Folk Metal

I don't really know much else. lol.

Marc Mason wrote:

I don't really know much else. lol.

Skyclad. Seriously, I cannot stress enough that these guys epitomise the spirit of 'folk metal'. Most, more current folk metal bands will undoubtedly cite Skyclad as an influence - they're like the Sabbath of folk metal.

Never really got into this sub-genre but I did work with a guy who absolutely loved this stuff, mostly the celtic variety.
Somehow I seem to think of that Michael Flatley guy fom Lord of the Dance doing his irish step-dance to this whenever I hear any of those bands.

Smindas wrote:

Marc Mason wrote:

I don't really know much else. lol.

Skyclad. Seriously, I cannot stress enough that these guys epitomise the spirit of 'folk metal'. Most, more current folk metal bands will undoubtedly cite Skyclad as an influence - they're like the Sabbath of folk metal.

I'm listening to Skyclad and, lol, this don't sound nuthin like no dang Folk-Metal. I'm hearing something which sounds like a Rap-Metal version of 16th century Scot/Brit/Irish traditional music. The song is Mr. Malaprope. Oh, ok, this Roman Wall is much better. But, I don't know what they mean by 'Folk' when it outright rocks. Does most of this genre rock?

Agalloch has got the mellow, extremely atmospheric thing going for it. That's why I thought they refer to this stuff as Folk-Metal. Does Skyclad also have mellow, atmospheric stuff with really layered, complex guitar parts? I don't see how this band fits into the same genre as Agalloch. I probably wouldn't like this stuff much at all.

This is what Last FM says is close to Agalloch in musical direction:
http://www.last.fm/music/Agalloch/+similar

Ever hear of Woods of Ypres?
http://www.last.fm/music/Woods+of+Ypres

Ya can listen to a full Skyclad album over at here:
http://www.last.fm/music/Skyclad/Jig-a-Jig

Let me post a few titles to give ya a decent understanding of my understanding of this sub-genre, mate.

Ya got your things this:
http://www.last.fm/music/Wolven+Ancestry/The+Wrath+of+Gaia
Woven Ancestry
http://www.last.fm/music/Agalloch/Of+Stone%2C+Wind%2C+and+Pillor
Agalloch
http://www.last.fm/music/Wolves+in+the+Throne+Room/Two+Hunters
Wolves in the Throne Room

And then ya got pretty much more of the same:
http://www.last.fm/music/In+the+Woods.../HEart+of+the+Ages
In The Woods
http://www.last.fm/music/Kauan/Lumikuuro
Kauan

Marc Mason wrote:

Smindas wrote:

Marc Mason wrote:

I don't really know much else. lol.

Skyclad. Seriously, I cannot stress enough that these guys epitomise the spirit of 'folk metal'. Most, more current folk metal bands will undoubtedly cite Skyclad as an influence - they're like the Sabbath of folk metal.

I'm listening to Skyclad and, lol, this don't sound nuthin like no dang Folk-Metal. I'm hearing something which sounds like a Rap-Metal version of 16th century Scot/Brit/Irish traditional music. The song is Mr. Malaprope. Oh, ok, this Roman Wall is much better. But, I don't know what they mean by 'Folk' when it outright rocks.

That's there more recent output, you should really try and look in to earlier albums like Jonah's Ark and Prince of the Poverty Line. However, I literally do not understand how this doesn't sound like folk metal, if it sounds like a metal version of 16th century, traditional British music. That's folk music. Fiddles, flutes, people jigging - that's folk. Yes, of course it has developed since then, but that's the original foundation. These are the elements that bands like Skyclad, Elvenking, Korpiklaani and to an extent Finntroll incorporate in to their music, and these are the bands that define the genre. So uh. Yeah, can't really say it doesn't sound "like no dang folk-metal".

I wouldn't call Battlelore a folk metal band. They are, however, awesome. Maybe they are folk metal. I don't know.

Apparently Crimfall is Finnish Epic Folk Metal, or so says the sticker on the jewelcase. I just bought it the other day and it's great. Male growler, female singer (who strangely looks beastly here, though she looked hot in Tacere...weird).

Smindas wrote:

That's there more recent output, you should really try and look in to earlier albums like Jonah's Ark and Prince of the Poverty Line. However, I literally do not understand how this doesn't sound like folk metal, if it sounds like a metal version of 16th century, traditional British music. That's folk music. Fiddles, flutes, people jigging - that's folk. Yes, of course it has developed since then, but that's the original foundation. These are the elements that bands like Skyclad, Elvenking, Korpiklaani and to an extent Finntroll incorporate in to their music, and these are the bands that define the genre. So uh. Yeah, can't really say it doesn't sound "like no dang folk-metal".

I guess that you're right. It's just that I don't know much about the genre and I'm using Agalloch as the yardstick. Maybe they're the anomaly, not the archetype. All I know as that this particular band is what I like. I was really impressed when I first heard 'The Mantle'. I never before heard this combination of musical elements. The guitars are so layered, complex and atmospheric. And, all the compositions are of a tremendously high quality.

For some reason, I see a comparison with Opeth, but in what way, I don't really know. I think it's because Agalloch sounds like a Scandanavian band. And, also, Agalloch's tunes are epic, yet accesssible, like Opeth.

Finntroll

I've been wanting to check out Ensiferum.