Folk metal is a fusion genre of heavy metal music and traditional folk music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. It is characterised by the widespread use of folk instruments and, to a lesser extent, traditional singing styles. It also sometimes features soft instrumentation influenced by folk rock.
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". They have distanced themselves from other folk metal bands, emphasising that their music is pagan and spiritual and is challenging for its listeners, rather than happy or danceable. The band members have varying levels of pagan belief but they draw on pagan spirituality for lyrics and inspiration.
Kamelot is an American power metal band from Tampa, Florida, formed by Thomas Youngblood in 1987. The Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album Siége Perilous, and shared songwriting credit with Youngblood until his departure in April 2011. On June 22, 2012, Youngblood announced on their website that their new vocalist would be the Swedish singer Tommy Karevik, who was first featured on Kamelot's album Silverthorn as the main vocalist, co-songwriter, and lyricist.
Vegard Sverre Tveitan, better known by his stage name Ihsahn, is a Norwegian musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and composer who is best known for his work with the black metal band Emperor. Tveitan is also a founding member of Thou Shalt Suffer, where he played guitar and keyboard in addition to vocal duties, and Peccatum, a project in collaboration with his wife and fellow musician Heidi Solberg Tveitan, also known as Starofash. Since 2006, Tveitan has primarily devoted himself to solo albums and occasional guest appearances.
Jørn Marumsrud Lande is a Norwegian hard rock and heavy metal singer. He is known for his work with the bands Ark, Beyond Twilight, Millenium, Vagabond, The Snakes, and most notably with power metal band Masterplan. He is also the most recurrent guest singer of the international supergroup Avantasia, and has worked as lead and guest singer in several projects. Currently, he is focusing his activities on his solo project Jorn. In 2014, Lande was hired by Riot Games to be the voice of the character Karthus, of the fictional heavy metal band Pentakill.
Zeromancer is a Norwegian industrial rock band formed in 1999 by members of the band Seigmen. The current lineup is Alex Møklebust (vocals), Kim Ljung, Noralf Ronthi (drums), Lorry Kristiansen (programming) and Per-Olav Wiik. They have released seven studio albums; the latest, Orchestra of Knives, was released in 2021.
Audrey Horne is a hard rock band from Bergen, Norway. Formed in 2002, the band took its name from Sherilyn Fenn's character in the TV series Twin Peaks. The band's musical style is a mixture of heavy and melodic classic rock, inspired by Iron Maiden, Kiss, Ozzy Osbourne, Van Halen, Mötley Crüe, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin. As of 2022, Audrey Horne has released seven studio albums, one live album and one EP.
Circus Maximus is a Norwegian progressive metal quintet from Oslo. They employ symphonic and power metal influences that feature synthesizers. As of 2016, they have released four albums: The 1st Chapter in 2005, Isolate in 2007, Nine in 2012 and Havoc in 2016.
Minor Earth Major Sky is the sixth studio album by Norwegian band A-ha, released on 14 April 2000 by WEA.
The 1st Chapter is the debut album by the Norwegian progressive metal band, Circus Maximus. The 1st Chapter was released on May 14, 2005 in Norway and on June 7, 2005 in the United States. The ongoing theme of The 1st Chapter is about "the journey" to salvation expressed through the lyrics. Musically, it sports a circus-like theme playing throughout the album.
The Circus Maximus is an album released under the name of American heavy metal band Manilla Road in 1992, after the band had first split up. The album contains the work of Manilla Road founder and frontman Mark Shelton who assembled a new band named Circus Maximus. However, Shelton's label, Black Dragon Records, added the Manilla Road logo. The sound and style is very different than the rest of Manilla Road's material.
Nemesea is a Dutch alternative rock band formed in Groningen in 2002 by singer Manda Ophuis and guitarist/songwriter Hendrik Jan 'HJ' de Jong and shortly thereafter completed with Sonny Onderwater on bass. Initially, Nemesea were a symphonic gothic metal act, and were compared to Dutch compatriots After Forever. However, since 2007's In Control, the band's music has become more rock-oriented, also incorporating strong electronic influences.
The Devil's Hall of Fame is the first studio album by Danish progressive metal band Beyond Twilight. Released July 23, 2001. The album has many of the band's characteristic elements such as complex arrangements and dramatic dark multi-layers and was written mostly by the band's mastermind, Finn Zierler. The album showcases the elements which would become characteristic of Beyond Twilight's unique sound, namely a very atmospheric, heavy progressive sound. On release, the album was met with good reviews from fans and critics. It's their only album featuring Norwegian singer Jørn Lande.
The Days of Grays is the sixth full-length studio album by Finnish power metal band Sonata Arctica. The album was released in South America on 8 September 2009, on 16 September in Finland, 18 September in Europe and 22 September in North America through Nuclear Blast. The special edition of the album includes the album along with an orchestral CD as a digipak.
Night Is the New Day is the eighth studio album by Swedish heavy metal band Katatonia. It was released 2 November 2009, in Europe and 10 November 2009, in North America through Peaceville Records. Thirteen tracks were recorded, eleven of which made it onto the record. The band describes the material as "Our most varied, diverse and possibly strongest shit all together on one and the same album". "Idle Blood" had the working title "Kozelek", named after Mark Kozelek, a member of Red House Painters, which is one of Katatonia's influences. This is the last Katatonia release with the Norrman brothers.
Nine is the third full-length studio album by the Norwegian progressive metal band Circus Maximus. The album was released on June 1, 2012.
Westminster & 5th was released in 2007 and is the fifth studio album by American crossover thrash band Beowülf and the first since 2¢ (1995) and the subsequent hiatus of the band. The sound and playing on Westminster & 5th is reminiscent of Beowülf's first two albums: Beowülf (1986) and Lost My Head... (1988).
Beyond the Red Mirror is the tenth studio album by the German power metal band Blind Guardian, released on 30 January 2015 through Nuclear Blast.
Havoc is the fourth studio album by Norwegian progressive metal band Circus Maximus, released on 18 March 2016. The deluxe edition includes a bonus track and an additional disc featuring a 2012 live performance in Japan.
Out of the Dark is the sixth studio album by Norwegian glam metal band Wig Wam, released on 10 February 2023. The album was announced in December 2022, along with a release of the title track as a single. Out of the Dark was produced by the band's guitarist Trond Holter and recorded at his home studio, Spoon Bay Studios.
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