Folk metal

Subject: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 06:59 PM

Anyone else curious? Or can point me good places?

I've been trying to dig further into folk metal lately, and I am not finding anything quintessentially British that is current - odd since Skyclad are generally credited with inventing the genre.

I'm more interested in using the metal approach to reinforce folk, rather than folk to flavour metal.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 08:35 PM

Alestorm..

Scots folk pirate metal..

[fairly similar in sound and style to viking folk metal band Turisas ]

worth a few minutes quick investigation .. maybe ..???


http://www.myspace.com/alestorm

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Hamish
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 01:04 AM

Well I have been known to do "Another One Bites the Dust" in a folk style...

...that may not be quite what you mean, though.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 03:27 AM

I think folk metal is mainly performed by Scandinavians, Germans and Slavs nowadays.
Heck, there is even Tuvan throat-singing metal, can't get much direr than that.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 03:33 AM

For Scandinavian bands try 'Hedningarna' and 'Hoven Droven' I have a few CD's by both bands and they kick butt! Especially 'Tra' by 'Hedningarna'
For Tuvan metalase try 'Yat-Kha' I would start with their live album from 2001.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Charley O'Neill
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 05:06 AM

What about Sheffields, Glory Stokes Ceilidh Band ? Check em out

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 05:15 AM

Alestorm - well, good production values, song content almost camp in the way it self-guys, and for me hard to see as a continuum of the folk spectrum.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Locksley
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 05:21 AM

I have to ditto the mention of Glorystrokes. Absolutely superb, and I think they are doing the ceilidh at Cecil Sharp House on 20th, IIRC. They also have a myspace page at www.myspace.com/glorystrokes.

Would Peatbog Faeries count as metal too? They're rocky, but I'm not sure how far towards metal they really are...

L

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 08:05 AM

I like the Peatbog Faeries, but they are very rooted in Scottish/Celtic and I would put them in rock rather than metal.

I have now had s listed to Glorystrokes and I like bits - but of course I hate piano (except for Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and some classic boogie-woogie players) and I'm not sure about the way the humpty button melodeon is in use - I see it for dance, but maybe not what I am looking for. And on balance I think I'd put them in rck rateer than metal.

Must do some work and stop surfing!

The style I like is quite towards Bluehorses, but more actual folk song and I'm not sure I'm keen on the drummer...

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Joe G
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 08:30 AM

I love Glorystrokes - I was amazed to find that the group includes members of Crucible whose music is equally good but in much more traditional vein.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Elfcall
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 08:36 AM

You could try Cruachan - but again very much in the cel**c /Irish tradition.

Elfcall

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Joe P
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 08:39 AM

Glorystrokes are more glam maybe?

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Leadfingers
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 08:42 AM

I always thought Folk Metal meant Pewter !!

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Jayto
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 08:47 AM

The Legendary Shack Shakers mixes Appalachian folk with metal and punk. They are one of my fav bands. They have alot of influences so some you may not hear any folk in but the majority you do.

Golgol Bordello is gypsy/punk/metal they are really cool as well. Not as hard core metal as some of the bands mentioned. Balkan Beat Box is an offshoot band of Golgol Bordello and they are in the same vein. I dig both of them alot.

cya
JT

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 11:52 AM

Hednigarna interesting but definitely not folk metal from my perspective. Possibly twisted folk or acid folk.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 12:02 PM

Not gettng Yat-Kha. Remind me a bit of Jack Bruce's lifetime without Jack Bruce.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 12:09 PM

Outlandish Knights positively cerbrative in relation to where I think I am going - remind me bit in places of "Hocus Pocus". Very good, but not the direction I am hunting.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,James H
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 12:19 PM

what does cerbrative mean?

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Dunc McF
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 12:31 PM

Our guitarist (Geoff Taylor) is from a (very) metal background.
Whether we've tamed him too much isn't my call.
We play mostly English Trad songs (despite two Scots in the band!!)
and are proud our reviews have always stressed the 'Englishness' of our material rather than lazyily dub us 'Celtic'!

Not Folk metal, then - But try this, Richard?...
http://www.myspace.com/theduncanmcfarlaneband

'Live' we're much heavier than on CD (I'm told!)
Over and out - Duncan

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 02:17 PM

Mistype. Cerebrative.

