Pagan Metal

Pagan Metal Merch – Metal Hymns for Thor & Co.

Mystical tales, breathtaking battles, and historical events from past eras – the hymns of Pagan Metal pay homage to the powers and gods of our ancestors in a unique way. Those who listen closely gain an alternative insight into the history of our ancestors. A critical examination of the present, religion, and modern media shapes the attitude of the followers of this special subculture. Pagan Metal is more than music. It is a lifestyle that reveres pagan values and casts a critical eye on contemporary society. Is Pagan Metal your musical home? Then learn more about the history and some bands you should definitely know in this genre.

The History of Pagan Metal

Lyrics play an extraordinarily important role in Pagan Metal. Deep lyrics about mythical worlds, mythologies, the stories of the Celts and Germanic tribes, as well as historical events, mark the genre's trademarks. Musically, however, there is great diversity. Pagan Metal originally developed in the early 90s from the second wave of Black Metal. Initiated by the legends of Bathory, a style soon emerged that was very similar to Black Metal but characterized by significantly more epic arrangements. Enslaved, Primordial, and Behemoth with their album THE RETURN OF THE NORTHERN MOON were first associated with the new style. This style gained enormous popularity in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Germany, and Eastern Europe in a short time. Today, several large Pagan Metal festivals exist, such as the Ragnarök Festival, the Paganfest, and the Heidenfest. Among others, two German-speaking bands, Eluveitie and Equilibrium, dominate this metal genre. Musically, most groups move between the borders of Black Metal and Folk Metal. Additionally, there is a related genre called Viking Metal, which primarily deals with Viking themes but is also influenced by Death Metal. This influence is clearly heard in the sound of bands like Unleashed and Amon Amarth. Typically, the classical instrumentation of guitar, drums, and bass in Pagan Metal is complemented by a keyboard. This gives the sound an epic and supportive foundation, which especially creates a goosebumps atmosphere live.