I need some HAPPY fold/viking metal

something like Ensiferum, Finntroll, Eluveitie, Blackguard, Wintersun etc...

nothing tooooo underground. Great vocals and guitar (obviously)

Wolfchant, Skyclad, Korpiklaani, Turisas...

Only Turisas made an impression, anyone else?

Heidevolk. Check out the album "Walhalla Wacht"

I'm looking for some kind of folk/black metal along the lines of Valuatir. Basically, black metal incorporating bagpipes. What do you recommend?

Aes Dana !!!

Crimfall. Ranging female vocals, BM vocals, and some choral arrangements to go along with various symphonic arrangements and many folk elements. Pretty brilliant stuff, imo.

You should listen to Heol Telwen, Bran Barr, Geasa

Will check them all out. Thanks.

Panychida (Czech). They sound a bit like Immortal (especially the vocals) but with bagpipes.

For that id recommend Kampfar, or the new(ish) Bathory, or Thryfing.
Alestorm as well!!!! i honestly couldnt give a shit what people say about them, they sound great and have fun.

I figure I'll ask here as well as the black metal thread, since what I'm looking for could really fall into either genre.

The folky bits of Darkestrah's song "Jashil Oy" from the album Sary Oy are just amazing. The instrumentation and the melodies there are just perfect. I actually feel like the "metal" bits of the song are a little out of place. The song would have been better served if the metal parts were better integrated and had maybe more typical folk/black metal guitar work and less aggressive drumming.

Anyway, I'm looking for something along those lines. Artists or at least entire albums would be great, as I wouldn't really be so keen on putting one track on repeat. Instrumental music would be great but I wouldn't mind if it had some chanting or maybe tasteful black metal vocals.

Crazy, I just disovered and listened to this a few days ago.

Considering this is not my favorite subgenre of metal, I quite liked it. I think that says a bit.

Quite harsh both in musical style and sound quality. It took a while to let my ears settle into the sound. Very raw, dirty, aggressive and intense with some sense of atmosphere and the occasional good use of folk instruments. It felt like a grittier version of Equilibrium.

I've got your medicine right here.

Try Tuatha de Danann. Really fun celtic metal. It doesn't get any happier than songs about gnomes and elves getting high and dancing on giant mushrooms and stuff.

Similarly, Cruachan are quite upbeat, also celtic metal.

Arkona also have a lot of lighthearted parts in their songs, when Masha isn't tearing the shit out of her lungs and vocal chords.

Thanks! I'll have a look.

I forgot to mention that you'll be wanting the Russian Arkona, not the Polish band.

Def try Finsterforst, excellent band with a full time accordian player, that fits the music exceptionally well, def worth checking out.

I want a depressive folk metal band. Something like Falkenbach with a darker feeling. Harsh vocals are preffered.

Not to recommend: Primordial, Bathory and Moonsorrow.

Bnds that sound like Bathory. The epic feel and mix of harsh vocals combined with some folk insremunts. Any suggestions?

You should try Falkenbach. Many say they are the folk version of Bathory

Try Skald from Sweden. They only have some demos and an EP, but the EP is fucking brilliant. You can read my review on this site.

Grimgirl, aka PengPeng here... I have to apologize directly at the beginning as this is a rather often asked question/help. Anyway I try to ask in a way which leaves the obvious or already posted answers out.

I'm looking for music in a strong if not copying way of Bathory's "Hammerheart", "Twilight o/t Gods", "Blood on Ice" etc. Mainly great doomy/heavy riffing with the layered vocal choirs etc. You know, all this "AHHHHH AHHHHH, OHHHH OHHHHH" stuff

Band I already know and coming close to this are:
FALKENBACH (don't like them so much, can't say why exactly...)
CROM (some songs, e.g. "Wings of Fire"!!! are really great)
SCALD (brilliant - but only one album....)
edit: MORRIGAN (headcult is a brilliant Bathory clone!)
GRAVELAND (some stuff, esp. "Memory & Destiny" and "Creed of Iron")
IUVENES (hmm, coming close to my search but their songs don't grab me much)
NACHTFALKE (a few songs are real killers!)
EREB ALTOR (coming most close to my research and I really love their music)

Are there any more bands more or less directly citing BATHORY in the way the above bands do? I just need more music like this! Thanks a lot!