Listening now

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 02:28 PM

Very nice stuff nicely done Duncan. Not sure how it relates to metal - indeed in places more folk than folk-rock.

Ah well, I needed to go and have a rummage and see what I found.

Rummaging.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Acorn4
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 04:40 PM

I've heard Ozzie Osbourne always has a Child ballad up his sleeve!

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Bruce Michael Baillie
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 08:31 AM

My 16 year old son loves 'Korpiklanni' from Finland. Very good they are!

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 08:32 AM

They are indeed - but they are not metalling British folk music, they are metalling Finnish and Swedish folk music (and folklore).

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Jayto
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 09:51 AM

Most of the Folk Metal bands I have heard are Scandinavian. I really like hearing this mixture and wish more American and British bands would venture into this genre.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Spleen Cringe
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 10:34 AM

Try this for size, Richard!

Chuck Owston

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 11:05 AM

When Bach, used folk tunes, the result was Baroque music--not something flled folk-baroque.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 11:54 AM

i was clutching at straws even suggesting Alestorm..

[pantomime pirate folk metal !!!???..
do they do bookings for childrens birthday parties ..]

..clearly, providing a list of really excellent scandinavian and central/northern
european pagan medieval folk metal bands is so much easier


but us Brits seem to me to be virtually nonexistent in this most positively interesting and creative genre..

..actually.. musically, i wouldn't mind having a go at it,
i love loud guitars and battle drums and bagpipes..

but think all the stage costume mud, woad, and animal skins
might create havoc
with heat rashes during summer gigs..

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Wayne
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 12:19 PM

As mentioned above, Korpiklanni are fab. They're playing at Leeds Rio's on December 5. I can heartily recommend Tyr from the Faroe Islands as well. Loads of trad melodies but they stick to rock instruments.

Apart from Alestorm, who are quite a good laugh live, and Fintroll, I've only come across one recent British example, The Clan Destined, but they are another Martin Walkyier project. A little heavier than Skyclad but pretty good in its own way.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 12:48 PM

Thnk you Spleen. Nice dog on his myspace page. I'm sure that was a drum machine on one of the tracks! Aimed at rock not metal, but good go for a bloke my age!

I'm liking some of this band (so long as the bird sings, not the bloke)

DIsturbed

Off to try the Walkier connection

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 12:56 PM

No! There is no folk in the Clan Destined and the metal is dogshit, so are the vox and production.   Some fair shredding. And there appears to be rap noise called "Clan Destined" which is very confusing.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 01:19 PM

Still nothing UK-ish to touch Bluehorses

Billy Boy

Barbra Ellen (not as heavy as some of theirstuff)

Wraggle-Taggle Gypsies -O

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Mr Happy
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 03:33 PM

Mesen' & t'band are regularly requested to do our versions've SQ's 'Rockin' al over the World/ Sweet Caroline' set!

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Acorn4
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 04:26 AM

I remember it from Shrewsbury, Mr H, and a fine rendition it was indeed!

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Alan Surtees
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 05:21 AM

Having noticed some interest in Hoven Droven, please be aware; they are already booked for Shrewsbury 2009.

All the Best

Alan

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Spleen Cringe
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 05:34 AM

Not metal here, but psychedelic folk-rock. Get quite heavy at times, especially on the first album, Hazy Days. Pop chums with the Bluehorses.

Mary Jane

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Spleen Cringe
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 05:36 AM

And here is their My Space

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 07:57 AM

Thank you Spleen

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Musket
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 08:05 AM

About 30 years ago, when I was in a rock band on a Saturday night and at the folk club on the Sunday, I once went to Sheffield City Hall to watch a rock band of the day, possibly Judas Priest, Hawkwind or whatever, and was totally bowled over by the support band.

Mamas Boys, came from Northern Ireland and a fusion of heavy rock c/w jigs & reels, with a wizard fiddle player. I decided that my two musical sides should melt together in a similar way, but a) couldn't get my bassist to visit a folk club and b) couldn't get my mates at the fold club to go electric.

c) Still dreaming....

