A subgenre of death metal with strong roots in Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Finland. It is similar to folk metal in the aspect that it heavily utilizes melody combined with instruments such as the accordion,
panflute and harp, along with deep operatic backing vocals to achieve a medieval atmosphere. Lyrical content deals with Viking culture and a Norse outlook - the belief that the only way to gain passage into Valhalla in Asgard is to die in a grand battle or adventure. It also shares subject matter with power metal, in that it deals with legend-esque things like warriors and dragons. Adversely it can be seen as
power metal's opposite, as power metal deals with knights and heroes using neo-classical undertones where the protagonists of
viking metal are swarthy and violent, almost barbaric.
Though viking metal is dark and grave in nature much like black metal, artists and fans of this genre tend to have a positive outlook - unlike screamo and
gothicism, it's not themselves they hate, but everyone else.
Some good
viking metal and
folk metal bands include
Ensiferum, Bathory, Amon Amarth, Folkearth and Finntroll.
