Top 10 Best Viking Metal Bands
Viking metal brings the epic battles, ancient sagas, and raw beauty of Norse mythology to life through music. The genre blends the crushing power of heavy metal with the atmospheric and sometimes folk-inspired sounds that evoke the spirit of warriors, gods, and the unyielding forces of nature. It's a genre born from passion, storytelling, and a deep connection to the past.This list showcases bands that have carved a unique space in the Viking metal scene. Whether they lean heavily on death metal, black metal, or folk elements, each one contributes to the genre's fierce energy and imaginative storytelling.
Bathory was a Swedish Black/Viking Metal band formed in 1983 by Quorthon and Jonas Åkerlund. Bathory's first 4 albums layed the blueprint for Scandinavian Black Metal. Quorthon is often credited with creating the "shrieking" vocal style of Black Metal. Their 5th album, Hammerheart (1990) displayed... read more Contrary to popular belief, Viking metal is not defined by lyrical content. Amon Amarth is not Viking metal because their sound is pure melodeath. Viking metal has a distinct sound, and Bathory epitomizes it.
Bathory invented Viking metal and created some of the best songs in the genre: Shores in Flames, Blood Fire Death, A Fine Day to Die, Valhalla, One Rode to Asa Bay, Twilight of the Gods, Under the Runes, The Lake, Lake of Fire, Nordland, Ring of Gold, Forever Dark Woods, Death and Resurrection of a Northern Son, The Wheel of Sun, and many more. If Quorthon hadn't been taken from us too soon, we'd have even more. To get into this genre, check out Bathory, along with Ensiferum, TYR, and Enslaved.
Amon Amarth is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Tumba, formed in 1992. The band takes its name from the Sindarin name of Mount Doom. I love this band! Usually, I'm not a big fan of growling, but Hegg makes it interesting and almost melodic. The ridiculous speed of their songs is incomparably epic. If you're going for Viking metal, Amon Amarth is a versatile band that any metal lover can enjoy.
People argue that Amon Amarth is melodic death metal and not Viking metal, but come on guys, all they sing about is Vikings. They're Viking metal. And just because Bathory was the first Viking metal band doesn't mean they're the best. Amon Amarth does Viking metal the best.
Ensiferum is a Finnish folk metal band from Helsinki. The members of the band label themselves as "melodic folk metal." Maybe the best Viking metal band now.
The best of Vikings, obviously.
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. Tyr are the kings of the Faroe Islands. They have Viking metal classics like Blood of Heroes and By the Sword in My Hand. They've also provided heavy metal spins on Faroese traditional ballads, my personal favorites being Turið Torkilsdóttir and Ragnars Kvæði. It's the best form of Faroese cultural exchange ever!
Enslaved is a Norwegian extreme metal band formed in Haugesund in June 1991. They are currently based in Bergen, Norway. Very good band. I love how they mix progressive metal with black/Viking metal.
As Fire Swept Clean the Earth is one of the greatest songs in all of metal.
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.
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 often overlooked. Their album The Varangian Way got me into death metal with folk influences and Viking metal. They definitely should be higher on this list.
Finntroll is a folk metal band from Helsinki, Finland. They combine elements of black metal and folk metal.
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. Everything they put out is amazing. They should be much higher on this list.
If you're new to this band, check out the album "Sagas."
The Newcomers
Absolutely the purest form of Viking metal!
Amon Amarth is my favorite melodic death band. Simply the best.
They just sound beautiful, and the lyrics are in Icelandic, which always sounds great.
In my opinion, this band has power, melody, and essential Viking traits.
Windir was a black metal band from Sogndal, Norway. The band combined black metal with folk music and mythology. Windir is famous for its brutal black and Viking metal songs, mixed with melodic intervals and both harsh and clean singing in English, Bokmål (standard Norwegian), and Sognamål dialect (native to the band's origins). This style, known as Sognametal by many fans, is carried on by other bands from the same area like Sigtyr, Feign, Mistur, and Cor Scorpii. Windir would undoubtedly be legendary today if frontman Valfar hadn't died in a snowstorm. While band members later formed Vreid, the new band was good but lost the Sognametal/Viking spark that Valfar brought. If you've never heard of them, listen to their final three albums, which are considered masterpieces.
Manowar is an American power metal band from New York City, New York. Formed in 1980, the group is known for lyrics based on fantasy and mythology.They have been a significant influence in the history of metal, especially in genres such as power metal, symphonic metal, Viking metal, war metal,... read more
Amazing band. One of my favorites.
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. If you haven't heard this band, check them out now!
Amon Amarth is definitely at the top of Viking metal, closely followed by King of Asgard.
Kampfar is a Norwegian black metal band that was formed in 1994. Known for their incorporation of folklore and pagan themes into their music, Kampfar has a sound that is both traditional and innovative. Their work often includes Norwegian lyrics and has garnered them a strong following in the Scandinavian... read more They are better than all others. Period.