Another subgenre in the heavy metal community is Viking Metal. You will find elements of black, folk and death metal inside these metal bands. Viking metal is a new and exciting genre of heavy metal. You will find strong keyboard features, dramatic atmospheres and fast pace beats. Viking metal writers use fantasy and mythology themes within their music. Viking metal has been marked as being satanic, this is hundred percent not true. People will get this idea because of the hateful and melodies feel of the songs. Most songs are about Viking warriors or epic battles.
Viking metal has strong roots in Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Finland. Some of the instruments that Viking metal uses are accordion, harp and panflute. Viking metal likes to use roars and deep growls in their vocals to give the Viking sound a more metal atmosphere. Viking metal uses these techniques to give their music a dark and evil feeling behind them. These types of techniques are found in Black metal, where most Viking metal bands start.
Viking metal songs usually consist of warfare and god in their music. The of the earliest signs of Viking metal came from Led Zeppelin. Some Led Zeppelin songs included some Vikings. Even Black Sabbath used choir vocals to give a Viking feel to their music. One of the first full written Viking metal songs was Yngwie J. Malmsteen - Rising Force. They had the song "I am a Viking" in 1985. The first band to be considered Viking metal was Bathory. In 1988 "Blood Fire Death" became a black metal album with a Viking atmosphere. Bathory would then use Folk metal instruments into their Viking metal sound. This Bathory album is to be considered one of the best Viking metal albums.
The style of Viking metal is often a reference for pagan culture. Northern Europe is the prominent birth place of most Viking metal bands. Black metal is often a starting point for most Viking metal bands. Viking metal music usually is dramatic, mythological and epic. Pull Viking metal apart you will find elements from Black, Traditional and Folk. With English being a prominent language in European countries, most Viking metal bands will choose this to be their prominent language in their music.
To find out more on Viking metal check out these bands. Most of these bands have a different genre background while creating Viking metal. Bathory, Amon Amarth, Equilibrium, Ensiferum, Manowar, Enslaved and Vanaheim.
This genre of music has been around for 20 plus years. Viking metal is a very underground heavy metal genre. Albums and songs are still being recording for Viking metal. A strong community and fan base has continued to grow inside of Viking metal. Viking metal will continually grow and become more known within the metal community as time goes on.
