King of Asgard - Fi'mbulvintr (2010)

Brace yourselves, I'm doing something that I haven't done in a little while...posting an album for you mongrels to check out. Amazing, I know. Here we have King of Asgard, with former guitarist and drummer of one of my favorite folk/viking metal bands Mithotyn. Sadly it is no Gathered Around The Oaken Table, but it does still stand on it's own two feet and remains to be enjoyable, especially in these cold dark days.

Grab if you like: Mithotyn, Manegarm, Nomans Land

Winter

Land of Ice & Vikings

This Monday, me and three friends embark on a two week trip to Iceland. Arguably the coolest place on earth. Geysers spout, waterfalls topple, fjords weave, volcanoes erupt, mountains peek, obsidian's ridge...you get the idea. This place rules.

I'll be trekking along the same lands as the vikings had during the 8th century, so a plethora of viking/folk/power metal will be accompanying me on my 32 GB iPhone. Not Björk or Sigur Rós, fuck that.

Here, a list of albums I am most stoked to listen to whilst in the land of ice.

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Fortid - Voluspa Part III: Fall of the Ages

 
Folkodia - Forgotten Lore

Butterfly Temple - Earth

Empyrium - Weiland

Lemuria - Tales Ale & Fire

 

Winterfylleth - The Mercian Sphere

 

Heathen Foray - The Passage

Satanakozel - The Sun of the Dead

Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini

Neun Welten - Destrunken

Agalloch - Marrow of the Spirit

Avven - Kastalija

Borknagar - The Archaic Course

Crom - Vengeance

Wuthering Heights - Far From The Madding Crowd

 

Nàttsòl - Stemning

 

Wodensthrone - Loss

Wolfchant - A Pagan Storm

Svartby - Riv, Hugg Och Bit

Nydvind - Sworn To The Elders

Voluspaa - Åsa

Falchion - Chronicles Of The Dead

 Galar - Til Alle Heimsens Endar

Ásmegin - Hin Vordende Sod & Sø

Svartsot - Mulmets Viser

Glittertind - Landkjenning (2009)

Folk punk with a nod to viking metal certainly is an interesting combination but it is also pretty fucking rad! Glittertind of Norway create something that is almost entirely unique. Folk punk isn't exactly something that doesn't already exist, but it is the style and approach of Landkjenning that stands out from the rest.

Longships and Mead

Heidevolk - Walhalla Wacht (2008)

Strap on your bracers and fill up your steins because here we have some authentic Viking/Folk Metal from the Netherlands. You don't need to be wielding a Claymore to appreciate this shit though, this is just some good ol' Folk Metal that really doesn't sound quite like anything else I have heard...and this is a good thing.  A refreshing release in a genre that is at times guilty of being stagnant.

This album may be a "grower" for some however, but it is damn catchy and worthy of a spin here and there in your ever-growing music collection. The bread and butter of this album is that every song manages to stand out on its own and hoist its own identity in quite a original refreshing way. Enjoy this one.


Walhalla Wacht

Runic - Liar Flags (2006)

Dudes from Spain playing a blend of Viking Metal that sounds more authentic than most. I have no idea why more people haven't caught onto this band yet as Liar Flags deliver a debut that is full of energy and soundscapes that take you back to the golden era of burly vikings post-pillaging gatherings.

Liar Flags

Mithotyn - Gathered Around The Oaken Table (1999)

Interestingly enough I have found out that Sweden is third for views on this blog. Why is this significant? This is relevant because Mithotyn are Swedish, and they kick all kinds of ass. (Hey viewers of Sweden, Jag älskar dig)

Mithotyn paved the way for Viking Metal in the 90's and Gathered Around The Oaken Table was the bands last and best release. The album hosts all the beauty's you would expect from Viking Metal; blasting drums, shrieking vocals, mighty choirs, and passages that journey through drunken celebratory post-pillaging gatherings. (accurate album cover)

Ahh, gathered around an oaken table with fellow brothers in arms, drinking mead out of a horn exchanging tales of past journeys, while enjoying the comforts of a fireplace, meat, and a lovely bar maiden. (If she doesn't keep the mead flowing, you can be sure her head will end up at the end of a spear.) Those burly dudes had it right this whole time. Tyck om! (enjoy)

Pillage. Decapitate. Glory.