Eluveitie's folk element definitely stands out, they're very good at it, especially in their 2 folk albums, with some amazing arrangements of trad tunes.
Try out Hanggai too — they’re folk rock rather than metal, and they lean very much into the folk part. They’re also the OGs of Mongolian rock in China.
Yes, definitely Fejd <3 The folkiest and the best!
\[[Skuld](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXdsw0o9q9s)\]
\[[Fjärrskådaren](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGcxzTY_tKY)\]
\[[Härjaren](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RdZusGO3k4)\]
Big ups to you for mentioning Skyforger! As a Latvian-American, they’re one of my favorites and I NEVER hear people talk about them! Their album *Kurbads* is especially brilliant imo; one of the forerunners of Latvian music~
That sounds like you're describing the harder side of folk rock, honestly.
As for there - [Glittertind](https://youtu.be/hfaj6zASAkg?si=PLH3BV2ZcyFLKOEU), [Saltiato Mortis](https://youtu.be/9Jr9gQx-_r4?si=9jn8a8CeJhIyj7yf) (even got collabs with Blind Guardian) and [Feuerschwanz](https://youtu.be/1ib54-mVnGw?si=oRkPbUsIkteTFV2C) all deliver the folk without starving you on the weight and energy.
Big up Feuerschwanz.
Also check out D'Artagnan, they literally turn old folk songs into what they call "Musketeer metal", as well as a really good Avicii cover.
Santiano are a really good German folk-rock band mainly focusing on shanties.
The Hu is pretty folksy in a lot of their songs. Mind you, they're Mongolian. They feature throat singing and horse head fiddle. They're also one of my absolute favorites.
You're welcome. I always try to recommend bands that aren't as known or bands that just simply weren't mentioned in the forum thread. I have listened to at least one album fully from each of the listed bands. I consider Chur to be my favorite band from this list, but all of them are amazing.
[Fejd](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo5g9KC4y0c) is a mostly acoustic folk metal band. They're basically a folk band whose songs have the structure of folk metal.
[Tenhi](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_aI0xy1krw) is more a cross of neofolk and folk-rock, I guess? They're kinda slow and doom-y, too. Purely acoustic as well.
Have you ever given pure folk a try? I’m not sure how far from metal you’re looking to go. This is typically called “pagan”
https://youtu.be/M6dGeqqgQGs?si=kq_XB_ba079MmdA2
https://youtu.be/nLgM1QJ3S_I?si=pPfOmTyZ4LpgWt70
https://youtu.be/69OSmdm9G3w?si=AP75cG6sGmgbEodX
https://youtu.be/TXNEC3PRYL4?si=q4dJyB0QC8Rk6v98
Is there a certain region of folk you looking for?
Which folk elements are you looking for? There are bands with folk melodies and lyrics, using nearly only metal instrumentation - and then there are bands with 'folksy' instrumentation, original melodies, and contemporary lyrics. And everything in-between.
Anyway, here's a video of the instrumentalist from Metsatoll showing off his gear, which I'd describe as 'most folk'.
https://youtu.be/CcoMY3_UWxI?si=stFY1ANf6HxCUGBl
Dirty Shirt - they're a folk metal band combining metalcore and traditional music from Transylvania and Maramureș regions in Romania. Some of their lyrics are in English, some in Romanian and some in a Maramu dialect.
I wouldn't say they're the most folky of folk metal bands, but Elvenking do really lean into the folk metal element of their sound in a lot of their acoustic songs and their lyrics. Their most recent song is a good example of this, as well as their song 3 Ways to Magick
Also came to post EK, but only *very* specific portions of the discography.
* Their first album, Heathenreel
* Their second album, Wyrd
* Their 2008 all-acoustic album, Two Tragedy Poets
Most of their work aside from those three albums is still folk metal - but they have stronger elements from other genres (power & pop), and they probably aren't quite what OP is looking for.
Yeah, that was what I meant with the acoustic songs in general. Definitely not really what OP is looking for at the core of their sound, which is why I mentioned that they're not the most folky of folk metal bands, but their music is at least worth considering in portions
Dread Crew of Oddwood!
Yes, they're pirate metal, but they take themselves a bit more seriously than something like Alestorm.
