folk metal
what it is
Folk metal is a sub-genre of metal music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. As the name suggests, the genre is a fusion of metal with folk music. This includes the widespread use of traditional folk instruments and, to a lesser extent, traditional singing styles.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make folk metal a playlist
turn these 28 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is folk metal?
Folk metal is a sub-genre of metal music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. As the name suggests, the genre is a fusion of metal with folk music. This includes the widespread use of traditional folk instruments and, to a lesser extent, traditional singing styles.
What are good folk metal albums to start with?
Try Origins by Eluveitie, Finisterra by Mägo de Oz, Black Sails at Midnight by Alestorm, and Jaktens Tid by Finntroll.
Who are some women making folk metal?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/folk-metal/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making folk metal, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20