Ive spend a good long night looking at ancient illuminated manuscripts and reading histories of pivotal conflicts throughout Europe. Also studying the lifestyles of the gentry and the monastic artisans who cataloged the history and the culture of this era commonly thought to be a somehow a negative period in the history of the western world. I has always been fascinating to me, and to read it is in a way like hearing the stories and the testimonials of the lives of those long since gone who lived in this world.

To put it directly, I need a soundtrack!

So any albums on MA whose artistic aim is hardcore centered around Medieval Europe? Black metal was my main focus, but im more than happy to hear about albums of any genre. This also includes some of the non metal genres on MA such as ambient, and neoclassical. Anything just so long as its fully dedicated to the Medieval legacy.

And please no neo-fascist artists.

Satyricon's "Dark Medieval Times" and "The Shadowthrone", Wongraven's "Fjelltronen" and Mortiis's Era One albums.

Im well familiar with the 2 Satyricon discs. I fail to see how Shadowthrone fits my criteria. Dark Medieval Times is somewhat so, but Satyr makes no really direct reference except mentioning the black death and saying 'this is dark medieval music!' Most of the yrics are all moody poetry and is all rather oblique. As for Mortiis, his music is FANTASY themed. Theres a big difference, though I love mortiis and fantasy themed metal, that stuff is easy to find. Wongraven I am not familiar with much at all so I will check them out. I get the feeling they may have an explicitly Viking turn on any ancient european themes.

Let me give somewhat of an example. Theres the Swiss band Forsth who released an album Hellvetic War. The album was mostly all themed about the founding of the Swiss nation as the result of a decisive 14th century battle. The artwork is all full of old medieval heraldry and engravings. Its sort of like what im looking for. http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Fo ... c_War/7903

Another example is this album by Obsequiance. I honestly did not like the music on this disc, but the art was very compelling http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Ob ... Eos/311679

But it would be nice to find a better example

Edit: I may have interpreted your request wrong but listed bands that rely heavy on a 'medieval' or fantasy atmosphere, rather than lyrical content describing or referring to actual historical events, sorry about that. Haggard may come closest to your request in that case.

(Black) metal:
- Apotheosis: http://youtu.be/-5NXTjmEmq0
Awesome one man band that mixes some real good black metal with medieval tinted synths.
- Godkiller: http://youtu.be/jFA4E-eiXZs
Somewhat similar to Satyricon's Dark Medieval Times
- Astaarth: http://youtu.be/vPr1eqKEMA4
Black metal with heavy use of samples and bagpipes and other classic instruments
- Haggard: http://youtu.be/BSFEv9eaoh4
Not really my cup of tea but the use of real instruments is certainly impressive
- Nazgul from Italy: http://youtu.be/psPXtzEYnQw
Bizarre and cheesy synths with 'choochoo' black metal vocals. Unique and often mentioned alongside Summoning and Elffor (which I also recommend in this list but assume you already know)
- Evol: http://youtu.be/Dc2-Q-DYhw8
Focuses more on synths than on black metal but has this great, though bit cartoonesque, medieval atmosphere.
- Enid: http://youtu.be/n4clX2t8n2M
Again, similar to Summoning
-Gehenna: http://youtu.be/DDHHAJrgBFE
Also similar to Satyricon's Dark Medieval Times
- L'Ordre du Temple: http://youtu.be/fbQp9REbrZA
Summoning inspired black metal

Ambient/ instrumental/ martial/ darkwave/ dungeonsynth:
- Camerata Mediolanense: http://youtu.be/5Y4ZjAJr6UU and http://youtu.be/oFyL_2XMVG8
This gives me a strong medieval vibe
- Gothmog: http://youtu.be/6JZKqW7RO0A
Dreamy dungeonsynth
- Invictus: http://youtu.be/ak-0cuZ-VIM
No idea if there is a political agenda behind this one...
- L'Effet c'est moi: http://youtu.be/CPBFX9enONE
Incredible martial baroque atmosphere
- Neptunell: http://youtu.be/SlV5SpxljhQµ
Very hard to find dungeonsynth/neofolk/black metalesque blend.
- Mirkwood: http://youtu.be/q6Zd_liTyMo
Dungeonsyth sideproject by one of the Summoning members.

Skyforger's 1st album "Kauja Pie Saules" may be of interest. Lots of specific historical references, though the music obviously crosses over into more folky/norse territory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqDJTFrqBbI

Utlagr's "1066: Blood and Iron in Hastings" is another possible, although perhaps pushing the medieval theme to its earliest limit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ3X2FABBVM

Anything by Eluveitie. Most of their music is about medieval Helvetian culture and the Helvetian wars.

Yeah i admit I am looking for something very specific. Some references to period events (though doesnt ahve to be the whole of the album) and use of medieval art and manuscript illumninations etc. Nearly everything you listed here i know allready or have the albums of. Nazgul, Evol, apotheosis, Gehenna etc are all great bands but still are more fantasy oriented. I dont know Astaarth so I will have to check that out, looks promising.

The one thing that does stick out is L'Ordre du Temple. I was familiar with them but never did it dawn on me all their subjects have to do with medieval history, and though they are clearly a Summoning rip off, they do bring in a little bit of an early music sound so they look like they would be able to fill my need decent enough. I noticed that the band has member of Fourth Monarchy in it. I totally forgot about them. Theyre music may not sound the part but they were hard on the medieval themes. Good band.


Ive never heard a black metal band get the mixing of medieval music into their sound down right. That is all but one: the norse band Dies Irae. You should check them out, Dies Irae i think was the best (and only) master at medieval music/ bm. This is the band i hold as the ruler I measure all others by:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBcRt3JeznM

Check out Nerthus, this album probably being their best though they are all good.



...and something fun and not so serious, Jaldaboath -

Crystallion did a whole album based on an ill-fated battle in the crusades; that medieval enough for you?

Dark Ages: http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Dark_Ages/43053

Arcana: http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Arcana/1070

Grabesmond: http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Grabesmond/1285

Pazuzu: http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Pazuzu/1074

Stille Volk: http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Stille_Volk/14673

Anything by Angantyr. The title track of their album Forvist is killer. Tells the story of an old Danish hero

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT1A-c_ipr0

To me Haggard is the best example.

Cultes des Ghoules. Their music is mostly about medieval magick, occultism, and rituals. Their stuff is also killer, some of the most evil BM out there.

Not sure if this is exactly what you're looking for but I gotta recommend Brodequin. They are brutal death metal but their lyrics are all about midieval torture.

use of medieval art:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Extremo ... and_Lyrics

I forgot Dark Moor's second and third albums. Lots of stuff like Columbus's voyages and Joan of Ark.

Check out Peste Noire - La sanie des siècles - panégyrique de la dégénérescence

No one has mentioned the German Desaster yet ????????????????