Pagan Metal

Pagan Metal [ peɪɡən mɛtəl ] (german pagan, heathen ') is a metal genre, pre-Christian religions are treated in the primary mythological themes. A related genre, the Viking Metal dar.

History

The first pagan metal bands emerged in the wake of the second wave of black metal, but attacked in contrast to the background of satanic Black Metal Paganism, and therefore chose other names. The Norwegian band Enslaved as described their music as Viking Metal, the demo True Northern Det Hedenske Folk was advertised as " Heathen Metal". The band of Isengard Darkthrone drummer Fenriz - joined black metal and folk elements. He stressed that there were at that time no folk metal and pagan metal at this time " distant future music " was. First bands that have been assigned the label Pagan Metal, In the Woods ... were from Norway and Poccolus from Lithuania; the term also came out in 1993 on Pagan Rites ' Demo Pagan Metal, that was a classic Black-/Thrash-Metal-Stil .. To Enter Pagan Also from the demo Dark Romanticism of the Irish band Primordial is considered groundbreaking. On handouts to Grave Lands The Celtic Winter and Behemoth The Return of the Northern Moon we find the term " Pagan Black Metal", which is also rejected as self- contradictory. In Greece Kawir joined the first band to the local black metal style with heathen texts. Early representatives of the pagan Metals in Germany are Falkenbach, Adorned Brood, Tumulus, Bergthron and Menhir. The Pagan Metal later Black Messiah and Andras turned to himself, which had been founded as Black Metal bands.

Pagan Metal is mostly played in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany. But in Eastern Europe, a large scene has been established. From the late 1990s are also found outside of Europe corresponding bands like Yaotl Mictlan (United States, with reference to the Mayan and Mexican culture ), Magane (Japan) or Folk home (Chile).

Since the explosive expansion of genre Folk Metal and Pagan Metal at the beginning of the 2000s, some festivals on the Pagan Metal have specialized. The largest festival, which is to be mentioned in this context, is the German Ragnarök Festival, which has been held since 2004.

Across Europe, formed mainly by the major festivals Paganfest and Heidenfest a scene in which well-known representatives of the genre together went on tour. Through the offshoot Paganfest USA reached the Bands and the U.S.. For the first time in December 2007, the festival Paganfest tour was organized, Metal occurred in Europe in the bands of the Pagan and folk. In April 2008, the tour was continued with a slightly altered band capacity and then continued under the name Paganfest USA in Canada and the United States. The following year, this branch was renamed Paganfest America, there were several concert dates in Canada now, and took place in April and May 2008. The second European Paganfest tour followed in September 2009. Paganfest was organized in 2010 as a European tour with the band Finntroll, Eluveitie and Arkona in March 2010.

In the fall of 2008 took place as Paganfest offshoot first pan-European festival tour Heidenfest with concert dates in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Belgium and Hungary. Headliners were Finntroll and Primordial. Here followed an American offshoot entitled Heathenfest America in November 2009 with Eluveitie to headline. The second Heidenfest tour was organized in September 2010.

Today's international popularity of the genres and bands is due not least to this first in Europe and then worldwide tours, through which some great bands of the genre have been made globally accessible to viewers. Should be noted, however, here is the same that despite the clear wording of the festival tours no difference between Pagan Metal and Folk Metal is made and bands with pagan texts synonymous occur with metal bands of other genres. The Paganfest America and Paganfest 2010 So was the thrash metal band Swashbuckle the line-up, which in their texts with pirates deals and therefore in no way a pagan metal band.

Music

Bands are assigned to the genre mainly because of the lyrics. Initially, the term was used for groups that were heavily influenced by Black Metal, but instead represented pagan satanic views. An example of this are the early In the Woods .... Later bands came on, which have more to melodic death metal or folk -oriented and partially no black metal influences more. The song moves between guttural and clear vocals.

Even today, grab as many Pagan Metal bands on the same stylistic elements such as black metal bands, but take a pagan theme to. In particular, the early works of many important bands are often " rough, primitive and no-frills " than their later recordings, and so the black metal roots closer. In Germany did in this respect in the 2000s, particularly bands of the now -defunct label Det Germanske Folket out, the Pagan Metal bands had mainly under contract. Here, especially the band Riger is mentioned, their music picks up Black- and part death metal elements. The texts are neo-pagan nature and treat the contemporary ratio for Nordic-Germanic mythology. Other examples are Heimdalls Watch and Helrunar.