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 11:04 AM

I just get the feeling that this sort of stuff has the same effect on the folk world as alcopops have on the world of discerning cask beer drinkers - totally destroys the sense of taste.
Probably just me...
Ray

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 11:43 AM

QUOTE: "I just get the feeling that this sort of stuff has the same effect on the folk world as alcopops have on the world of discerning cask beer drinkers - totally destroys the sense of taste.
Probably just me..."

Probably...

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 01:26 PM

Oh no, when it first hit these shores, Two Dogs was refreshingly different.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Jayto
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 02:17 PM

I don't think it will have a bad effect on folk at all. I think it may spur some people to look into folk more. I know I heard a song years ago that was an alt country song that had a heavy appalachian folk overtone. I loved it so much I got to looking into appalachian folk more and before long I was in love with folk in general. If it hadn't been for that song exposing me to folk by adding it as an element to the song who knows where I would be today musically. I think it will spur thought and exploration and end up drawing people to folk that may not have came otherwise.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 08:52 PM

You're probably right, Jayto. Thinking back a few years it was skiffle that got me into Old Time music.
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Wayne
Date: 09 Nov 08 - 01:58 PM

I'm sure I read somewhere that the surviving brothers from Mama's Boys formed Celtus who became reasonably popular with their "celtic" rock. Another pretty decent band in that vein are Dare formed by ex Thin Lizzy (now there's a band with the odd folk moment) keyboard player Darren Wharton.

I quite like The Clan Destined, Mr Bridge, but then I also like Leo Sayer so I'm no flag bearer for good taste!

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Graham and Jo
Date: 10 Nov 08 - 05:18 AM

Blue Horses?
Blackmore's Night?

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: matt milton
Date: 10 Nov 08 - 06:32 AM

Check out Wolfmangler and Dead Raven Choir, if you don't know them already. Both are projects of D Smolken, a Polish-American musician.

Death metal played on acoustic instruments would be one description, but that would ignore the sparseness and dramatic use of silence in his music. Very much something you'll either love or hate. Me, I can't get past his Bela Lugosi goth vocals, but I like the music very much indeed.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: s&r
Date: 10 Nov 08 - 06:52 AM

Thread drift (slightly) we just returne from Music Live at the NEC, and the thing we noticed most was that young performers on the open mic sets played heavy rock/metal/etc on acoustic guitars

Stu

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Nov 08 - 08:34 AM

Blackmore's Night: --


http://www.myspace.com/blackmoresnight1



Nice sound - but hardly either folk metal or metal folk....

(and as for the Youtube clip were Night starts by calling Baez a folk singer - grrrr 1954195419541945!!)

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Nov 08 - 01:08 PM

BlueHorses I do mention above and very good they are.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: masha
Date: 10 Nov 08 - 02:23 PM

Well, if you want a really HEAVY metal version of traditional folk, check out Liam aka Mephisto Grande from Oxford. His mom played old-time fiddle, and he grew up going to lots of folk festivals. Altho mostly he does his very extreme original stuff, he will occasionally throw in "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" or traditional gospel tunes, etc. in a VERY non-traditional way.   

Warning, this AIN'T your mama's folk!

if you do run into him, tell him I said "hi".

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Nov 08 - 07:13 PM

This Mephisto Grande?


One song there is sort of folk-style
One is punk-style
Another Man done Gone is quite interesting for those of us who know the John Mayall version

None of it vaguely resembles metal.

I am grateful for all input, but ahve you-all looked at the links above??

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: masha
Date: 10 Nov 08 - 10:27 PM

I'll admit that if it involves instruments that plug in, I don't know anything about it. Here are excerpts from reviews: "At first glance the expected metal tropes and spacerock swirls are all present, but the entire effect is surprisingly rootsy." Liam describes his music as "Experimental / Metal" and the Guardian described it as "Psychedelic avant metal". You can't judge him just by the 3 sound clips on his MySpace page.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Neil D
Date: 10 Nov 08 - 11:41 PM

Eluveitie

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Nov 08 - 03:25 AM

Interesting - must try mre of that - but the couple of bits I just glanced at were very much metal with a little folk-style-flavour rhather than folk with a dollop of metal flavour...

Will look more though...

