Sword Chant

LOCATION :  Lille, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France Status :  Split-up Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Flo : vocals Victor : guitar, tin whistle Julien : guitar Thomas : lead guitar Thibaut ( Sorcières ) : bass Robin : drums Past members : Alex : bagpipes, banjo César : guitar HISTORY : The French band founded in 2010 and ended in Mars 2018. RECORDINGS : Road to Greenland EP, 2011 Kraken's Awakening, album 2015 [ details ] WEBSITES : Twitter Bandcamp Contact : N/A Find more information on Sword Chant : - Band news

LOCATION :  Naberezhnye Chelny, Tatarstan, Russia Status :  Active Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Irina Zybina : vocals Alia "Leta" : traverse flute, vocals Ilnur Zarev : drums Yuri "Sadist" : bass, vocals Vitold Buznaev : guitar Ruzveld Grai : guitar HISTORY : The band was created on the 3rd of July in 2005. At the very beginning the name of the band was changed several times. It was “Raven Blood”, then “Vorog” (the enemy), and in February of 2007 it finally got it’s name “GRAI” that means "the bird’s cry".  RECORDINGS : From the source (Ot Istoka), EP 2007 The Sagebrush (Polyn – Trava), LP 2009 About  Native Land (O Zemle Rodnoy), album 2011 [  review  ] Годы Предсказаний, single 2012 In the arms of Mara, vinyl compilation 2014 [  details  ] Mlada, album 2014 [ details ] Donya, single 2017 [  details  ] Ashes, album 2017 [  details  ] Mist, maxi single 2022 XV Years in the Arms o...

LOCATION :  Helsinki, Finland Status :  Active Music :  Black Pagan MEMBERS : Henri Sorvali : guitar Ville Sorvali : bass, vocals Marko Tarvonen : drums Mitja Harvilahti : guitar Markus Eurén : keyboard Janne Perttilä : guitar (live) Past members : Lord Eurén : keyboards (live) HISTORY : The cousins Henri and Ville Sorvali founded the band in 1995. The first demo was unreleased. As for their band logo, their lyrics aren't related with politic since it deals with paganism, legends, and war. RECORDINGS : Thorns of Ice, demo 1996 Metsä, demo 1997 Promo 1997 Tämä Ikuinen Talvi, demo 1999 Suden Uni, album 2001 Voimasta Ja Kunniasta, album 2001 Kivenkantaja, album 2003 Verisäkeet, album 2005 V: Hävitetty, album 2007 Tulimyrsky, EP 2008 Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Uaassa, album 2011 Heritage: 1995-2008 - The Collected Works, boxed set 2014 [ details ] Jumalten Aika, album 2016 [ details ] WEBSITES : Moonsorrow.com Facebook Twitte...

LOCATION :  Denmark Status :  Active Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Jardén Schlesinger : vocals, guitar Thomas Haxen : bass, backing vocals Christian Christiansen : guitar Jacques Harm Brandt Hauge : drums Past members : Rasmus Kaibe : bass Pelle Buch Hansen : drums Jannik Ravn : guitar Bøssefar : guitar, backing vocals Richardt Olsen : guitar Danni Lyse Jelsgaard ( Svartsot ) : drums HISTORY : The band started in 2009 as a black metal band and then, Sylvatica moved to folk metal over the time. RECORDINGS : Sagn og sagaer, EP 2010 Mjölner og mjöd, single 2010 Mosemanden, compilation 2011 Blodrøde blade, single 2012 Evil Seeds, album 2014 [ details ] Ashes and Snow, album 2021 WEBSITES : Facebook Youtube Bandcamp Instagram Contact :   SylvaticaOfficial@gmail.com Find more information on Sword Chant : - Band news

LOCATION :  Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, Spain Status :  Active Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Gustavo Infantes "Gus" : bass, lead vocals David "Dagda" ( Mörrighan ) : viola, bagpipes, bouzouki, flutes, whistle, harp, backing vocals Clara Palomares : vocals, hurdy-gurdy, whistles Ruben Rodriguez (Ocelon) : drums Sergio Garay : guitar Past members : María Ea : guitar David García "Dave" : bagpipes, baroque flutes, whistles, backing vocals Patricia San Martín "Patri" : violin, backing vocals Julián Yagüe "Vasco" : guitar, backing vocals Victor Fernández "Vity" : drums, bodhrán, percussions, backing vocals HISTORY : Julián's and Gustavo founded the band by the end of 2010 and Vity, Lucky and Dave joined in january 2011. From may 2011, Patri replaced Lucky who left the band. Dave took part in the recordings of the debut album of the band and then, he parted ways with them. Dagda joined Celtibeerian after endi...

