Neofolk
Neofolk, also known as dark folk, typically features acoustic guitars, often accompanied by melancholic, declamatory vocals and a rhythmic, atmospheric energy, creating a somber and introspective soundscape. Emerging from the post-industrial scene in the 1980s, it represents a syncretic effort to forge a new European folk music, drawing influences from 1960s and 70s folk artists like Scott Walker and Leonard Cohen, alongside post-punk and cold wave. Iconic artists include Death in June, Current 93, and Sol Invictus. This genre often explores themes of European history, mythology, and esotericism, contributing to its distinct cultural impact.
More about Neofolk
Neofolk (originally known as «apocalyptic folk») is a music genre that emerged in the 1980s from the British post-punk, dark wave and industrial scenes. Founding acts such as Death In June, Current 93 and Sol Invictus inaugurated this singular aesthetic, marrying acoustic instruments — acoustic guitar, violin, accordion — with a dark sensibility inherited from industrial and post-punk music.
Neofolk is musically defined by its preference for acoustic and atmospheric textures, with lyrical themes drawing on paganism, European mythology, esotericism, nature and history. Vocals range from melodic singing to spoken word delivery, and arrangements prioritise atmosphere and introspection over conventional song structures. Most neofolk artists originate from Nordic countries, Germany and Italy — regions where the connection to musical tradition and local mythologies runs particularly deep.
The neofolk scene encompasses a wide stylistic range. Rome, the Luxembourgish project of Jérôme Reuter, is one of its most eloquent voices, blending political poetry with refined acoustic arrangements. Spiritual Front brings a dark cabaret sensibility and bitter irony to the neofolk aesthetic, while INSOMNIUM explores the borderlands between neofolk and melancholic metal.
Neofolk is regularly featured at dark music festivals such as Wave-Gotik-Treffen in Leipzig and Amphi Festival in Cologne, alongside dark ambient, dark wave and medieval folk. Together with these kindred genres it forms a unique festival ecosystem in Europe, where aesthetic depth and thematic richness take precedence over commercial appeal.