Skyforger have been tempering their music in the smithy of the Thundergod since 1995. For the last decade, 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 five 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 peoples; 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 CD, 1998's 'Kauja Pie Saules' ('The Battle of Saule'). Later in 2000 followed their third release, the First World War themed 'Latvian Riflemen'.
At the end of 2002 Skyforger signed to German label Folter Records. Soon the world saw the release of their newest Pagan Metal masterpiece - a 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 in 2004 is self-released 'Sword Song' - an album of pure Latvian Folk music and a long coming tribute to their ancient forefathers' heritage.
Soon later band signed deal with Folter Records for releasing their 'Semigall's Warchant' demo tape on CD format, release date happened in April of 2005. 'Semigalls' Warchant' 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 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.
In between album recordings, Skyforger has been also busy on stage, playing as many concerts as they can. Behind the belt of band are already four European tours; many mini-tours and festival appearances and Skyforger is well known for their non-compromise live performances.
Currently Skyforger is forging songs for the next album and of course will not forget about live activities on foreign stages.
FOR SKYFORGER CD's / LP's / T-SHIRTS PRESS ON THIS BANNER BELOW
Great gig at the Manegarm-realeasfest in Stockholm. The new song sounds kickass too. Perfect symbiosis from Heavymetal an the typical elements what make Skyforger unique!
Keep it up, and I hope you will not forget to play a gig at Austria, when you go on tour next time!
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I want to thank you for keeping "Devinviru Speks" on the player. I had written to you a long time ago asking you what the song meant in English and one of your band members wrote back to me telling it was another bands song and that it was about a mystical flower. I love the song even tho I do not understand your language!
If you ever come to near where I live in the States, hope to catch your show sometime. ROCK ON!!
Great music, go on like this ! maybe we can do something together in the future I'm the guitarist of Krigavar www.myspace.com/krigavarband check us out !
New album: “MORBIDE ELITE” - coming soon on Iron Age Records !
Since worldwide crisis with wars and famine are a true human pain, the drunk poor pest-brewing trolls got their good times. Since their pact with the crows their succes became giant. The drunk trolls are dead, the New Elite is born. We write in times where people are praying their God for forgiving their sins, to keep away His thorn of disease. Expect a mindblowing fast black metal masterpiece with a confronting sound of medieval infecting grief. The whole world is dying.
Online Now!
![KurzaHhr [ab sofort-"Die Bucht" im Kino]](http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/65/s_2f81540b478f493d92efbf0664747340.jpg)
