ANGRY TUESDAY - FOLK METAL

Something about Tuesdays makes me angry… I don’t know what it is. Maybe because it’s such a nothing day.

I want to take you on a little trip through metal, mythology…and folk music. I’m taking a sneak peak at an interesting sub genre of metal called FOLK METAL. For the uninitiated it kind of sounds reminiscent of middle earth, the war cry that would ring out as the armies of Sauron march out from the fires of Mordor. And if you’re a little geeked out by what I’ve said so far, I would run for the hills…

Folk Metalists: Eluveitie

FOLK METAL is said to have begun with one band, SKYCLAD back in the early 90’s. The genre takes on all the elements of metal, but it also adds folk instruments and, to some extent, more traditional styles of singing. Here’s where it began.

The genre caused such a stir amongst fans and media to the point where well-known black metal musicians from bands DARKTHRONE and SATYRICON came together to form a ‘supergroup’ with members of DOOM METAL band THE 3^RD AND THE IMMORTAL.

The use of violins, tin whistles, flutes, and/or the hurdy gurdy (my personal favourite) gives the music a certain celtic feel, which spawned the sub genre of CELTIC METAL.

Metal isn’t the only genre to bridge the gap with folk by adding some instruments that aren’t usually in the mix. Heard of punk? Heard of DROP KICK MURPHYS? These guys have done it quite well. ENJOY!

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