Faith, Folklore and Fury…….The Spirit of Pagan Metal

Keith Muscat in collaboration with Malta Pagana Festival

Pagan Metal is an umbrella term for heavy metal music which brings together extreme metal with the concept of pre-Christian traditions.  It can relate to both culture and music.  The use of traditional instruments, unusual to the metal genre, and archaic languages, can be an important factor.  There is no one size fits all to which band falls under this term, as styles may differ greatly between one band and another.  Some consider folk metal and even black metal to fall under this umbrella, others differ as they stick to the term pagan to mean strictly pre-Christian.  A band can be folk metal, without being pagan and vice-versa.

One of the first metal bands to self-defy as pagan metal are In The Woods…… Formed in Norway in late 1991 by members of the original line-up of Green Carnation, whom they are a continuation of.  By time the band started incorporating traditional instruments in their music.

These are some examples of bands considered to fit under the Pagan Metal label.  By no means is this list exhaustive:

Falkenbach is a viking metal group from Germany that is signed to Prophecy Productions. The name means "Falconbrook" in German. They are one of the first viking metal bands, starting in 1989, with their first release that same year.

Satyricon is a Norwegian black metal band formed in Oslo in 1991. Satyr and Frost have been the band's core members since 1993, and its only official members since 1997. The band's first three albums typify the Norwegian black metal style. Since its fourth album in 1999, the band has strayed from this style and included elements of traditional heavy metal in their sound. Satyricon was the first Norwegian black metal band to join a multi-national record label (EMI).

Cruachan are an Irish folk metal band from Dublin that have been active since the 1990s. They are recognised as one of the founders of folk metal and have been acclaimed as having "gone the greatest lengths of anyone in their attempts to expand" the genre.

Graveland are a Polish pagan black metal band which was formed in 1991 by Rob Darken. They began as a black metal band before adopting a pagan and Viking metal style. The lyrics and imagery of Graveland are strongly inspired by European mythology, nature, winter and war.

Obtest is an extreme metal band from Vilnius, Lithuania. They started out in 1992 as a brutal death metal act, but soon changed the style to black metal. Their lyrics are related to Lithuanian mythology and are sung in Lithuanian, though a few of the songs on their demos were in English.

Black Messiah is a German Viking / symphonic black metal band, founded in 1992.

Primordial are an Irish extreme metal band from Skerries, County Dublin. The band was formed in 1993 by bassist Pól MacAmhlaigh and guitarist Ciarán MacUiliam. Their sound blends black metal with Celtic music.

Formed in 1994, Kampfar is a black metal band from Fredrikstad, Norway. According to their singer, Dolk, their name is an ancient Norse battle cry which means Odin or Wotan. The music of Kampfar can be described as black metal inspired by Norwegian folklore and nature.

Moonsorrow is a Finnish pagan metal band formed in Helsinki in 1995. Musically, the band incorporates elements of black metal and folk metal in their sound. The band call their sound "epic heathen metal" and try to distance themselves from the term "Viking metal".

Butterfly Temple is a pagan metal band from Moscow, Russia formed in 1995. Their lyrics are influenced by fantasy, paganism and legends. So far, Butterfly Temple released seven albums.

Menhir is a pagan/black metal band from Thüringen, Germany and was formed in 1995 by Heiko, Manuela and Fix. The band's name is a term from the Celtic meaning "long stone". Hence, the Celtic / Germanic ancestors of the band members are thematically their focus. Menhir's lyrics usually shows this influence since they dive into the linguistic world of the Germans using the ancient language harmonized with their songs.

Formed in 1995, Thyrfing is a viking metal band from Sweden. The band is named after the royal sword Tyrfing from Norse mythology.

Skyforger is a heavy metal band from Latvia which was formed in 1995 out of the remains of doom metal band Grindmaster Dead.

Riger was a Viking/Pagan Metal band from Frankfurt (Oder), Germany. Formed in 1996, Riger based their lyrics on German and nordic folkloric elements.  The band folded in 2015.

Volkolak is a NS Pagan/folk band from Amur region, East Russia that formed in 1997. Strong National Socialist beliefs and White Pride ideals are… Pagination.

Formed in 1997, Obscurity is a German extreme metal band with strong Viking metal influences hailing from Velbert, a city in the Bergisches Land in North Rhine-Westphalia. They are one of the early German death, black, Viking, and pagan metal bands.

