The roots of folk metal go back to the 70s and bands like Thin Lizzy and Jethro Tull. However, there was precious little in the way of folk-influenced metal in the time between those founding bands and Skyclad’s 1991 debut. After that came the folk metal explosion with bands like Mago de Oz, Otyg, Cruachan, etc.
I’ve been trying to gather whatever folk-influenced metal I can find from that period (1980-1990). Not surprisingly much of it is from Britain, specifically from the NWOBHM scene (e.g. Pagan Altar and Golgotha). In most cases the folk elements are very subtle unlike the abundance of flutes, fiddles and accordions that you find in modern folk metal. In others, particularly the Welsh groups Crys and Rhiannon Tomos a’r Band, the music is more folky and only a little heavy. April South does a metallized version of an Irish standard. Ambush are actually from Sweden, even though musically they sound more like a NWOBHM band. Here in the US there were a few folky but heavy southern rock bands such as the outstanding Ashbury. In the latter part of the decade we must look elsewhere for examples. Notre-Dame Estelle D’Orves combine heavy prog with folk elements well but unfortunately, like a lot of French metal, it is marred by the nasally vocals. Finally, Oblachnyj Kraj finish off the decade with something that sounds much more like the modern folk metal sound most are familiar with, albeit with a distinct Russian flavor.
Link:
http://rapidshare.com/files/224630164/80sfolkmetal.zip
Tracklist:
1. Ambush – “Whole Man Again” (1984)
2. Pagan Altar – “Reincarnation” (1982)
3. Rhiannon Tomos a’r Band – “Dim Ond y Diafol” (1980)
4. Crys – “Mae fy Nghalon yn Rhydd” (1983)
5. April South – “Oro Se Do Bheatha Bhaile” (1985)
6. Golgotha – “Dangerous Games” (1984)
7. Ashbury – “The Warning” (1983)
8. Notre-Dame Estelle D’Orves – “Controle Systematique” (1988)
9. Oblachnyj Kraj – “Russkaya Narodnaya” (1990)
