History Main / FolkMetal

* Music/InExtremo: Medieval Metal

* LighterAndSofter: ''Relatively'' speaking, as it's still pretty hard, but the sub-subgenre of medieval metal is this to FolkMetal as a whole. Drawing more influence from TraditionalHeavyMetal, hard rock, and [[{{UsefulNotes/Punk}} folk punk]] than in MelodicDeathMetal and BlackMetal tends to mellow it out a bit, and it's more inclined to do acoustic-only FolkRock songs. You should still expect to see plenty of [[MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness 5s to 7s]], though, depending on the band.

* Irish folk-rockers The Music/{{Horslips}} were early pioneers of this genre: rock guitars and keyboards alongside traditional instruments, playing modern takes on old songs.

* EverythingsLouderWithBagpipes: Very frequently, to the point where it's almost easier to count the acts that don't employ this. Nigh-omnipresent in Celtic metal in particular.

* ''Ade'' - Italian brutal death metal mixed with Roman martial music.

* Music/{{Finsterforst}} - Mixed with ProgressiveMetal and a bit of BlackMetal. They've earned quite a bit of comparisons to Moonsorrow due to the strong similarities, though they've developed a bit more of a distinctive sound on their more recent albums. It helps that they have a full-time accordion player.

* Music/{{RottingChrist}} - Started out as straight black metal, though they started infusing gothic metal into their sound, along with Greek folk and neofolk.

* Music/{{SaltatioMortis}} - Medieval metal

* TropeMaker: Skyclad. Of the three offshoots of folk metal: Cruachan is the TropeMaker for Celtic Metal, Orphaned Land is the TropeMaker for Oriental Metal, and In Extremo is the TropeMaker for Medieval Metal.

* UrExample:
** The latter portion of the Music/LedZeppelin song "Gallows Pole", as well as other Zeppelin songs like "Over the Hills and Far Away" and (for that matter) "Stairway to Heaven".
** Music/ThinLizzy's version of "Whiskey In The Jar".

* [[Music/{{Tyr}} Týr]] - Folk Metal with progressive elements.

[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Folk metal is a combination of various folk music genres and various metal genres.]] One of the most diverse Metal categories, due to the diversity of both metal styles and FolkMusic influences. On the Metal side, the primary influence appears to be DeathMetal and BlackMetal, particularly for bands from Northern Europe (Scandinavia, Germany, and the UK); with the latter being most common in conjunction with strong pagan and/or anti-Christian themes. Substantial influences from PowerMetal, ProgressiveMetal, and [[DoomMetal Doom]]/GothicMetal are also increasingly common; as is [[PunkPunk Punk/Metal]] crossover. Folk influences are typically derived from music traditions local to the bands' places of origin or ethnic heritage; but a few incorporate multiple influences, with Irish and Celtic revival being among the most common. Use of keyboards to replicate the sound of traditional instruments, as well as more atmospheric musical effects, is common; but a few bands rely primarily or entirely on traditional instruments.

The first successful folk metal band was [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyclad_(band) Skyclad]]. Though Skyclad's first album was released in 1990, the genre didn't start to pick up steam until 1994, when such bands as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruachan_(band) Cruachan]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphaned_Land Orphaned Land]] were founded. It remained relatively obscure in TheNineties, but became popular in Europe during the [[TurnOfTheMillennium 2000s]]. Finnish bands Music/{{Korpiklaani}} and Music/{{Finntroll}} are often credited with being the primary influence in the recent explosion of FolkMetal's popularity outside of Europe; and Finland has produced arguably the largest percentage of offerings in the genre. Since its founding, the sub-genres [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_metal Celtic metal]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_metal#Oriental_metal Oriental metal]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_metal medieval metal]] have branched off.

* Music/{{Ade}} - Italian brutal death metal mixed with Roman martial music.

* [[Music/MagoDeOz Mago de Öz]]: Spanish band.

The first successful folk metal band was [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyclad_(band) Skyclad]]. Though Skyclad's first album was released in 1990, the genre didn't start to pick up steam until 1994, when such bands as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruachan_(band) Cruachan]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphaned_Land Orphaned Land]] were founded. It remained relatively obscure in TheNineties, but became popular in Europe during the [[TurnOfTheMillennium 2000s]]. Finnish bands {{Korpiklaani}} and Finntroll are often credited with being the primary influence in the recent explosion of FolkMetal's popularity outside of Europe; and Finland has produced arguably the largest percentage of offerings in the genre. Since its founding, the sub-genres [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_metal Celtic metal]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_metal#Oriental_metal Oriental metal]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_metal medieval metal]] have branched off.

FolkMusic, FolkRock, HeavyMetal

BlackMetal, MelodicDeathMetal, PowerMetal