Because YOU probably helped vote for them.

*note, I didn't actually read the lists everyone had at the first post.

I didn't vote on this because I can't think of 15 excellent folk metal albums, but it's distressing. Finntroll finishing ahead of bands like Primordial and Ásmegin is a travesty. Would have been cool to see some Mael Mórdha too, and maybe a stronger (but still not top-tier) showing from Cruachan. Oh well, it's not that important in any case.

Mael Mordha couldn't even be on the list, seeing as they aren't listed as "folk metal" on MA.

Otherwise, I'd probably have voted for them.

Huh, so they're not. "Celtic" doom my arse. That seems like an overspecification of the kind of folk tradition they are influenced by.

If this suffered from anything, it was the lack of submissions and accessibility.

Let's take a look at the number of submissions for some of the other genres:

Thrash: 122
Power: 51
Black: 108
Doom: 65
Death: 75 (+ or -)

How many did Folk have? 27

I realize that Folk metal isn't as popular as those genres are (and a lot less accessible too). However, with such a limited polling group, you're not going to get the most amazing results. I personally, think the list is pretty solid.

For those of you who are hating on Ensiferum, Finntroll, Eluveitie, etc., what do you expect? These are the groups people have actually heard. You can't vote for something you've never heard, and these groups are by far the most accessible. For instance, probably the album that has peaked my interest the most is Myrkgrav's "Trollskau, Skrømt og Kølabrenning". Now I can't vote for this album because I've never heard it. However, it got a lot of votes and so I really want to give it a spin. I cannot find a copy anywhere (if you know where I can get one - send me a link, please!). My point being, this release isn't easily obtained. Where as I have seen Ensiferum albums at my local FYE. Obviously more votes are going to come in for Ensiferum (though, I'd also like to state that I think Ensiferum is a great band). You have to take this all into consideration when looking at a list like this.

Exactly. You guys fail at life.

You fail for not voting.

Hellblazer didn't vote for Skyclad?!

Eh, I look at this board like once a month if that...

Exactly! You get it! Now you just need to come back...

Man, so much complaining. I think the list was pretty solid. Certainly, the bands that were near the top were mostly bands that have good distribution, but you would get that with any list. I'm sure that if there had been a larger sampling across the metal community, the list would still be pretty similar.

Many of the albums at the top of the list aren't what I would consider the best, but most of them are still solid, with a good mix of accessibility and depth. Plus, I think it serves as a good list for people who are interested in the genre but aren't sure where to start. Many of us started with Finntroll, Ensiferum, Tyr, etc. before delving deeper into the genre, and I still think those bands are good.

I agree with Lyrici17's post on the issue.

I gave Weltenkraft position 8 on my list. That is one awesome fucking album.

Wish I had noticed this. Don't listen to too much folk metal, but I still probably could have made a top 15. Anyway, Finntroll would absolutely not have made my list, as they are probably one of the most annoying and gayest bands I've ever heard. I remember hearing one of their songs (from Jaktens Tid I think, however it's spelled) and thinking "this is the single most inappropriate use of the flute I will ever hear in my life, ever. They should have at least used a kazoo, that would at least have made it obvious for everyone that they're a joke band and thus nobody would listen to them."


Agalloch being on here is somewhat disgraceful too.

Fuck, I hardly even know any of these bands. Folk Metal for me doesn't go further than Finntroll and the like.

No votes for Svartsot?! You gotta be kidding me.

I agree. Weltenkraft is a great album. If there had been a top 20, it probably would have appeared on my list as well.

Yuck. Pretty much everything I hate about folk metal. Maybe I sould have voted, I had no idea Skyclad of all bands would be so hurting for votes.

It's Viking Metal.

No one else liked Likferd???

Personally, I would have liked to see Storm, Otyg and Arkona much higher. Even Manegarm got the shit end of the stick, but I bet that's because most thought of them as "viking" metal or something. That Eluveitie and Equilibrium are so high makes me want to puke.

Viking metal my ass! Actually, I take that back. I agree that it is indeed Viking metal, but it has really heavy folk influences. They have a freakin accordion! It's an absolute joke how they're classified as strictly Viking metal, and not Viking/Folk.

Then go ahead and puke. Nobody fucking cares.

What a bunch of crybabies. Especially those of you who are bitching but didn't even vote.

Seconded. I automatically remembered that Finsterforst is labeled folk metal here in the MA and that's why I didn't check if it is so...



Agreed. Equilibrium is one of the best bands I've ever come across and Eluveitie is exceptional too. They deserve the praise.