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: glueman
Date: 11 Nov 08 - 03:43 AM

This is very confusing. Are we suggesting there's a genuine folk metal genre? One that elides the estimable Motorhead with banjos and fiddles? Or are we talking folk with a bit of lecky guitar? Isn't the/a point of metal to prioritise volume at the expense of melody? How does playing it on acoustic instruments work? This isn't some political ploy to conflate authenticity and spurious nationhood, is it?

Sorry for the number of question marks?

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 11 Nov 08 - 10:27 AM

well.. if we haven't found any really good British folk metal bands so far..???


just gotta presume we lag way behind the best of the Euro bands
who have been experimenting and establishing their dominance of this genre
for at least the last decade..

i missed seeing Eluveitie play live in England earlier in the year,
and from the evidence of the 'free' DVD included in Ltd editions
of their last CD..

that would have been probably one of the best gigs of this year..

..last few days i've been listening to a lot of Corvus Corax mp3s,
and their more 'electro-metal-bagpipe' splinter band
Tanzwut

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Nov 08 - 10:50 AM

Ah - but then you've never heard Crucible doing 4 part versions of selections from Toxicity...& *everyone* should have seen their set at Towersey...

g

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Nov 08 - 05:24 PM

There is clearly a fairly cohesive folk metal scene on the continent. It is all very electric usually with double kick drum. It sounds like "metal" not like "rock". but I have two buts about it.

First, very little of it seems to take folk songs or nearly-folk songs and metal them. It all seems to try to extract the use of some instruments or the way of playing them or the nature of melody lines or the ways of singing harmony that has or have been associated with folk music, and adding those to metal.

Second, most of it is sung in German or a Norse language (OK some Spanish). Not useful to me!


The closest I have got to what I am looking for is BlueHorses - and right now they are resting and their figurehead Lizzie Prendergast is listed as freelance on MySpace (and doing some very acoustic stuff with Eden Hill). There is some Celtic metal around too, but I don't do "Euro-celtique"

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 03:35 PM

"Or are we talking folk with a bit of lecky guitar? Isn't the/a point of metal to prioritise volume at the expense of melody?"

No, there is melodic metal, like Thin Lizzy. Folk metal is also very popular in Eastern Europe. There is a metal band of Russian Israelis who play metal versions of Yiddish songs, and a whole slew of Russian and Ukranian bands. Plach Ieremii is a fantastic Ukrainian group. They don't perform folk songs per se, but the music is heavily based on western Ukrainian and old Church Slavonic motiffs. Lots of acoustic guitar and cello.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 05:13 PM

Nope - Tin Lizzy were never metal. There may be a potehto potaaato problem here...

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 06:09 PM

I think Philo would probaly have disagreed with you there.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 13 Nov 08 - 01:18 AM

These folks are Americans, Richard.
Cordelia's Dad doing "Jersey City" in an English Pub.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 13 Nov 08 - 04:11 AM

Not bad at all. More sort of punk-folk-rock, but interestingly done.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 13 Nov 08 - 02:02 PM

Folkodia


Not bad I think - but why is it always Viking?

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 13 Nov 08 - 04:49 PM

Forgot to mention that quite a few of the Plach Yeremii numbers use a hurdy-gurdy and jew's harp.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 08:08 AM

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lSqiJd3xjZE

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 08:28 AM

I know it may not be de rigueur to mention the old folk rockers themselves but Steeleye Span can sometimes lean toward the more metalic. Anyone herad 'Bonny Black Hare' of the 'Bloody Men' album for instance? Lots of earlier stuff with Mr Carthy giving pound for pound with some of the heaviest as well:-)

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Satan's Squeezebox
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 09:40 AM

hmm.. now then, if Tony Iommi had joined Steeleye Span
for the first few LPs.......

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 11:44 AM

You could do worse than check out Cordelia's Dad's first album. The name of the album escapes me, but it's got the Baby Song, Banks of the Lee and a few like that on. After the first album they ditched the metaly stuff and became more melodic, with interesting results.

There was also a band knocking about called 'We Saw The Wolf' that I vaguely remember seeing. I know nothing else about them other than the fact that they claimed to be a 'folk metal' band and they entertained a 16-year-old me 20 years or so ago.