LOCATION :  Hämeenlinna, Finland Status :  On hold Music :  Melodic Death, Industrial MEMBERS : Henri Asikainen : vocals Toni Haapasaari : keyboards Ville Oravala : guitar Juha Kortemaa : guitar Yann Gualtieri : drums Tero Kulmala : bass HISTORY : Finnish Asa-Noir is founded in the year 2004 by Ilkka Koivisto and Ville Oravala, Asa-Noir was originally a heathen black metal duo contemplating the many aspects of Asatru. However, after seemingly neverending troubles and changes in the band's line up, the band returns when Henri Asikainen joined as vocalist in 2010. Now, music of the band sounds more industrial within melodic death metal. RECORDINGS : Demo, 2010 Reforming Heathen Origins, promo 2011 Sing, My Ravens, single 2012 Fall of the Idols, album 2014 WEBSITES : Facebook Contact :   contact@asanoir.com

LOCATION :  Wales, UK Status :  On hold Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : John Courage : guitar, midi drums, programming. Steve Thomas : bass, vocals, guitar,12 strings guitar Past members : Aled Pashley ( Annwn , ex- Hildr Valkyrie ) : guitar Peter Squire : guitar HISTORY : The band was formed late 2005. Following various line up changes the band now consists of the two founding members John Courage and Steve Thomas. The music is based around pagan themes and Welsh folklore, Doom ,Folk ,Ambient, Classical and Progressive elements make up the overall sound. The band seems to be on hold since 2016. RECORDINGS : As Homelands Burn, EP 2011 WEBSITES : Siluria.weebly.com Facebook Jango Contact :  http://siluria.weebly.com/index.html

LOCATION :  York, England Status :  Split-up Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Jenny Green : lead vocals, keyboards, whistle Hallam Smith : lead guitar, backing vocals Tom Keeley : bass Alex Brandsen : drums HISTORY : Cryptic Age are a Celtic and progressive metal band founded in 2010 by Hallam Smith, Jenny Green, Tom Keeley and Alex Brandsen. Traditional celtic music and mythology are part of their influences and their lyrics are in Manx Gaelic since Jenny comes from the Isle of Man. The band is on indefinite hold since August 2014. RECORDINGS : Homeland, EP 2011 Sounds of Infinity II: Eternity Beckons, single 2012 Sounds of Infinity, album 2012 WEBSITES : Facebook Contact :  N / A

LOCATION :  Brussels, Belgium Status :  Split-up Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Pierre Cherelle : lead guitar, vocals Thibault : rythmic guitar Benjamin Delbar : bass Hugo : bagpipes Myrna : violin Sabrina :hurdy gurdy Jerry Winkelmans : drums Past members : Charly Flémal : guitar Michel Debeck : drums Geoffroy Dell’Aria : bagpipes, whistles HISTORY : The band founded in 2005 split-up after the 2017 release. RECORDINGS : Tribute To The Fallen, EP 2011 Endless Horizons, single 2011 From ashes to the frozen land, album 2013 Shaping the Soul, album 2017 [  details  ] WEBSITES : Reverbnation Youtube Contact :  ithilien.music@gmail.com Find more information on Sword Chant : - Band news

LOCATION :  Graz, Styria, Austria Status :  Active Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Robert Schroll ( Alphayn ) : vocals Jürgen Brüder : guitars Alexander Wildinger : guitars Markus Wildinger : bass Markus Kügerl : drums Past members : Bernd S. Zahn : guitars Franz Löchinger : drums HISTORY : Heathen Foray is Austrian band created in 2005. Music of the band can be described as viking metal connected with folk and melodic death metal influences. They release a new single in november 2022 :  their Bathory cover of "Man of Iron" track. RECORDINGS : Forest, demo 2007 The Passage, album 2009 Armored Bards, album 2010 Inner Force, album 2013 [ details ] [  lyrics  ] Into Battle, album 2015 [ details ] Weltenwandel, album 2020 [  details  ] Steirermen san Very Good, single 2021 Man of Iron, single 2022 Leben, single 2023 [  details  ] Oathbreaker, album 2023 [  details  ] WEBSITES : ...

