Skyforger

Skyforger - Latvian pagan black metal band

Group from Latvia

Genres: folk metal, pagan black metal, pagan metal, black metal, latvian, folk

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About Skyforger

Skyforger is an extraordinary folk metal band from Rīga, Latvia. They have been tempering their music in the smithy of the Latvian Thundergod Pērkons since 1995. For almost three decades, the band has been fighting under the flag of Latvian pagan metal; an extreme blend of traditional Baltic folk music and various metal influences ranging from Norwegian inspired black metal through to 80s-rooted heavy metal. The band's unique combination of ancient and modern influence has given them a wide appeal throughout both the metal and folk scenes, and has brought great variety to their song writing over the course of the seven Skyforger albums. The first of these was unleashed from the forge in 1997. Titled Semigalls' Warchant, the demo-album told tales of the last free pagan tribes of the Baltic people; and their struggles with Christian invaders throughout the thirteenth century. The album's music is heavily inspired by the Scandinavian black metal of the early nineties. Harsh and cold, the extremity is balanced by traditional folk instruments, which anchor the venomous brutality firmly in the past; never loosing sight of the ancestral legends the music seeks to describe. These tales of ancient tribal Latvia and its heathen tradition were to be expanded upon in Skyforger's first full-length album, 1998's Kauja pie Saules ('The Battle of Saule'). Later in 2000 followed their third release, the First World War themed Latviešu strēlnieki ('Latvian Riflemen'). At the end of 2002 Skyforger signed to German label Folter Records. Soon the world saw the release of their pagan metal masterpiece Pērkoņkalve ('Thunderforge'), which was a fine return to their old themes of ancestral culture and heathen gods. The album successfully recaptures the spirit of ancient Latvia; this time eschewing specific historical tales in favour of describing the ancient Baltic traditions, myths and wisdom. The music is powerful, precise; perhaps slower overall than previous offerings, which gives each song an unhurried strength - imbued with pagan fire and crushing might. The next album in line, recorded also in 2003, was the Zobena dziesma ('Sword Song'), an album of purely acoustic Latvian Folk music and a long coming tribute to their ancient forefathers' heritage. Soon later band signed deal with Folter Records for releasing their Semigalls' Warchant demo tape on CD format, release date happened in April of 2005. Album features every track from the band's original demo (a rarity long since out of print), which has been completely re-mastered and combined with a brand new EP 'Asinslauks', written especially for this release. This new material presents Skyforger's music after a decade of evolution - still burning with pagan fire and fierce loyalty to the band's Latvian homeland, but with a richer sound and an even stronger fusion of melodic folk music with their unique brand of extreme metal. After that for next few years, Skyforger worked on a conceptual album about the legendary Latvian fairytale hero Kurbads, who was born magically from the white mare and did many great deeds. The album, similarly entitled Kurbads was released via Metal Blade Records in April of 2010 and later was chosen as best Metal album by Latvian Music Awards 2010. SKYFORGER released their latest opus Senprūsija ('Old Prussia') in April of 2015 on Thunderforge Records. Album tells about now extinct old Baltic Prussian tribes, their mythology, life and death. Band singer Peter commented: "For us Latvians and Lithuanians, the two remaining Baltic nations, it is very important not to forget this part of our common history and that is why we made this album." Album was supported by three years touring all across the world, in total band visited 24 countries. 'Senprūsija' was voted as best Rock & Metal album at the annual Latvian Music industry Awards ceremony "Golden Microphone" 2015. Through the years, band has been busy on festival stages all over Europe, has performed also in USA and South America, and SKYFORGER is well known for their non-compromising live performances. At the moment, band is actively working on a new album with a tentative release date in spring 2025. Official

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