Nordic folk metal is a genre characterized by its fusion of traditional Nordic folk music with heavy metal, typically featuring fast-paced rhythms, driving double bass drums, and prominent use of folk instruments such as the accordion, fiddle, and nyckelharpa. Emerging in the 1990s, particularly in Finland and Scandinavia, the genre drew inspiration from Viking Age mythology, Nordic folklore, and medieval history. This era saw the rise of bands that would shape the genre's sound and aesthetic. Nordic folk metal often features clean, harmonized vocals and chanting, alongside aggressive growls and screams. The genre's cultural significance lies in its celebration of Nordic heritage and its ability to evoke a sense of communal, pagan revelry. It shares similarities with power metal and symphonic metal but is distinct in its emphasis on folk instrumentation and lyrics that often explore themes of nature, mythology, and cultural identity.
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