LOCATION :  Lubin, Poland Status :  Active Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Ewa Pitura : vocals Mikołaj Rybacki : guitars, mandoline, saz (lute), darabuka, vocals Katarzyna Bromirska : cello, double bass, accordion, flutes Adam Kłosek : bass Marcin Ścierański : drums Past members : Krzysztof Figurski : violin Kornelia Rybacka : bass, sopilka, drums, percussions Piotr Banaszkiewicz : drums Bogusz Stepak : drums, bodhrán Kamil Pelka : bass, acoustic guitar Andrzej Mikityn : drums Marcin Frąckowiak : bass Joanna Lacher : davul, bodhrán, vocals Christina Bogdanova : keyboards, vocals HISTORY : The band was created in 1999. Percival Schuttenbach is the name of a gnome from "The Witcher" saga by Andrzej Sapkowski. RECORDINGS : Moribuka, demo 1999 Tutmesz-Tekal, demo 2002 Reakcja Pogańska, album 2009 Postrzyżyny, EP 2012 Svantevit, album 2013 [ details ] Mniejsze zło, album 2015 Wild Hunt, split 2015 Strzyga, album 2016 Dzikie Pola, alb...

LOCATION :  Manchester, England Status :  Split-up Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Coll Féchin (ThunarWülf). : vocals, whistle, mandola Atticus. : guitar, vocals, mandolin, melodeon Scåpa. : drums Idris Fawr : bass Past members : Andrew Nixon-Corfield : bass Jorund. : guitar HISTORY : Andraste started with Coll and Jorund colliding in the moshpit at Paganfest 08... and an outpouring of pent-up folk and metal tunes soon followed. Atticus got wind of this through a mutual friend and brought in a second lead guitar, vocals, mandolin and melodeon; and dragged in Scåpa on drums and vocals, who in turn roused the dormant bassist, Idris. The Goddess arose... Their music rooted in both traditional British folk and various forms of extreme metal as their lyrics focus all over the British Isles and Europe, especially from the celtic and viking North. Some examples with tracks from the demos : 'Sheild Ring' and 'Honour' are both based on the story of a Cumbr...

LOCATION :  Italy Status :  Split-up Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Erdagaar : accordion Nørsten : drums, bass Ølsägen : vocals Nöstam : guitars Myrnir : guitars (live) Past members : Sir Joey : bass Fjellmann : bass Puja : vocals Nattligmorden : keyboards Fäner : guitars HISTORY : October 2007, Erdagaar created Vinterblåst together with his first songs. The line-up completed within Nørsten, Fäner, Ølsägen in late december 2007 and a few after, Puja and sir Joey joined too. After three months, Puja has been kicked out from the band 'cause of different attitudes. Numerous line-up change in this band that was on hold sometimes after the release of their EP. The band is supposed to be back but activities seem to have stopped in 2014... RECORDINGS : In Beer We Trust, EP 2010 WEBSITES : Facebook Contact :   vinterblast@yahoo.it

LOCATION :  Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain Status :  Active Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Marc Storm : lead vocals Marc Martínez : guitar Xavi Puiggalí : drums Jose Luis Parreño : bass, choirs Cristian "Feni" Villanueva : guitar Javi Rubio ( Northland ) : violin Past members : Javi Crosas : vocals, jew's harp Üri Bokskog : bagpipes, whistles, backing vocals Conrad Soler : drums, choirs Albert Orozco : keyboards Paula Mykhaylychenko : keyboards, choirs Jan Marsal: bass, whistle Alicia Escartín : bass Isra Ximenes : bagpipes, whistles Caleb Wright : violin, choirs Ümbra Hatzler ( Frozen Shield ): vocals HISTORY : The band founded by december 2009, with influences of folk music and metal. RECORDINGS : Around the Oak, demo 2012 Torches will rise again, album 2014 [ details ] Trollmin, EP 2015 [ details ] Zombie Dragons from Outer Space, album 2020 [ details ] Urashima, Tales from the Heart, single 2022 WEBSITES : Drakum.com Facebook T...

