There is a similar topic for Black Metal, and I really love the formula, because it gives an opportunity to analyze deeply the subgenre. Best band or best song is ok, but it's kinda unfair for bands who are not very famous but have strong points. Just give a top 3 for these three categories and give short explanations if you want, but don't exaggerate, unless you want this topic to be overloaded with useless information...

1. Top three Folk Metal bands

2. Top three Folk Metal albums

3. Top three Folk Metal songs

My personnal top 3's are the following:

Best Bands
1- Equilibrium: To me, no band in the world masters better the epic feeling of Viking Metal.
2- Korpiklaani: One of the rare bands who are Folk with metal elements and not the inverse.
3- Orphaned Land: The Middle-Eastern melodies are just delightful.

Best albums
1- Sagas (Equilibrium): Certainly the album I listened the most to in my life.
2- The Varangian Way (Turisas): Too short, but the symphonies and vocals are masterful.
3- Mabool (Orphaned Land): About the only prog album I love from the beginning to the end.

Best Songs
1- Unbesiegt (Equilibrium): So epic, so beautiful, so fast, so brutal, so WOW!
2- To Holmgard And Beyond (Turisas): I'm ready to jump on a drakkar and conquer the world, my Lord!
3- Ocean Land (Orphaned Land): You could dance balladi on that METAL song. Isn't it weird? No, it's beautiful.

Huh remainds me old forum whit ''best of ...'' its quaste interestinmg even complicated name 3 bands, ok I try even I prefere top 10

1)Antigone - Werry inbtersting band from Lithiania, soemhow mix pagan emetioms, its feelings like you're into 14th century Lithaunia, even band are rear and hard to find out that band are wounderfull, realy wounderfull

2)Silant Stream of Goldless Elegy - Its folk doom band from Czceh republic, and its awesoem, doom metal mix whit czceh folk elements

3)Its hard name 3th so I edd those 3 band slike 3th OK?
Agalloch , Beltaine, Carved in Stone and Of the Wand and the Moon

Best albums:
1)Ulver - ''Kveldssanger''
Werry good accustic / folk album, great realy greta , great feelings grat old scandianavian spirit

2)Antigone - ''Be Realybės''

Ok its 3 song demo but its much much better how overated Scandinavian so called folk band albums

3)Limsk - ''Åsmund Fregdegjævar'

Best songs
Sorry I acn not say best folk metal songs so I edd all
''Be Realybės'' demo

1. Be Realybēs
2. Raganu Kalnas
3. Vakare

+ Silant Stream Of Goldless Elegy song ''I would dance'' and Beltaine songs ''Eclipse'', ''Lone'' and ''Shamain'' try get those all and you will understand what I mean

Best bands:
1.Ensiferum : Jari Mäenpää sounds great love his voice
2.Moonsorrow : love thier epic long songs
3.Agalloch : beautiful melodies, use of acoustic guitars frequently

Best albums:
Ensiferum (Ensiferum)
Mabool (Orphaned Land)
Voimasta Ja Kunniasta (Moonsorrow)

Best songs:
Hero in a dream (Ensiferum)
You Were But A Ghost In My Arms (Agalloch)
The Storm Still Rages Inside (Orphaned Land)

Bands:
1. Equilibrium - They put out what I consider the #1 album of 2008, and it is quickly becoming my favorite album, period. I hope they're next release can top Sagas, that would solidify them as my all-time favorite metal band, but I won't get ahead of myself, as Sagas is still young, and another album won't be around for a while.

2. Eluveitie - All albums are solid, love the Gothenburg/folk combo.

3. Ensiferum - Album after album has left me wanting more


Albums:
1. Sagas - absolutely my favorite folk album as stated above, you'd be hard pressed to changed my mind on this one.

2. Slania - I thought Ven and Spirit were solid. Got Slania expecting a decent, but not great album. One listen was all it took for me to put this album in my top 5 for 2008. It really hit a home run with me.

3. The Varangian Way - Although Turisas is not in my top 3 as i was not too impressed with Battle Metal, The Varangian Way is an absolutely awesome album. I love just about everything about that album.


