

COME ON! SKYFORGER MUST BE MUCH HIGHER! - Mikbiter15

29 Nordheim

These guys kick many multitudes of ass

30 Winterstorm
31 In Extremo

One of my favorite folk metal bands! The songs Poc Vecem, Vollmond, Liam, herr mannelig, Mein Rasend Herz are very epic! Please listen to this songs you will understand why!

Surprised they aren't rated higher these guys are amazing! I fell in love the minute I heard Merseburger Zaubersprüche.

32 Metsatöll

There is just something in this, the band has that raw feeling, which makes it feel a little more authentic than other folk metal.

33 Varg

One of the most underrated folk metal bands.

34 Bucovina

Guys, Bucovina is the best folk band from Romania, and one of the best folk bands in the world!

Because of them I started to like folk metal. I would deserve at least a place in the top 10.

So underrated

Romanian Metal m/

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35 Suidakra Suidakra

Oh man, I don't believe! 41th? Are you crazy guys? SUIDAKRA RULES! Since The first álbum!

36 Svartsot
37 Trollfest
38 Wilderun
39 Wolfarian
40 Heidevolk

Perfectly beautiful music! The guys' voices are sexy and the harmonies are amazing, not to mention the great instrumental component. Definitely my favorite!

Unique vocal style with two bass singers, great variation from soothing folk instrumentals to thundering anthems, well-researched mythological themes.

The best live performance I've seen in years. Absolutely amazing music, from the instrumentals to the duo'd vocals.

Actually true vikings! HEIDEVOLK to Valhalla! M/

41 Brezno

I agree, they are highly underrated. They should be at least in the top 20. I wouldn't say are good enough to be in the top 10 though.

I think they are pretty good! They were formed in Slovenia and each member utilizes powerful, melodic, and growling(sometimes) vocals. I personally think they could be the next big Folk Metal band if they had some more fans. If you or anyone else is interested in any of their songs, listen to these 2: Krst and Solze. Those songs are legendary in terms of melody and instrumentals.

42 Finsterforst
43 Lou Quinse

Best newcomers! I think they are innovative! Hardcore influences, extreme metal and folk, I love them!

44 Northland

That band is just awesome, that�'s too bad that nobody know them.

45 Gwydion
46 Tuatha de Danann

I'm surprised they're not ranked here already. Best folk celtic metal I've ever heard.

47 Vallorch

Great songs with original riffs, structures and sounds. A very nice female voice and male growl, what else?

48 Aquilus
49 Forefather

Criminally underrated.

50 Wolfchant

Wolfchant has everything a folk metal band needs. They deserve to be higher than others on this list.

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List Stats

1,000 votes
67 listings
7 years, 343 days old

Top Remixes (11)

1. Tyr
2. Korpiklaani
3. Ensiferum
metalsoldier99
1. Ensiferum
2. Wintersun
3. Dalriada
BimmyJim
1. Ensiferum
2. Alestorm
3. Mago de Oz
SventheCrusader

WRemix
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