Top 10 Best Folk Metal Bands
Folk metal is what happens when the raw energy of heavy metal collides with the melodies and instruments of traditional folk music. It's a genre that blends the thunderous riffs and powerful drumming of metal with everything from fiddles and accordions to flutes and bagpipes. If you've ever wanted to headbang while feeling like you're marching into battle, drinking at a medieval tavern, or dancing around a bonfire in an ancient forest, folk metal is the way to go.
What makes folk metal so unique is its ability to transport you to different times and places. Some bands draw inspiration from Viking legends, while others focus on Celtic mythology or Slavic traditions. Lyrics often tell stories of war, adventure, and folklore, making every song feel like a journey.
Now it's time to decide which folk metal bands stand above the rest. Vote for the ones you think deserve the top spots.
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Ensiferum
Ensiferum is a Finnish folk metal band based in Helsinki. The group blends traditional folk melodies with melodic heavy metal. They self-describe as a "melodic folk metal" band and are known for integrating Finnish folk influences into their music.
Absolutely amazing! They have such huge variation in each of their songs, with melodic instrumentals and powerful vocals. Definitely one of my favorite bands of all time.
The more you get into folk metal, the more you realize that Ensiferum is top in this genre. Good variation and never out of their style. Great music, even greater vocals.
Just an amazing blend of various styles, including folk metal and melodeath, with some of the best riffs of any folk metal band.
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Eluveitie
Eluveitie is a Swiss folk-metal band formed in Winterthur, Zurich, in 2002 by Chrigel Glanzmann. The band combines Celtic folk elements with melodic death metal, using traditional instruments such as hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, flutes, and violins. They have released nine studio albums, including the most... read more
When a band goes as far as to dig up an ancient Celtic language to sing metal in, it doesn't get much more folk than that. Songs like Luxtos and Slania's Song have massive folk power.
They're simply amazing! The songs are so beautiful. Just listen to songs like "Inis Mona"!
Sometimes band ratings depend on how mainstream the band is, and nobody can ever deny Eluveitie's popularity throughout the world. I'm a huge lover of this band and genre from Bangladesh.
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Korpiklaani
Korpiklaani is a Finnish folk metal band that originally formed under the name Shaman. They changed their name to Korpiklaani around 2003 to reflect their evolving musical style. The band is known for blending traditional Finnish folk melodies and instruments with heavy metal elements, earning them... read more
Korpiklaani is my first choice without thinking here! I was deeply surprised not to see them in the top 3. I'm sure they will climb higher. They are a fine representation of folk metal, not too extreme as Ensiferum, and very uplifting! The lyrics match the mood the music creates perfectly. Korpiklaani is folk metal!
It's impossible to be in a bad mood when listening to Korpiklaani. Their songs are simply wonderful. It seems they were born with their instruments in hand. They are just the best. I am a big folk metal fan, and they are my favorite.
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Wintersun
Wintersun is a metal band from Helsinki, Finland, created by Jari Mäenpää as a side project while he was lead singer and guitarist for the folk metal band Ensiferum. Mäenpää serves as the guitarist, keyboardist, bassist, songwriter, and vocalist for Wintersun. The project eventually became his primary... read more
Wintersun is more symphonic or melodeath than folk metal, but it does count. The 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 in terms of folk metal. Ensiferum and Eluveitie beat it. Just thought I should explain why people call it folk metal.
Symphonic folk metal. Everything they do is literally gold. Jari and his team make wonderful music. Sons of Winter and Stars, Fly Into the Sky, Dark of the Sun. Still waiting for the new album, though.
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Equilibrium
Equilibrium is a German folk metal band known for blending multiple metal subgenres. The band's music incorporates elements of folk music, power metal, black metal, and symphonic metal, often accompanied by epic and mythological themes. Formed in 2001, Equilibrium has released several albums and built... read more
This is an exemplary view of how great metal can get. I first heard their song "Blut Im Auge," which is a phenomenal song. But my favorite song by them must be "Erwachen," a spectacular song. I'm so happy I found this great band, even though I don't understand 95% of the lyrics. The sound says it all for me!
If it weren't for these guys, I wouldn't have discovered folk metal in the first place.
This band has a song that is one of the best pieces of music ever created, and that is "MANA."
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Týr
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. The band blends traditional Faroese music with metal and often sings in both English and Faroese.
I wish they would come to Georgia in the States. Every time I want to see them perform live, they are nowhere near me. I guess you could say it makes me shed a "Tyr."
My first folk metal band ever. I love the songs they sing. I can just imagine that I am on a Viking ship in the way of a great journey. That's it. I love them.
Tyr is one of the greatest metal bands, let alone an absolutely excellent folk metal band. The beautifully crafted and incredibly intricate instrumentation from the guitarist, coupled with an amazing drummer and enrapturing vocal delivery from Heri, make this band an absolute pleasure to listen to time and time again.
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Alestorm
Alestorm is a heavy metal band originally from Perth, Scotland. Their music is characterized by a pirate theme, leading many critics and fans to dub them a "pirate metal" band. The band incorporates humorous lyrics and folk metal influences into their sound.
This band took me to the metal universe. It is amazing. If you like metal, you'll like Alestorm for sure! Listening to Alestorm is amazing when you're with some metal friends at home and you want to heat up everybody!
Alestorm has always been that one metal band that never takes themselves seriously. They're like the Immortal of folk metal. Captain Morgan's Revenge is a damn fine album.