Finally, You Slosh would possibly be worth a look. Mainly pipe stuff, but with what I'd consider a 'heavy metal' approach. Their gigs were scarier than any of the heavy metal gigs I ever attended. Their first album, with 'The Break' on, still gets the odd airing in my house.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 01:41 PM

Thankyou for the list to the Jimi McRae band. Lots of fun, but the or one of the key differences between rock and metal is the drums. THat was like old rock drums - Dave Mattacks on a bad night (sorry).

I did try some of Cordelia's dad (above) and they were good but not what I was looking for. Blue Horses still the closest.

Off to try those other couple of names now.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 01:48 PM

We Saw the Wolf


Close to punk in places, folk hardly discernible in the widest sense...

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 02:02 PM

This one from Skyclad is not bad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlo7F1Zd-x0&feature=related

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 02:13 PM

Oh my God! TYR play "The Wild Rover"!!!

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 06:31 PM

Does Led Zeps version of If I were a carpenter count?

You know, Richerd, I am rapidly realising how bad folk music really is:-D

Thanks pal!

DeG

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 03:10 AM

No, DeG - not folk (more sort of like Presley's Las Vegas years!) and not metal.

There are some excellent performers in folk, but its real force is twofold. It taps a wellspring, the place from where we come: it is the reflection of 600 years of exploitation, infidelity, betrayal murder and even genocide. Secondly it does embrace not only as the subjects of those tales but also as narrators and performers we ordinary people - not superheroes in spandex on stage, but the man and woman offthe street. It is us and our heritage.

It is this linkage that I am finding missing in most of the "folk metal" we have discovered together since I started this thread. The genre seems to start from a mistaken premise - namely that folk is style of performance rather than a body of descended material - and to use that imagined style (as distinct from the imagined village) to modify an existing style or set of styles, the forms of performance called "metal". In a way folk metal (with the fascination in it or in parts of it with trolls and so on) seems to me to be more in touch with "filk" rather than "folk".

Another form I have found referred to is "blackened folk" and maybe that would be another place for me to search, but the voyage of discovery is harder since most of the material that emerges from search engines refers to the emergence of African-Americans from the experience of racism.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 01:18 PM

I know, Richard, there is indeed some excellent folk artists. Mind you, I thought Presley in his Vegas years was OK so I am no custodian of taste:-) I must say I am not sure if it was his music or the same sort of fascination as watching a road accident...

Good luck with your search.

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 02:00 AM

"There are some excellent performers in folk, but its real force is twofold. It taps a wellspring, the place from where we come: it is the reflection of 600 years of exploitation, infidelity, betrayal murder and even genocide. Secondly it does embrace not only as the subjects of those tales but also as narrators and performers we ordinary people - not superheroes in spandex on stage, but the man and woman offthe street. It is us and our heritage."

I dunno, there is just as much of that, I mean songs about ordinary people, in rock and pop as there is in folk.
So much of the 'tradition' is songs about kings and queens, lords and ladies, the high and mighty, the rich, the dashing the clourful, like highwayman, gallant hussars, etc.
People have always been fascinated by things which seem different to the drab and grey realities of everyday life.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Fidjit
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 02:45 PM

Hey Rich. This might tickle your fancy.

Susana Seivane

how heavy do you want it?

Not so many sharp edges on her. Unlike the Bluehorses lady.

And I'm a Duncan McFarlane fan too myself.
Chas

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 05:59 PM

Excellent playing, superb timing - positively as fragile as a butterfly in comparison to Shoar Patrol (bigger drums, war pipes, lots more beards) but no obvious connection to metal of any kind, Fidjit.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: fiddler
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 08:51 AM

Try

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=145825034

They claim to be punk not Metal but well worth a listen!

And very young - is this the future?

Andy

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 11:39 AM

It's quite fun. They are right it is not metal. As for teh future, although they are very different from Norcsalodie, there is some resemblance as well in the manner of delivery (albeit not tonality or pitch)

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Fidjit
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 02:31 PM

Rich. Just thought you'd like the curves.

Chas

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 04:19 PM

Not a patch on 7 of 9

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 04:24 PM

http://www.saorpatrol.com/introduction_to_saor_patrol.htm

Saor Patrol are about as close to Celtic Metal as you can get without a PA rig...