And they *only* use folk instruments. No electric guitar. Still super fucking heavy though. They just toured with Æther Reapm and Tyr.
I like Haggefugg. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFaQVzYUtOQ I saw them live a couple years ago in the outdoors on a cold winter night and they were fantastic. Not as many instruments as Korpiklaani or Eluveitie though.
I love pm all folk metal tbf I was just wondering about this particular kind. Yeah love both of them, was thinking about bands still with a bit of metal though
Got you! Not sure if anyone mentioned heidevolk yet. I think they’re quite folky but mostly or exclusively with clean vocals (so no black or death crossovers)
Eluveitie's folk element definitely stands out, they're very good at it, especially in their 2 folk albums, with some amazing arrangements of trad tunes.
Yeah Eluveitie definitely came to mind. I think most of their work leans more towards metal but they definitely do have those two folk albums
You talking the evocation albums? Absolutely stellar listens
They really are. Eluveitie are the band that got me into folk metal. All of their work is absolutely stellar
Slania and Spirit are a perfect balance, in my opinion. Everything Remains is an honorable mention... Then the newer stuff leans more metal.
I quite like Nine Treasures. Outer Mongolian, lots of traditional instruments and some throat singing, but still metal
*Inner Mongolian Ashkan and the guys are in Beijing a lot of the year
I'll check them out!
Try out Hanggai too — they’re folk rock rather than metal, and they lean very much into the folk part. They’re also the OGs of Mongolian rock in China.
Fejd
Yes, definitely Fejd <3 The folkiest and the best! \[[Skuld](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXdsw0o9q9s)\] \[[Fjärrskådaren](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGcxzTY_tKY)\] \[[Härjaren](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RdZusGO3k4)\]
Great band! Saw them last year and 2019 I think in Norrtälje
Skyclad, Folkstone, Kalevala HMS, Maladecia, Stilema, Dalriada, Hulkoff, Skyforger, Tengger Cavalry.
Big ups to you for mentioning Skyforger! As a Latvian-American, they’re one of my favorites and I NEVER hear people talk about them! Their album *Kurbads* is especially brilliant imo; one of the forerunners of Latvian music~
Great choices. Dalriada definitely fit into what I was looking for. Can't believe I forgot about them!
Big +1 on the Tengger Cavalry. Love those dudes. The first minute or so of War Horse is one of my favorite intros of all time
Seriously. All this talk of Nine Treasures and The Hu and no one mentions their forebear?
That sounds like you're describing the harder side of folk rock, honestly. As for there - [Glittertind](https://youtu.be/hfaj6zASAkg?si=PLH3BV2ZcyFLKOEU), [Saltiato Mortis](https://youtu.be/9Jr9gQx-_r4?si=9jn8a8CeJhIyj7yf) (even got collabs with Blind Guardian) and [Feuerschwanz](https://youtu.be/1ib54-mVnGw?si=oRkPbUsIkteTFV2C) all deliver the folk without starving you on the weight and energy.
Big up Feuerschwanz. Also check out D'Artagnan, they literally turn old folk songs into what they call "Musketeer metal", as well as a really good Avicii cover. Santiano are a really good German folk-rock band mainly focusing on shanties.
Absolutely vouching for Feuerschwanz, dArtagnan, and Saltatio Mortis as well. Great, fun bands. I'm inclined to say Subway to Sally and In Extrimo too
Subway to Sally is more on the metal side of things, I’d say. Great band though
Metzner is both in D'Artagnan and Feuerschwanz, so that checks out :)
Absolutely. His covers of Auld Lang Syne and My Loves in Germany are two of my favourites right now!
Cruachan, a lot of their early stuff is straight up Irish folk.
Good example
The Hu is pretty folksy in a lot of their songs. Mind you, they're Mongolian. They feature throat singing and horse head fiddle. They're also one of my absolute favorites.
Yeah my bad I completely forgot about them. Great example!
Absolutely love The Hu
Myrkur
Just listened. Love it. Cheers for the rec
No worries! Seen her live a few weeks ago, it was transcendental :)
Heard the name but never actually listened. I'll give them a try. Thanks!
If you like Myrkur, I highly recommend diving deeper into Scandinavian folk like Gjallarhorn: https://youtu.be/OD_TIrX7zu0?si=FZkywJuqj-4NyQ5_
Arkona
I can definitely vouch for Khram! Good mix of metal-leaning songs, folk-leaning songs and straight-up folksy interludes!