Songs:

1. Mana - This was a tough choice, as I love the whole album, especially Unbesiegt, but Mana as just so epic and masterful. It is quite possibly my favorite song in general. although it clocks in at over 16 minutes, part of me wishes it was longer, as the further along in the song it becomes, the better it gets.

2. Unbesiegt - The best woodwinds/pipes I've ever heard

3. Bloodstained Ground - So absolutely brutal, but still so catchy

Bands:

1. Equilibrium - They are the definition of Viking Metal and have created 2 great albums.

2. Ensiferum - The band that got me into this genré. I really love them with its variety of brutal but still catchy and melodic songs.

3. Eluveitie - Gothenburg metal is great and folk metal is great, what´s even better? a combination of those 2 and there we have Eluveitie.


Albums:

1. Sagas - So good, so epic so catchy...easy choice.

2. Ensiferum - A solid album by a great band, cant really say that i miss anything on this album.

3. Slaina - The album that made me listen to Eluveitie.

Songs:

1. Heimwärts - probably one of the most catchy songs out there!

2. Wanderer - I really adore this song, never gets old.

3. Calling The Rain - I love the instruments in this one.

Written by Guest on 16.01.2009 at 14:15


3. Calling The Rain - I love the instruments in this one.

Since when old Atrocity plays folk metal?

Written by Bad English on 16.01.2009 at 14:24

Written by Guest on 16.01.2009 at 14:15


3. Calling The Rain - I love the instruments in this one.

Since when old Atrocity plays folk metal?

Calling The Rain with Eluveitie?

Written by Guest on 16.01.2009 at 14:29

Written by Bad English on 16.01.2009 at 14:24

Written by Guest on 16.01.2009 at 14:15


3. Calling The Rain - I love the instruments in this one.

Since when old Atrocity plays folk metal?

Nop its Atrocity sng werry good , ok its fol accustic but it not folk metal
Calling The Rain with Eluveitie?

Written by Bad English on 16.01.2009 at 17:29

Written by Guest on 16.01.2009 at 14:29

Written by Bad English on 16.01.2009 at 14:24

Written by Guest on 16.01.2009 at 14:15


3. Calling The Rain - I love the instruments in this one.

Since when old Atrocity plays folk metal?

Nop its Atrocity sng werry good , ok its fol accustic but it not folk metal
Calling The Rain with Eluveitie?

no, it's also an Eluveitie song from "Slania".

Lolll Bad English is looking stupid, isn't he?

Written by MétalNoir on 16.01.2009 at 23:13

Lolll Bad English is looking stupid, isn't he?

Maybe Im looking stupid but I know thet Atrocity was same song and I know how sounds old good Atrocity , elluvite was in childrengarden when Atrocity played

Eluveitie is boring, anyway... All songs are good, but that'S because they all sound exactly the same. Inis Mona is a great song, though. And what's Atrocity anyway? I'll have to give it a try...

Written by MétalNoir on 16.01.2009 at 23:22

Eluveitie is boring, anyway... All songs are good, but that'S because they all sound exactly the same. Inis Mona is a great song, though. And what's Atrocity anyway? I'll have to give it a try...

Atrocity is not folk band but if you wnat listen band try old early albums before Alexander was mearied whit Liv Kristin, old mid 90's early 90's its awesome

Written by VPeter on 16.01.2009 at 18:31

Written by Bad English on 16.01.2009 at 17:29

Written by Guest on 16.01.2009 at 14:29

Written by Bad English on 16.01.2009 at 14:24

Written by Guest on 16.01.2009 at 14:15


3. Calling The Rain - I love the instruments in this one.

Since when old Atrocity plays folk metal?

Nop its Atrocity sng werry good , ok its fol accustic but it not folk metal
Calling The Rain with Eluveitie?

no, it's also an Eluveitie song from "Slania".

It's not a cover is it?

Hmmm

Best Bands
1- Ensiferum, My 1st band I heard that were folk metal, and still the best!
2- Korpiklaani - the only band that are folk with metal influences, really.
3- Equalibirium - Just genius, the only way to know what they sound like is to hear them for yourself.