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 04:54 PM

on-line media promo hype makes claims for some metal traces
in Rose Kemp's music..

who knows ?, only just aquired 'preview' mp3s of her CD's;
not had time to listen yet.......

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 05:01 PM

folkmetal ?? nah man .... mind you each to there own .

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Fidjit
Date: 18 Nov 08 - 04:00 AM

A quote from their own site says,

"Again and again Saor Patrol brings to you their very own Celtabilly brand of music".

Mis-Quote from Richard Bridge above.

"in comparison to Shoar Patrol (bigger drums, war pipes, lots more beards) but no obvious connection to metal of any kind".

Chas

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 18 Nov 08 - 05:56 AM

I think you left out an important bit, Chas - your suggested performer was very delicate in comparison to Saor Patrol. HTat was my point to you.

I can't say I see Saor Patrol as Celtabilly, indeed I see no resemblance to rockabilly or hillbilly at all

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 18 Nov 08 - 06:47 AM

I suppose Cordelia's Dad's first album was more grungey than anything else. Most of the other suggestions I'd have make be from the early-90s 'folk-rock' boom, which came on the back of the success of the Pogues, Waterboys and Levellers, with not much success.

Spirit of the West's Go Figure album experiments with heavier stuff on songs like Pulling Lame and Polaroid, but frankly it's not a patch on their earlier Scottish folk-tinged or more political stuff. There was a Nottingham band called Seven Little Sisters who claimed to do a heavy metal version of Star of the County Down, the result of which left me, err... whelmed. The Tansads' second album (Up The Shirkers) contains a very good song called Eye of Average, which is probably the finest attempt at 'folk grunge' I've heard. Try not to listen to much of the rest of the album, however. I suppose Hopak by the Ukrainians must qualify as folk metal to some extent too.

Most 1990s folk rock tended to be singers shouting folk standards with an over-loud electric guitar in the background. Given that, I suppose we should maybe be thankful that no one seems to have properly ventured into fully blown folk metal.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Fidjit
Date: 18 Nov 08 - 10:54 AM

I did say it was a Mis-quote, Rich.

The other was taken from Soar Patrols own writing on the website you posted. They think it's what they do.
Kind regards
Chas

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 03:51 PM

Hey Richard

I was talking to Eleanor (Chris' daughter) about your interest in Folk Metal, specifically British bands. She mentioned

The Dolmen

Pagan band with both trad and electric instruments. Not exactly to my taste and I don't know if the fit the folk metal definition.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 04:51 PM

Thank you

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 05:00 PM

Interesting, but hardly metal - and indeed in places regrettably like T Rex!

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 04:33 AM

I thought the same and little bit like Jethro Tull on one or two tracks. I didn't like.

Some other pagan stuff she is into I did sort of like. Incubus Sukubus and Sonata Artica. But they are not folk metal. Good luck in your search.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Cllr
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 05:13 PM

saw Jethro Tull this evening AWESOME!!

( and when it comes to "metal" it a bit like what do you mean by "folk" and with tull it depends almost to which album you are listening to.)

Cllr

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Musket
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 06:00 PM

I often see a guy playing who does a mean Sweet Child of Mine on accordian. He even did Led Zep's Rock & Roll the last time I saw him, (in a cajun style, if you must know.)

All good stuff.

Putting it the other way, back in the late '70s, I went to Sheffield City Hall to see a band, (possibly Judas Priest or Black Sabbath,) and the support band were an Irish rock band called Mamas Boys. Jigs & reels in a pure heavy rock style. Magic, real magic.

Ever since Dave Burland started singing Boomtown Rats "I don't Like Mondays" saying it is a ruddy good folk song, (and the song was in the charts at the time) I looked at what could, would and does cross boundaries. I then noted Bill Caddick borrowing a Russian tune that Tchaikovsky either wrote or collected and realised...

There is a word called music. It describes an abstract aural art. Let's leave classification at that. I do. All my iTunes collection has been altered so the genre for everything is Music, rather than folk, celtic, classical, opera, rock, pop etc.

Interesting thread though. Some decent replies.

Subject: RE: Folk metal
From: Graham and Jo
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 04:12 PM

The spirit levelers? Haven't seen them but they were setting up as we were leaving a pub. Looked interesting.