Folksy/ethnic/exotic… -ish?

[DaN]

Get a bad feeling in your stomach when you hear the words “Folk Metal”? Me too, yet still my foot often starts tapping when I hear a little “ethnic flavour” wedged between those razor-riffings. Does it work for you? When does it work? And why? Or not?

- SLOUGH FEG is of course the perfect example of how you can incorporate some folksy bits & pieces in your Metal and turn it into something absolutely awesome and unique, as long as you’re subtle about it.
- While SKYCLAD got exceedingly corny with every release they still were one of the few really worthwhile bands to have come out of the nineties imo.
- PRIMORDIAL went from a 2nd rate Black Metal band to become one of the best and most refreshing bands today by going in this direction.
- Old Russian bands like OBLACHNYJ KRAJ, VARVAR and CREDO also had that “Only in Russia”, Volga Boatmen-feel about them that made them stand out from the crowd.
- And what about a band like RESISTENCIA? While they could hardly be accused of being “Folk Metal” I still hear something quite exotic and original in their very South American-sounding brand of Steel, esp when listening to their seminal “Estrategia..” album.

Thoughts? Recommendations?

[Noisenik]

Well, when I hear the term "Folk Metal", I am immediately reminded of Skyclad, then how little quality releases actually this term embraces and then, on darker side, how much melodic crap still snicks out under this label.

To continue the 90's, I think that few early releases of SVBWAY TO SALLY were decent to good. PROMETHEAN from Finland were onto something with their Gazing The Invisible. Their predecessors BLACK CRUCIFIXION were also very original. Not so long ago I've heard Czech band (ASMODEUS ?) playing very good music on the Skyclad's trails. There should have been a few more bands from Germany and Eastern Europe affiliated with. I suspect some of the German should be on Peace Eater compis. Then there are some bands that traverse the subgenre from goth-rock, using mainly Dead Can Dance components. I won't mention anything here, it has "travestised" utterly in very few years. Working in similar realm and perhaps worth mentioning would be early THINE. Dragging influences from 70's Progressive Folk are MAGO DE OZ, but I've still to give them a proper listen. When Folk Black is in question I think Scandinavia will always lead. Four words: ENSLAVED - Frost; FALKENBACH - debut.

As far as exotic goes I think you are far more advanced than the rest of us. I know what you have in mind but cannot remind myself of any band who would transform ethnic music in such a way at the moment.

[tomas]

Sepultura - Roots

[metalmaster]

of course Xibalba with their mix of Black and mexican folk. Also the band Leprosy mix Thrash with some folk

[The Erlking]

Pagan Altar has that celtic & folksy feel. Especially the new one.

[DMR]

Get a bad feeling in your stomach when you hear the words “Folk Metal”?

No way, I love the stuff. But I can't think of many Corroseum-appropriate folk metal bands besides the obvious (Slough Feg, early Amorphis). There's a new band from Ireland called Darkest Era (formerly Nemesis). They're kind of NWOBHM-sounding with a Celtic influence. I guess the first Hammers of Misfortune album had a folky/medieval feeling in some parts.

Sometimes I wonder how I would feel about folk metal if I were European. I mean, if there was a US band that mixed metal and country music, it would make me want to vomit. Would I feel the same way about Otyg or Vintersorg if I were from Sweden?

[Cochino]

The only band with some "folk" thing going on in some tracks that I like is Macabre, hehe.
Their "Minstrels" record is pretty cool.

[Helm]

SORCERER (not the doom band) might be of interest!

[Brainbiter]

Orphaned Land from Israel. Their 2004 album, Mabool, is one of the best heavy metal albums this side of the 00's. Highly recommended.

[DMR]

SORCERER (not the doom band) might be of interest!

Could you be a little more specific? There are five bands named Sorcerer listed at Metal-archives.com.

[Nightlock]

After loving Skyclad all the other "Folk" kind of stuff I've heard has been crappy Black Metal crossover stuff or boring stuff that goes into the modern US Power realm. Would love to find more stuff like "The Answer Machine?" or "Prince Of The Poverty Line" though.

[nabel]

Skyforger anyone?

I don't know much about their earliest stuff but "Latvian Riflemen" from 2000 is black metal with folky touches. After that they released "Perkolkalve/Thunderforge" which is not so black anymore, still it has that folk touch! Or maybe I should use heavier expression than touch as they have pipeplayer in lineup... Killer live band also, I have seem them two times live this year.

Cant't praise Slough Feg enough, one of my alltime favorite bands! Twilight Of The Idols, Down Among The Deadmen, Hardworlder, in fact their every release is brillliant!
As was Skyclad during 1991-1994. Though "Silent Whales Of Lunar Sea" from 1995 was my first touch to them when I heard it from radio at the time it was released. Oh those memories!

[Helm]

DMR: http://www.metal-archives.com/release.php?id=46533

power/speed with pretty neat polish influence.

Loudly second the Orphaned Land recommendation.

[Korgüll]

metal and country music

RAGING SLAB
GALACTIC COWBOYS (maybe)
BLACKFOOT (?)
MOLLY HATCHET

As far as folk & metal, of the modern bands FINNTROLL play polka-metal I guess?

& STORM-Nordavind was very folky!

& perhaps some of 3RD & THE MORTAL as well??

[Noisenik]

& perhaps some of 3RD & THE MORTAL as well??

In the category I didn't want to mention in my first post. Dead Can Dance inspired. Gothic-doom with folky touches. It takes some time before one can find them, buried in that murky, blobby mixture. NIGHTSKY BEQUEST from Bvlgaria are in that vein as well. When folk black is mentioned, we have to repeat CRUACHAN. And the most rancid of them all: IN EXTREMO - pseudo folk- cum-nu-sth. Gack.