Best Albums
1- Spirit of the forest (Kopiklaani) this is a very earthy album, i really love the connection with nature.
2- Ensiferum - (Ensiferum) although I do like the petri era, nothing sums up ensiferum more than this album.
3- Nottfod (fintroll) well you gotta be troll running round a forest at times don't you?

Best Songs
1- Treachorous Gods - ensiferum - their heaviest to date.
2- Nokken - Lumsk - really majikal
3- Wooden Pints Korpiklaani (well it's folk metal, you gotta have a drinking song!)

is it funny that everyone who has posted here has mentioned ensiferum and people ahve hardley mentioned fintroll?

Written by necrovamp on 19.05.2009 at 12:10

Written by VPeter on 16.01.2009 at 18:31

Written by Bad English on 16.01.2009 at 17:29

Written by Guest on 16.01.2009 at 14:29

Written by Bad English on 16.01.2009 at 14:24

Written by Guest on 16.01.2009 at 14:15


3. Calling The Rain - I love the instruments in this one.

Since when old Atrocity plays folk metal?

Nop its Atrocity sng werry good , ok its fol accustic but it not folk metal
Calling The Rain with Eluveitie?

no, it's also an Eluveitie song from "Slania".

It's not a cover is it?

No it's not a cover as far as I know.

Written by necrovamp on 19.05.2009 at 12:18

is it funny that everyone who has posted here has mentioned ensiferum and people ahve hardley mentioned fintroll?

Did you reda my post
Where I mention that band

I just realised that I never posted here

Best Bands:
1. Subway To Sally
2. Skyclad
3. Vicious Crusade

Best Albums:
1. Subway To Sally - Herzblut
2. Varg - Wolfszeit
3. Vicious Crusade - Forbidden Tunes

Best Songs:
1. Subway To Sally - Wenn Engel Hassen
2. Skyclad - Another Fine Mess
3. Vicious Crusade - Let It Burn

Pretty hard to pick here only 3 favourites, because Folk Metal is my favourite genre and I could easily pick 50 bands that I really like

Written by Diabolos on 19.05.2009 at 15:59

3. Vicious Crusade

If you like this Belarrusian band try Czcehs S.S.O.G.L its simmilar

Written by Bad English on 19.05.2009 at 15:22

Written by necrovamp on 19.05.2009 at 12:18

is it funny that everyone who has posted here has mentioned ensiferum and people ahve hardley mentioned fintroll?

Did you reda my post
Where I mention that band

lol yeah ok il change it to 'most' people, i was a little tired this morning, also the guy who opened the thread din't mention them either.

Written by Bad English on 19.05.2009 at 16:07

Written by Diabolos on 19.05.2009 at 15:59

3. Vicious Crusade

If you like this Belarrusian band try Czcehs S.S.O.G.L its simmilar

Do you have a link to a profile of that band? (Myspace, MA,...) I have never heard of them and I can't find them

Written by Diabolos on 19.05.2009 at 18:34

Written by Bad English on 19.05.2009 at 16:07

Written by Diabolos on 19.05.2009 at 15:59

3. Vicious Crusade

If you like this Belarrusian band try Czcehs S.S.O.G.L its simmilar

Do you have a link to a profile of that band? (Myspace, MA,...) I have never heard of them and I can't find them

in home page are about 6 songs
http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=1298

Written by Bad English on 19.05.2009 at 19:58

Written by Diabolos on 19.05.2009 at 18:34

Written by Bad English on 19.05.2009 at 16:07

Written by Diabolos on 19.05.2009 at 15:59

3. Vicious Crusade

If you like this Belarrusian band try Czcehs S.S.O.G.L its simmilar

Do you have a link to a profile of that band? (Myspace, MA,...) I have never heard of them and I can't find them

in home page are about 6 songs
http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=1298

Thx a lot, I will definitely check them out!

Ohh... nice topic...

bands:
1. Dalriada - Personal favourite band...
2. Kivimetsän Druidi - I like the power in their music and mixture of growls and female vocals.
3. Eluveitie - I started to listen their music some months ago. Pretty good bands. I like those folk instruments...