LOCATION :  Bitonto, Italy Status :  Active Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Phanaeus : vocals Vandrer : guitar Auros : guitar Wolf : drums Past members : Kvasir : vocals Fjorgynn : guitar Eruner : bass HISTORY : Vandrer, Wolf, Eruner and Fjorgynn founded Vinterblot by winter 2008. Vinterblot is an Italian band dedicated to represent the most arcane, esoteric and pagan traits of European culture and it aims to re-enact the old chant that once connected earthly and mystical worlds, human spirit and divinity. RECORDINGS : For Asgard, EP 2010 Nether Collapse, album 2012 Triumph Recalls My Name, single 2014 [ details ] Realms of the Untold, album 2016 [ details ] WEBSITES : Facebook Twitter Reverbnation Youtube Contact :   info@vinterblotofficial.com Find more information on Sword Chant : - Band news - Interview  2016

LOCATION :  Belarus Status :  Split-up Music :  Medieval Folk MEMBERS : Darkut (ex-Oyhra, ex-Zmrok, ex-Smiercieslau) : N/A HISTORY : Dalina (Далiна) describes its music as "Slavonic Nature Magic Medieval Folk Ambient". The Belarus band is a side-project by Darkut, founded in 1999 after the dissolution of the epic pagan black metal band Oyhra. The band seems inactive since 2015. RECORDINGS : Cold Mysteries..., album 2011 WEBSITES : Facebook Youtube Contact :  N/A

LOCATION :  Moscow, Russia Status :  Active Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Ilya Chechel : vocals, guitars Alexey Evseyev : bagpipes, accordion, trumpet, balalaika, rauschpfeife Alexander Minashkin : bass Tatiana Taima : vocals Hurry : accordion Ilya Jazz : drums Past members : Vampire : bass Beligor : drums Owl : guitar Volot : vocals, mouth harp, zhaleyka Bayan : backing vocals, percussions Olga Kondrus : vocals Koloyar : guitar HISTORY : The band founded in 2003 as Северный Ветер (Northern Wind) but changed their bandname the following year. Their lyrics both Russian and Ukrainian, deal with paganism and folklore. RECORDINGS : Temna Gudba, demo 2005 Ekho Drevnosti, live album 2006 Ekho Drevnosti, album 2009 Мир На Ладони (The world in hands), album 2011 Принцесса, single 2011 Waste Me, single 2013 Отголоски веков (Echoes of time), album 2014 Полуночный край, album 2016 [ details ] Winter Dreams, album 2017 [  details ...

The band shared the following news : "As previously announced, the album recounts the tale of the Black Death's incursion into Danish history from 1349 to 1350. The album begins the tale from just prior to the plague's arrival through to when the first bout relinquished its grasp, and focuses on the way the epidemic affected the population – from victim to survivor. We have taken more inspiration from medieval music than on previous albums, and the feel of the album in general has taken a darker and more emotive turn on this recording.

LOCATION :  Turin, Piedmont, Italy Status :  Active Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Daniele Quaranta : vocals Furio Sguayzer : diatonic accordion Davide Di Vincenzo : percussions Ivan Di Vincenzo : guitars Domenico Santoro : bass Simone Cottura : drums Michele Tron ( Henderwyd ) : musette (French bagpipes), tin and low whistles Past members : Luca Braga : guitars Federica Rismondo : flutes, bagpipes Alex Parise : hurdy-gurdy Dennis Anzalone ( Henderwyd ) : guitars Francesco Cavallero : hurdy-gurdy HISTORY : "Lou Quinse" means something like "The Fifteen" in Francoprovençal dialect, and this number is the number of the devil in tarot cards and therefore the devil is known by this name. The band founded during 2006. Their ambition is to save traditional tunes from oblivion and to combine these melodic and harmonious sounds with the "distorted and destructive energy typical of metal". RECORDINGS : Lou Quinse, EP 2008 Rondeau De La ...

LOCATION :  Buenos Aires, Argentina Status :  Active Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Thorvi : vocals, Iberian lute, hurdy-gurdy Khâli : Galician bagpipes, recorders Tryzwen : bass Tomás Limeres : drums, percussions Halatir : guitars, backing vocals Feredur : fiddle, mandolin, bodhrán Past members : Fernando "Fërin" Bonino ( Naufragant ,  Dolmen ) : drums Julián Bonino ( Dolmen ) : guitars Emilio Souto ( Skiltron ) : guitars Lian Gerbino ( Tersivel ) : guitars, backing vocals Nighurath ( Tersivel ) : guitars, backing vocals Graëwyn : recorders, flute, tin whistles, crumhorn HISTORY : Under Celtic and medieval influences, Thorvi and Férin founded TENGWAR in october 2003. The official debut of the band was on September 9th of 2004. Their debut album "The Halfling Forth Shall Stand" is a first part of a conceptual work related with J.R.R. Tolkien's famous trilogy. RECORDINGS : The Pilgrim's March EP 2005 Tengwesta Quendion EP 2...