The majority of the bands goes a step further and linked folk instruments of the respective reference culture with mostly Black Metal entstamme Direction music. The Swiss band Eluveitie, which refers to the pre-Christian Celtic culture, these are for example typical folk instruments like bodhran, tin whistle, fiddle and bagpipes. From a purely musical these bands are attributable also to the folk metal and can be distinguished from others, such as lyrically influenced by the Middle Ages or the piracy bands only by the pagan themes used in the texts. A famous representative of Finland, the band Moonsorrow, which combines folk metal with lyrics of the Nordic-Germanic and Finnish mythology. The Finnish folk metal band Finntroll turned toward her appeared in 2010 album Nifelvind first themes of Norse mythology, while previously an anti- Christian themes with reference to Nordic folklore pursued (especially through the inclusion of trolls in the lyrics ).

A certain influence exerted soundtracks, like that of Conan the Barbarian, on the music. Quorthon of Bathory and Darken of Graveland / Lord Wind stated that their music from Conan soundtrack was affected.

The same is true in particular for the Americas, where the local mythology and folklore is treated. Examples are e.g. Ch'aska, Guahaihoque, Folk Home, Auka Runa and Aztra who wants to preserve the mythology of the local " primal cultures " with their music. In Asia, for example, is the Japanese band Magane for their culture. Representatives from the Middle East are, for example, Al Namrood from Saudi Arabia.

Often a distinction very similar to the Viking Metal is hard, for example, only on the texts possible. Some bands, including Falkenbach, Månegarm, Moonsorrow or Equilibrium are often associated with both genres. Also, on most festivals, such as the Ragnarök Festival, represented bands of both genres, because the scenes are closely linked. Critics doubt, therefore, that there are two different genres.

Texts

Mythological themes are mostly treated for content that are borrowed from the gods and legends of the Celts, Germans and other pre-Christian peoples. These are either played in the original wording or included in your own song lyrics. The treatment of historical themes is not uncommon, for example, sing some Pagan Metal bands old battles and celebrations in their songs. Often the lyrics there " the present time concerning. " Depending aggressive anti-Christian and kriegsglorifizierend or carry " a certain" consciousness of crisis the country of origin of the band the respective pre-Christian culture of the country is treated in Germany as the Germans; partially located bands are specific to regional folklore, as Andras on the Ore Mountains. In Eastern Europe they make the band have established that rely on the pre-Christian Slavic mythology. However, Pagan Metal bands do not necessarily relate to the traditions of their country: the right-wing Polish band Graveland, for example, refers among other things to Norse and Celtic mythology. Since most NSBM bands handle pagan subjects, including non-political representatives of the Pagan Metal is often accused to represent neonationalsozialistische ideas.

Appearance and clothing

During the part of the musicians in traditional metal outfits, so dressed in black and usually a band -shirt wearing, occur, some go a step further. So take for example the musicians of the band XIV Dark Centuries as well as Turisas, although not directly belong to the Pagan Metal genre, dressed historically correct and try so to imitate the appearance of the Germanic warriors. Corpse Painting, for example, as with Morrigan, is rather rare, and then only with bands that have their roots in Black Metal nowadays.

The fans usually wear a scene typical shirts with band logo print, the merchandising of Pagan Metal bands is dominated by Rune fonts and symbols of Norse mythology as the Mjolnir. Many Pagan Metal bands, such as Gernotshagen, XIV Dark Centuries, Benelos or Falkenbach have the Thor Hammer incorporated into their band logo, comparable to the use of Peter crosses and Drudenfüßen in Black Metal.

Criticism

Critics accuse the Pagan Metal scene to convey values such as honor, masculinity and militarism through a conscious martial habitus. Often the subject go hand in hand with a Transfiguration, keywords such as "honor", "loyalty" and " brotherhood " covered largely historical facts and the hard life of unsung eras. Partly linked to this basic thematic orientation, parts of the scene to see, as well as parts of the Black Metal scene, subject to the additional charge to promote right-wing radicalism, or to tolerate him, at least. In this context, a relatively high percentage of right-wing extremists among fans of these styles and a high degree of tolerance is often criticized this through the rest of the scene in the media.

Attributed to the genre, and the extreme right-wing band is Absurd. The German band was founded in 1992 in Sondershausen, began as a rock band that openly advocated the extreme right in 1995 and turned the Pagan Metal from 2001 to.

Even within the metal scene is part critique of ahistorical assertions and exaggerated " ancestor worship " practiced.

Some well-known representative

Adorned Brood from Germany
Arkona from Russia
Black Messiah from Germany
Eluveitie from Switzerland
Equilibrium of Germany
Falkenbach from Germany
Heidevolk from the Netherlands
In the Woods ... from Norway
Månegarm from Sweden
Menhir from Germany
Moonsorrow from Finland
Primordial from Ireland
Odroerir from Germany
Riger from Germany
Skyforger from Latvia
Varg from Germany
XIV Dark Centuries from Germany

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