Folk Metal

Folk Metal: 44 upcoming festivals, including 20 with tickets on sale.

Folk metal is a vibrant fusion genre blending heavy metal's rapid rhythms, distorted guitars, and powerful energy with traditional instruments like flutes and bagpipes, often creating an epic, ancient atmosphere. Emerging in Europe in the early 1990s, it draws heavily from mythological and historical themes, sometimes incorporating traditional vocal techniques and adapting folk poems or songs. Pioneering bands include Skyclad, Finntroll, and Korpiklaani. The genre’s diverse interpretations have also led to subgenres like Viking metal, further embedding cultural narratives within its aggressive sound.

Parent genreMetal