LOCATION :  Tel Aviv, Israel Status :  Active Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Vadim Weinstein : drums Dmitry Lipshitz : keyboards Anatholy Bonder : vocals Past members : Mark Lekhovitser : bass guitars Michael Gimmervert : guitars Eva Iframov : violins HISTORY : Gevolt is a folk metal band from Israel, founded in 2001. Their music combines elements of modern metal and traditional klezmer music, completing their style with some industrial influences. The lyrics are kept in Yiddish language - some in Russian - and most of the songs are traditional jewish songs.  RECORDINGS : Sidur, album 2006 Yiddish Project, single 2008 AlefBase, album 2011 Khokhotshet, single 2015 WEBSITES : Gevolt.com Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram Contact :   info@gevolt.com

LOCATION :  Žilina, Slovak Republic Status :  Split-up Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Andrej : drums Ľuboš : guitar Sambor : vocals, flute Past members : Peto : guitar Mato : bass Ado : drums Ingvarr : violin HISTORY : The band started in 2008  and got a few line-up change since their debut album released and then, split-up in 2015. Their lyrics deal with Slavic mythology and nature. RECORDINGS : Ozvena Vekov (Echo of Ages), demo 2010 Na ceste k zániku, album 2013 WEBSITES : Bandzone.cz Contact :   prarod@safe-mail.net

LOCATION :  Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Status :  On hold Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Leonard Ong : vocals, lead guitar, erhu, keyboards, programming Past members : Andy Suppradit : rhythm guitar Eve Nathan : keyboards HISTORY : The creation of Shangren began in 2009 by Leonard Ong. The name "Shangren" comes from Chinese mythology after a Daoist deity known as Honjun Laozu but is often referred to as Xuan Xuan Shangren, the teacher of the Three Pure Ones. Legends of the story began as Leonard Ong fell down from the skies of the Heavenly Kingdom and tumbled his way down to earth. He brought forth Traditional Asian instruments and melodies to combine them with metal. The band released one first demo and then, goes on hold. RECORDINGS : Warriors of Devastation, demo 2011 WEBSITES : Facebook Twitter Youtube Contact :   shangrenmetal@gmail.com

LOCATION :  Keflavík, Iceland Status :  Active Music :  Folk Metal MEMBERS : Stefán Freyr Guðmundsson : keyboards Viktor Penalver : vocals Kristinn Bergsson : backing vocals, guitar Davíð Már Antonsson : guitar Jóhann Víðir Erlendsson : bass Friðrik Þorbergsson : drums Past members : Óli Baldur : drums Pálmar : N/A Arnar Ingólfs : N/A HISTORY : Kristinn and Pálmar founded the black metal band "Yggdrasil"in january 2007.and changed the name for "Askur Yggdrasils" once Davíð Már and Arnar Ingólfs joined.  Tired of using a drum machine, Kristinn decided to play drums for a while, as the band's music evolved to go more melodic. Then, a drummer named Óli Baldur joined the band while december 2007 and Kristinn was back on guitar. Late in december Arnar Ingólfs quit due to musical differences ; followed by Pálmar in 2008. Viktor Freyr joined during that same year but the band split in october. They come back in 2010...

LOCATION :  Kaiseraugst, Switzerland Status :  Split-up Music :  Black Pagan MEMBERS : Michael : guitar Alex : guitar Sandro : bass, vocals Maximilian : drums Past member : Timo : vocals, guitar HISTORY : Frijgard is a Swiss pagan metal band founded in early 2009 to Zeiningen, Argovia, CH. The location of the band moved to Kaiseraugst later. The band splits on August 7, 2021. RECORDINGS : Morgenrot, demo 2009 Nebelwacht, album 2011 Bellum Aeternum Est, album 2014 Chapter Zero, album 2019 [  details  ] Farewell Show - Live in Liestal, live album 2021 WEBSITES : Facebook Youtube Contact :  info@frijgard.ch Find more information on Sword Chant : -  Band news