Oriental Metal

Oriental metal is a fusion genre that blends traditional heavy metal with elements of Middle Eastern, North African, or East Asian music. Emerging in the late 1990s and gaining popularity in the 2000s, it features a unique combination of distorted guitars and thunderous drums alongside traditional instruments like erhu, morin khuur, or oud. Vocalists often alternate between guttural metal growls and traditional singing styles, sometimes incorporating throat singing. The genre's rhythms are complex, often incorporating folk time signatures and tribal percussion. Lyrically, oriental metal frequently explores cultural mythology, history, and spirituality. It shares similarities with folk metal but is distinguished by its focus on non-European cultural elements. The genre has helped bring attention to traditional music from various regions while offering metal fans a fresh, culturally rich sound. Its impact extends beyond music, sometimes sparking interest in the cultures it draws from and challenging stereotypes about both metal and traditional music.

Latest Oriental Metal Release
undefined album image
大港2425:時空陷落 MEGAPORTAL 2425
Ep - 5 Tracks - Released May 12, 2025
Top Artists Spotify Logo
Orphaned Land
Tengger Cavalry
Sabhankra
Nine Treasures
CHTHONIC
Pitch Black Process
Top Playlists
NiNi's Asian Folk Metal Picks 6 Oriental Metal artists
FOLK METAL 🪓 Celtic & Pagan Metal 2 Oriental Metal artists
Folk metal 2 Oriental Metal artists
The Sound of Turkish Death Metal 1 Oriental Metal artist
The Sound of Metal Nortista 1 Oriental Metal artist

RecentMusic users are tracking 20 Oriental Metal artists for new releases, and have access to the full timeline of 188 releases .

Join them and feed your new music addiction, and add the Oriental Metal artists you love!

Get Started Browse Arists
  1. May 12, 2025
  2. March 12
  3. January 24
  4. January 10
  5. January 1
  6. August 16, 2024
  7. January 23
  8. December 20, 2023
  9. December 10
  10. December 1
  11. November 10
  12. October 27
  13. September 29
  14. September 29
  15. September 5
  16. September 5
  17. September 5
  18. September 1
  19. July 19
  20. June 23
  21. May 8
  22. May 1
  23. March 10
  24. March 2
  25. February 8
  26. February 1
  27. January 27
  28. September 23, 2022
  29. July 22
  30. June 24
  31. June 15
  32. May 15
  33. April 15
  34. April 4
  35. March 15
  36. January 20
  37. December 22, 2021
  38. December 12
  39. December 11
  40. November 26