Albums:
1. Dalriada - Kikelet. One of their best with lot of power and good melodies.
2. Dalriada - Fergeteg. The first album from the band. The sounding is shitty, but those songs... after I purchased that album, I can't even blow it out from my cd-player for weeks
3.Kivimetsän Druidi - Shadowheart. I said also in the best band part why

Songs:
1. Dalriada - Igaz hittel
2. Eluveitie - Omnos
3. Kivimetsän Druidi - The Tyrant
It's hard to say why. Just good songs I like listen to...

Written by Diabolos on 20.05.2009 at 11:39

Thx a lot, I will definitely check them out!

Band is unique because use čezh langauge for lyrics and its ghood, ok some can be in english to, but some in czceh , I like this band try band's video
BTW band is here on MS and try also Cz band Beltaine

Bands:
1- Ensiferum(Jari-era) (their last album is not that good)
2- Turisas (poooooowerful)
3- Otyg (that Andreas guy is really amazing)

albums:
1- Ensiferum-Ensiferum (I like every single track, Maenpaa is an amazing musician I must add)
2- Turisas-The Varangian Way (I just love it)
3- Ensiferum-Iron ( )

songs:
1- Ensiferum-Tale Of Revenge (my all time favorite, love the clean part)
2- Turisas-Cursed Be Iron (interesting song)
3- Finntroll-Midnattens Widunder (it sounds like joyful , I can't understand the words though)

Written by Jan Destiny on 21.05.2009 at 14:29

bands:
1. Dalriada - Personal favourite band...

-Seconded.

Albums:
1. Dalriada - Kikelet. One of their best with lot of power and good melodies.
2. Dalriada - Fergeteg. The first album from the band. The sounding is shitty, but those songs...

-Totally agree

1. Dalriada - Igaz hittel

-That's an interesting choice. Why did you choos that song?
My favourite one is definitely Szondi I.

Written by chematss on 21.05.2009 at 18:50


songs:

3- Finntroll-Midnattens Widunder (its like joyful , I can't understand the words though)

Yeah, Midnattens Widunder is a great song! It's in my top 20 favourite folk metal songs.
'midnattens' means 'midnight' (quite obvious) and 'vidunder' is 'monster' as far as I know.

I love Folk and Pagan Metal. My choices would be:

Bands:
1. Korpiklaani - I know that I said in a different thread that i preferred Finntroll, but the more I listen to Korpiklaani, the more I like them. Thier songs are fun, and they get bonus points for playing the actual traditional instruments, as opposed to creating the folk sound with keyboards.
2. Moonsorrow - Folky and epic. I am not normally a big fan of Black Metal, but these guys are awesome.
3. Finntroll - My entry point into Folk Metal. I love these guys.

Albums:
1. Mabool - Orphaned Land - An absolute classic. The Middle Eastern melodies mixed tastefully with Metal is beautiful.
2. Voimasta Ja Kunniata - Moonsorrow - One of Moonsorrow's folkier releases.
3. Ravnenes Saga - Svartsot This album is a folky as it is brutal. Before this, I would never heave believed that a flute could sork so well in Melodic Death Metal.

Songs:
1. Happy Little Boozer - Korpiklaani This should require no explanation. I want this song played at my funeral.
2. Fiskarens Fiende - Finntroll This song is a bouncing good time. Great tune.
3. Birth Of The Three (The Unification) - Orphaned Land This song encapsulates everything I love about the Mabool album - Middle Eastern tradtional instrument and melodies, tight songwriting, thought-provoking lyrics.

I am also really into Arkona, Tyr, and Primodial, so I feel guilty not having room for them on any of my lists. I'll just call them Honorable Mentions.

Written by Janne on 21.05.2009 at 19:30

Written by chematss on 21.05.2009 at 18:50


songs:

3- Finntroll-Midnattens Widunder (its like joyful , I can't understand the words though)

Yeah, Midnattens Widunder is a great song! It's in my top 20 favourite folk metal songs.
'midnattens' means 'midnight' (quite obvious) and 'vidunder' is 'monster' as far as I know.

its really joyful then