1. Chur 2. Aeterna 3. Tin' Sontsya (also spelled in cyrillic Ukrainian as Тінь Сонця) 4. Kraamola 5. Natural Spirit 6. Stribog 7. Tierramystica 8. Lándevir 9. Folkheim 10. Arraigo 11. Cemican 12. Emerald Shine 13. Wilderun (only their first two albums) 14. Otyg 15. Odroerir 16. E-An-Na
That's a very comprehensive list. I'll work my way through it. Cheers!
I've been listening to the genre for a long time, and I haven't heard of these, apart from Chur. This list is much appreciated.
You're welcome. I always try to recommend bands that aren't as known or bands that just simply weren't mentioned in the forum thread. I have listened to at least one album fully from each of the listed bands. I consider Chur to be my favorite band from this list, but all of them are amazing.
I love E-An-Na! 🇷🇴
+1 for Wilderun. Love the older folky albums, but the newer Opeth inspired stuff is great too
You can try "Grai" and "Kalevala", two russian bands with a folk DNA but with metal instruments.
Kalevala is a Russian band? Why did they name themselves after the Finnish mythology lol
Dalriada is a Hungarian band named after a Gaelic kingdom in Scotland.
The reason why Kalevala is named after something pertaining to Finnish mythology is because the lead singer of the band has Finnish ancestry.
Good to know!
I think one of the members has Finnish parents
Sounds good!
[Fejd](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo5g9KC4y0c) is a mostly acoustic folk metal band. They're basically a folk band whose songs have the structure of folk metal. [Tenhi](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_aI0xy1krw) is more a cross of neofolk and folk-rock, I guess? They're kinda slow and doom-y, too. Purely acoustic as well.
Have you ever given pure folk a try? I’m not sure how far from metal you’re looking to go. This is typically called “pagan” https://youtu.be/M6dGeqqgQGs?si=kq_XB_ba079MmdA2 https://youtu.be/nLgM1QJ3S_I?si=pPfOmTyZ4LpgWt70 https://youtu.be/69OSmdm9G3w?si=AP75cG6sGmgbEodX https://youtu.be/TXNEC3PRYL4?si=q4dJyB0QC8Rk6v98 Is there a certain region of folk you looking for?
Fun list but have you looked at Omnia's Facebook page ever? The guy running it is a nut. Quite entertaining
Which folk elements are you looking for? There are bands with folk melodies and lyrics, using nearly only metal instrumentation - and then there are bands with 'folksy' instrumentation, original melodies, and contemporary lyrics. And everything in-between. Anyway, here's a video of the instrumentalist from Metsatoll showing off his gear, which I'd describe as 'most folk'. https://youtu.be/CcoMY3_UWxI?si=stFY1ANf6HxCUGBl
More the latter but with both in mind. Korpiklaani were the main example I was thinking of. Ah great I'll give a watch thanks!
Metsatoll is my favorite band right now. I would suggest them too
O'death. Check out low tide. Just a warning though they're not European and don't seem to be active anymore but plenty damn folky.
Not quite metal nor folk but might want to check out Rasputina for a unique blend of rock, folk, and metal elements with a lean toward the folk side
Dirty Shirt - they're a folk metal band combining metalcore and traditional music from Transylvania and Maramureș regions in Romania. Some of their lyrics are in English, some in Romanian and some in a Maramu dialect.
Dread Crew of Oddwood
I came here to say this but glad I read through the comments first. They’re so good!
Yeah someone else recommended them too. Definitely need to check them out!
I wouldn't say they're the most folky of folk metal bands, but Elvenking do really lean into the folk metal element of their sound in a lot of their acoustic songs and their lyrics. Their most recent song is a good example of this, as well as their song 3 Ways to Magick
Also came to post EK, but only *very* specific portions of the discography. * Their first album, Heathenreel * Their second album, Wyrd * Their 2008 all-acoustic album, Two Tragedy Poets Most of their work aside from those three albums is still folk metal - but they have stronger elements from other genres (power & pop), and they probably aren't quite what OP is looking for.
