[For Beginners] A Collection of Iconic and Popular Songs Showcasing the Appeal of Viking Metal

EwerounFalkenbach

Falkenbach – Eweroun [Official Lyric Video]

Falkenbach is an indispensable one-man project when discussing Germany’s Viking/folk metal scene.

Since its inception in 1989, it has delivered profound music centered on Norse mythology.

This piece is a lyrical and majestic number, marked by an acoustic intro and pristine clean vocals.

The lyrics employ a rare dialect said to have been spoken by the creator’s ancestors, and their resonance—imbued with an eternal longing for homeland and kin—strikes a chord in the listener’s heart.

The fusion of a grand mythological worldview with this warm human touch is precisely their allure.

Released in April 2013 as a limited single of 500 copies, the track was later included on the acclaimed album “Asa.” Take your time listening as you let your mind wander to ancient scenes.

King Of The Distant ForestMithotyn

Mithotyn – King Of The Distant Forest

In 1990s Sweden, the Viking metal band Mithotyn made a significant impact on subsequent artists despite their short period of activity.

Active from 1992 to 1999, they could be said to have laid the foundations for the later folk metal scene.

The piece introduced here is the title track from their 1998 classic album, “King of the Distant Forest.” This song’s sound—woven from melodic guitars and weighty keyboards—creates a sense of immediacy as if an ancient battlefield were unfolding before your eyes.

It portrays the tale of a solitary king reigning over a distant forest, and his pride and sorrow seem to surge into your chest alongside fierce screams.

The dramatic development and lyricism of this work will be irresistible to those who love the grand worldview of Norse mythology.

It’s a masterpiece that condenses the appeal of Viking metal, where wildness and beauty coexist.

Night SkyScald

Night Sky

A song by the Russian band Scald, who champion “Ancient Doom Metal,” a fusion of Viking metal and epic doom.

It appears on their debut album, Will of Gods Is a Great Power, released in October 1997.

The mournful yet majestic guitar riffs leave a deep impression, don’t they? The late vocalist Agyl’s earnest delivery vividly evokes emotions like human loneliness as we gaze up at the night sky and our questions about fate, making it feel as though we’re listening to a tale spun by an ancient hero.

It’s an immersive track, perfect for nights when you want to surrender to the epic, dramatic currents that dwell within its massive sound.

ZerfallFinsterforst

FINSTERFORST – Zerfall (Official Video) | Napalm Records

Finsterforst is a folk/pagan metal band that bears the name of Germany’s Black Forest.

Centered on themes of nature and mythology, their music fuses the mournful timbre of accordion and grand orchestration with ferocious, black metal–derived vocals at a remarkably high level.

The title track from their fifth album, Zerfall, released in August 2019, is a piece that truly distills the band’s philosophy.

The work takes “collapse” as its theme, portraying an apocalyptic vision of a civilization in ruin through a harrowing soundscape.

It’s nothing short of breathtaking the way a melody steeped in pathos rises from within a wall of sound forged by massive guitar riffs and storm-like drumming.

The music video, shot in an abandoned brewery, perfectly expresses the song’s desolate worldview and further deepens immersion in the piece.

If you’re drawn to the grand narratives and mythic realms painted by Viking metal, you’ll surely be captivated by this epic sung by the forests of Germany.

Valdr GalgaThyrfing

Valdr Galga

A song by the Swedish band Thyrfing, regarded as a heavyweight in the Viking metal scene.

It’s the title track of their second album, Valdr Galga, released in March 1999, and its opening—featuring a massive guitar riff and majestic synths—brilliantly evokes the world of Norse mythology.

With a dramatic progression themed around Odin and an intense sound, it truly feels as if an ancient battle is unfolding right before your eyes.

The contrast between the ferocity rooted in black metal and the lyrical melodies is superb, making this a recommended number for those who love grand, epic narratives.

Till fjällsVintersorg

Vintersorg – Till Fjälls

Vintersorg is the solo project of Swedish multi-instrumentalist Andreas Hedlund.

Here’s an introduction to the title track from the classic album Till fjälls, released in December 1998.

Its world, where black metal–derived ferocity dramatically fuses with folk-tinged lyrical melodies evocative of Scandinavia’s majestic nature, is truly stunning.

Titled “To the Mountains,” the piece seems to express the steadfast will of a solitary traveler venturing into harsh wilderness, along with a soul-stirring sense of awe.

The solemn beauty that shines amid the intense ensemble is the very essence of Viking metal.

It’s a vividly scenic number you should listen to when you want to immerse yourself deeply in grand mythic worlds and stories.

Blut Im AugeEQUILIBRIUM

EQUILIBRIUM – Blut Im Auge (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

A German band.

The lead track from their masterpiece album “Sagas,” which likely propelled their name into wider recognition.

It features a rapturous cascade of flowing melodies and a majestic slow section toward the end.

Though under five minutes, the song packs sweeping, dramatic melodies and a sense of sorrowful grandeur into a single track.