Wow Peng Peng, you have covered a brave bulk of the worthy Bathory clones! lol Try Askival's (sco) new album and maybe Oakenshield (uk) for a bit more Bathory worship, like me love this style Quarthorn created on these albums, I think I have more releases similar to this but can not think of them at present, will try later.

Thanks, STORMM. I already got Askival's album and like it a lot, though i wouldn't say that there's some much "Hammerheart"-esque sounds in them (imho...). But Oakenshield is new to me and I will check them out.
I'm eager to read which bands more come to your mind

Oh, I forgot to add MORRIGAN's "Headcult" to my list above. A great Bathory clone. Highly appreciated!

Funny enough Morrigan is the only band on your list that I have no releases by, I have always been meaning the check them out though, I take it "Headcult" would be a good place to start? I know there are a lot of bands that have the epic feel of Bathory but few have Quarthorn's choir like vocals, I take it this is a big part of your request Peng Peng? Early Wyrd albums are first class, but more along the harsh vocals etc.

@STORMM: "Headcult" is not only a good place to start but (unfortunately) the only one of Morrigan's releases coming so damn close to epic Bathory. For fans of Quorthon def. a must-have

And you're right - it's exactly this Bathory-choir thing I'm looking for. Of course there are tons of epic viking bands out there, but I have found few (the ones I listed...) transporting this special feel...

(btw: I really like the old Wyrd stuff like "Heathen" and "Huldrafolk", but as you say - it's not Bathory-choir stuff )

Try Sig-Ar-Tyr peng peng http://www.myspace.com/sigartyr , mainly there second album (the first is mainly acoustic), I think you might some similarites in them.

Try Sig-Ar-Tyr peng peng http://www.myspace.com/sigartyr , mainly there second album (the first is mainly acoustic), I think you might some similarites in them, as with Stone Of Erech http://www.myspace.com/stoneoferech

I'm looking for some folk/black with some doom elements, something that sounds like what Alkonost play, any suggestions?

I'm looking for something rather like Hollenthon, with plenty of bombast, and orchestrations are a definite plus.

Raventale's debut, 'Ã

If you can tolerate vocals that are even worse than Quorthon's, I recommend Stormheit, especially the second album, "Kvenland." They have all the elements of Bathory's "epic era," including similar riffing, epic atmosphere, and the choirs.

Also, even though Morrigan's other albums don't copy "Hammerheart" as much as "Headcult" does, they are still good (though I like the earlier ones more than the last two). The other albums are very much inspired by Bathory's "Blood Fire Death," with a mix of fast and slow tracks.

*lol* worse than Quorthon? I fear for the worst... Anyway thank you - I will check them out in the evening!

checked STORMHEIT... well, hmm... ok, the music itself is quite ok (the prdoction sucks!) but the vocals are really bad, oh boy... *lol* I guess I've never listened to such powerless vocals... Anyway thanks for the rec.

Oh, and SIG:AR:TYR are really great! Thanks for that again!!!

Erab Altor fits your discription pretty well, only without the black metal shrieks.

Thought you would like SIG:AR:TYR, good band and a nice guy to boot! Im am sure there are others in my collection but my mind is blank at the minute, if I come across any more I have forgot I will let ya know!

Looking for bands similar to Nerthus. What you do recommend?

Falkenbach (somewhat)
Forefather
Moonsorrow
Bathory's Blood Fire Death

just to name a couple

Check out the folk metal band Soi Den (known also as Blackwolf) from... Vietnam! Lyrics in vietnamese, very atmospheric, melodic and lyrics about war in Vietnam... Really rare and unique stuff!

Ive grown to love pipes in my metal and Im looking for more folk metal bands that use pipes. So far Ive only found pipes in Eluveitie, Suidakra and Folkstone, and pan-pipes in Guahaihoque. Im after recommendations for any folk metal bands that use any kind of pipes with their music.

Thanks in advance.