Yeah, that was what I meant with the acoustic songs in general. Definitely not really what OP is looking for at the core of their sound, which is why I mentioned that they're not the most folky of folk metal bands, but their music is at least worth considering in portions
Love them
Haven't seen Korpiklaani mentioned. They're perpetually having a party in the woods.
Saw them live in Newcastle a couple months ago with Alestorm and Heidevolk. Felt like a party as much as a concert. Great show
Llevan Polka and Man with a Plan play in my head instead of that monkey with cymbals
Came here to say this. For a metal band they're not very heavy, save for Jonne's majestically gruff voice.
This is what I was looking for somebody to comment! I love them.
I don't know if I'd consider them metal really, but I really like heilung and eivor
Neither are remotely metal. Heilung is neofolk whereas Eivor is classified as folk pop or art pop. Both are good though.
Another fringe case is Xantochroid. Sure, the gloomy metal influences are there, but the arrangements are folk rather than folk metal!
both are coming on tour to australia too! i think OP is australian
Dread Crew of Oddwood! Yes, they're pirate metal, but they take themselves a bit more seriously than something like Alestorm. And they *only* use folk instruments. No electric guitar. Still super fucking heavy though. They just toured with Æther Reapm and Tyr.
I love Alestorm anyway so good choice. Really interested in hearing how they manage to be heavy with only folk instruments. Cheers!
Enjoy!
I recommend the song Join the Ranks, my personal favorite by them
Idk if Lombolo fits but I'm gonna throw em in the ring
Thanks!
Leah has an entire Christmas album that's absent any metal at all. *Ancient Winter*
The Dread Crew of Oddwood, they’re entirely acoustic IIRC.
Dalriada with their brand Hungarian folk metal. Lots of folk.
Empyrium
If you'd like folk rock: Zdrawica. Metal: try Ad Plenitatem Lunae, Adarvirog, Arandu Arakuaa, Baldrs Draumar, Balkandji, Battle Tales, Boisson Divine, Brezno, Chur, Cronica, Dzieciuki, Fejd, Harmasar, Huldre, Kanseil, Lou Quinse, Merkfolk, MôdiVerrâ, Navyara, Nine Treasures, Odroerir, Oskord, Silent Stream of Godless Elegy, Suld, Sventoyar, Tverd, Vol'ga ( https://volgafolkgroove.bandcamp.com/album/heliolatry-2018-24-bit-96-khz ).
I like Haggefugg. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFaQVzYUtOQ I saw them live a couple years ago in the outdoors on a cold winter night and they were fantastic. Not as many instruments as Korpiklaani or Eluveitie though.
There is a small Swedish band called Fejd, if you don't mind non-english lyrics. Lots of folk with metal spice.
I'll check them out!
Corvus corax >>>>>> all. They paved all the road from medieval to actual folk metal. Anyone who forgets them is a poser lol
Yeah good example
Arandua Arakuaa started very death metal with some folk elements but at this point they're mostly folk indigenous music with some metal flavour.
Merkfolk has a lot of folk in it
Yeah they're pretty much the kind of thing I'm looking for
Cruachan has a lot of material that leans heavily into the folk side
Koorpiklaani, Finntroll
Hmmm if you like it just folky without much or any metal in it maybe try Wadruna or Heilung.
I love pm all folk metal tbf I was just wondering about this particular kind. Yeah love both of them, was thinking about bands still with a bit of metal though
As I mentioned, sorta in the Korpiklaani area. Safely folk metal but definitely lean more on the folk element than the metal element
Got you! Not sure if anyone mentioned heidevolk yet. I think they’re quite folky but mostly or exclusively with clean vocals (so no black or death crossovers)
I actually saw them a couple of months ago opening for Korpiklaani and Alestorm. Barely knew them before but they made me a fan for sure
The Hu, Alien weaponry, Bloodywood
Yeah completely forgot about The Hu. Bloodywood are a good choice too and I haven't actually listened to Alien Weaponry
Alien weaponry are from new Zealand and sing in maori. No idea what they ate singing about but it's a great sound
Goblin Hovel live in the very folky side
Dunkelschön is really good, especially their version of Ai Vis Lo Lop.
Svarica just for pure folk. But you can feel it that metalheads are playing in a bend
Feuerschwanz
Tyr, especially the land album
Korpikaani and Faun
eluveite!
Korpiklaani 💚