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.
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Finntroll
Finntroll is a folk metal band from Helsinki, Finland. They are known for blending elements of black metal with Finnish polka, traditional folk melodies, and lyrics sung mostly in Swedish. The band formed in 1997 and stands out for its unique style and theatrical performances.
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 party when they are playing. I almost lose my mind!
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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 known for their theatrical live performances and their use of folk instruments, contributing to their distinct battle metal style... read more
Turisas is just amazing. The music itself varies like crazy, and the stories are great! #1 folk metal band in my honest opinion.
Turisas is number 1. Ensiferum is also really great, but Turisas wins! (But I'm not sure if Turisas is actually folk metal...)
Listen to the Battle Metal and Varangian Way albums and tell me Turisas is not number one. The orchestration in songs like Rex Regi Rebellis, As Torches Rise, To Holmgard and Beyond, and Miklagard Overture is just breathtaking, and Nygard's voice is surely one of the best in metal today.
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Windir
Windir was a black metal band from Sogndal, Norway. The band combined black metal with folk music and Norse mythology. It was founded by Valfar (Terje Bakken) in 1994 and disbanded after his death in 2004.
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Woodscream
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Kivimetsän Druidi
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Moonsorrow
Moonsorrow is a pagan metal band formed in Helsinki, Finland, in 1995. The band incorporates elements of black metal and folk metal into their sound, creating long, epic compositions. They are known for their lyrical themes inspired by Finnish mythology and history.
That band is really awesome! They caught my attention from only one song. They are my second favorite folk metal band after Eluveitie.
They are GODS. Simply the best band on this list.
These guys should be WAY higher than 10th.
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Thyrfing
Very melodic, yet powerful music. One of those bands you will fall in love with, especially when listening to their album "Valdr Galga." Just like me.
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Agalloch
Agalloch was an American black and folk metal band based in Portland, Oregon. The band was formed in 1995 by frontman John Haughm. Before disbanding in May 2016, Agalloch released five studio albums, four EPs, two singles, one split single, two demos, four compilation albums, and one live video.
Incredibly folky, winter-like atmospheric black metal! I love it.
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Mägo de Oz
They are amazing. They have a unique sound that combines elements of folk metal, power metal, and symphonic metal with Celtic and some neoclassical influences, incorporating the violin as one of the many instruments in their music.
In their new album, Ira Dei, there is even some electronic music, creating a blend of folk/power/symphonic metal with synths (pure genius, fight me)! I also love the vocals. They have two singers, one male and one female, and they are both amazing. The female singer is one of my favorite female singers ever.
I love their music, and their song Ira Dei from the new album of the same name is just a masterpiece. I added it to the list of Best Songs of 2019, and I want it higher. That's how amazing it is. They are one of my current favorite bands and by far the best examples of folk metal. They are also one of my two favorite bands from Spanish-speaking countries (they're from Spain and their lyrics are in Spanish. The other is Stravaganzza).
Sorry this comment is super long, but I love this band so much!
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Unleashing Vengeance
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Skyclad
These guys, in my opinion, are the best folk metal band. I understand why the more recent ones are so high up, but personally, I've never been able to enjoy music in a language I don't understand.
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Dalriada
Dalriada is a folk metal band from Sopron, Hungary, formed in 2003 under the name Echo of Dalriada. They shortened their name to Dalriada in late 2006. Their third studio album, Kikelet, and all subsequent albums have reached the top ten on the official Mahasz music charts.
Hungarian kickass metalheads with a blonde broad who is able to lure you into sweet slumber just to scream your face off afterward. Epic, folk, speed, Hungarian poetry!
Their songs don't disappoint you! It's a shame that I never knew of them before 2016!
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Cruachan
Cruachan is a folk metal band from Dublin, Ireland that has been active since the 1990s. They are known for blending traditional Irish music with metal, often incorporating mythology and historical themes into their lyrics. The band has been acclaimed for their dedication to expanding the boundaries... read more
One of the first folk metal bands and the founding fathers of Celtic Metal. A lot of today's folk metal bands are goofy and more folk than metal, but Cruachan balances both genres perfectly. They may not be the most mainstream, but they're still my favorite since they're one of the oldest, and they fuse metal with the music I hold closest to my heart: Irish Celtic music.
Why are they so far back in a genre they helped create?
Cruachan is awesome. They're Irish, and their style is called Celtic metal.
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Falkenbach
Falkenbach is a pagan black metal project from Germany signed to Prophecy Productions. The name means "Falconbrook" in German.
Founded in 1989 by Vratyas Vakyas, who remains the sole permanent member, Falkenbach is considered one of the earliest bands in the Viking metal genre. The group blends... read more
Gorgeous music. The clean vocals remind me of being a child in my father's arms as he sang me to sleep. So comforting.
This band really moves me, with its deep love of Viking culture told over the top of some truly masterful music.
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Einherjer
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Melechesh
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Skiltron
Skiltron is an Argentinian folk/power metal band formed in 2004 by Emilio Souto. While the fusion of heavy metal and Celtic music is common in many parts of Europe, it is relatively rare in South America. Skiltron is recognized as a pioneering band in this genre within Argentina.
Totally underrated band. Epic mixing of bagpipes with complex guitar solos. Definitely one of the best.
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Mithotyn
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Alkonost
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Waylander