Týr is a Faroese folk metal band, formed in 1998. They have been characterized as one of "the islands' two most successful metal bands". Their subject matter revolves almost entirely around Viking lore, mythology, and history, taking their name from Týr, the god of war in Norse religion.

Formed in 1998, XIV Dark Centuries is a Pagan Metal band from Thuringia, Germany. The band's lyrical themes are about Germanic Paganism and the Thuringian tribe.

Formed in 1999, Hel is a Swedish Viking rock band, based in Eskilstuna, Södermanland, Sweden. The band's name is derived from the Norse goddess Hel.

Formed in 2001, Equilibrium is a German folk metal band from Bavaria. The band's music combines elements of folk music, pagan metal, melodic black metal and symphonic metal, though they recently added in more modern influences including metalcore and industrial metal. Their riffs reflect traditional Germanic melodies.

Heidevolk is a folk metal band from the Netherlands, formed in 2002. The lyrical themes of their music are inspired by nature, the history of Gelderland, and Germanic mythology. Most of their lyrics are in Dutch; however, on their 2015 album, Velua, they have one original English song, "Vinland", and several English covers.

Formed in 2002, Arkona is a Russian folk metal band. Their lyrics are heavily influenced by Russian folklore and Slavic mythology, and their music incorporates several traditional Russian musical instruments. The name of the band "Arkona" refers to the last Pre-Christianized Slavic city-castle.

Eluveitie is a Swiss folk metal band from Winterthur, Zürich, founded in 2002 by Chrigel Glanzmann. The project's first demo, Vên, was released in 2003. Vên was a studio project of Glanzmann's, but its success led to the recruitment of a full band, and the re-release of Vên as an EP in 2004.

Kroda is a Ukrainian pagan metal band formed in 2003 in Dnipro. The band's primary lyrical themes are heathenism, history, nature, traditionalism and anti-Christianity.

Wolfchant is a metal band formed in Sankt Oswald, Germany, in August 2003 by Lokhi, Gaahnt, Skaahl, and Norgahad. Wolfchant's lyrics deal with legends and folk tales from Nordic mythology.

Finsterforst is a German folk metal band from Schwarzwald, Baden-Württemberg, whose lyrical themes deal with nature, German myths, and fantasy worlds. Formed in 2004, the group has released five studio albums, one extended play and one compilation album.

Formed in 2005, Varg is a German metal band from Coburg, Bavaria. The band's name means "wolf" in Swedish. The band's songs deal mainly with paganism and Nordic mythology.

Welicoruss is a symphonic black metal band, formed in 2005 by leader and main composer Alexey Boganov. The band is initially from Novosibirsk, Russia, and was reformed in Prague, Czech Republic, in 2013. Their lyrical themes touch on Theosophy, Philosophy, and other Occult and Esoteric subjects.

Furor Gallico is an Italian Celtic metal and pagan metal band that had originated in Milan, Italy. The band was formed by a collaboration among Melissa, Stefano and Becky in 2007. The band was formed upon the idea of playing new school Italian folk metal.

The list of Pagan/Folk/Viking Metal bands in inexhaustive.  There are some obvious names which you will not find in this list.  I tried to keep it as varied as possible so that you can enjoy finding out new bands in this genre.

This article is being presented in conjunction with Malta Pagana – The Ritual – Festival of Spirit on the land of Ancestors.   The fist edition will be held on 25 and 26 October.  

Launched in 2025, this festival aims to bring neo-pagans and interested parties together, in Malta, for two days of blending ancient traditions with contemporary creativity.  The festival invites participants to explore the rich heritage of pre-Christian, folkloric, and earth-based spiritual practices through workshops, music, art, and ritual.

With a strong focus on ecological awareness, personal empowerment, and community connection, Malta Pagana is more than just a festival—it's a sacred gathering that honours the cycles of nature, the power of myth, and the enduring beauty of cultural roots. Whether you're a seasoned pagan, a curious traveller, or a lover of history and nature, Malta Pagana offers an unforgettable journey into the heart of Malta’s ancestral soul.  A Celebration of Ancient Rhythms through Modern Spirit.  Follow our Facebook page and keep yourself updated.  Facebook.com/people/Malta-Pagana.