When you talk about Scandinavian music, you’d be hard-pressed to put your finger on precisely what that means. Although ABBA might be the first band that springs to mind, Lordi might be a close second.
If you don’t recall Lordi, they are the first heavy metal band to win the Eurovision, the first Finnish band to win, and opened the door for more metal bands to apply.
Metal is the most popular music genre across Scandinavia.
A fun map complied by Jakub Marian showed the density of metal bands in the Scandi countries.
Fun fact number 1: there are 72 metal bands per 1 million people in the US
Fun fact number 2: there are 68 metal bands per 1 million people in the UK
Mind-blowing fact number 3: There are an incredible 630 per million people in Finland.
Where did the popularity of metal music in Scandinavia come from?
Music has a deep history in the Nordics, dating back to the Vikings. It was a vital part of their culture, and the Norsemen used it to signify their heroic deads, folklore, mythology, exploration, and battles.
One of the first pieces of music to be found actually notated was the song ‘Drømde mik en drøm i nat,’ translated to ‘I Dreamt me a Dream’; it was found in Denmark. Written around 1300, and written in old Norse.
While Viking music has been preserved and reconstructed through the ages, Scandivanian music has evolved. Metal is the preference for the masses.
Metal in Scandinavia started to take hold in the 60s evolving from blues and rock and roll but can now be found in over 20 different subgenres of metal music.
In the 80s and 90s, pulling inspiration from their cultural heritage for music and the global rise of metal, Scandinavia birthed an incredible amount of metal bands.
In fact, you can even find different metal styles like Gothenburg metal. Hailing from Sweden, and the first wave with the likes Dismember, Unleashed, and later In Flames and Dark Tranquility.
Often described as melodic death metal, it is tuneful with plenty of layers of the ripping guitar you need in a great metal.
Scores of Scandinavia bands draw inspiration from Viking battles, Danish kings, and Unleashed’s bassist has been known to bring a horn filled with ale/mead to the stage!
Metal is a way of life, not just a music genre.
When you speak about Nordic music, you are covering multiple countries that all share some serious culture. The specific seasons that sees the sun for only hours if at all per day. Or where the night seems to never really happen.
Culture is deep, and when your music is blended with that, metal isn’t just a music genre; it becomes a part of the people.
That means it is in everything.
Tuska Festival, Helsinki Finland celebrates metal in all its glory. It is now in its 20th year; it has huge bands and local acts too - every year people travel from far off places to enjoy it.
Metal music is in our gaming; Quake has one of the most metal influenced soundtracks. Guitars, background depth, and deep atmospheric industrial noises in different locations throughout the game.
Crue Ball is a computerized pinball template that has a cool aesthetic and pumps out some classics too.
Metal music can really make some TV and movie moments memorable too. Some of the most loved movies like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective has a pinnacle moment bounding through a mosh pit to Cannibal Corpse - Hammer Smashed Face.
The Crows soundtrack was incredible, with tracks from The Cure, RATM, and NIN.
Trivium’s Matt Heafy, during an interview with Metal Hammer, said he always championed the fact that metal isn’t just a genre; it is a lifestyle.
3 Scandinavian metal bands, you need to know about.
So with those long roots all the way back to flutes and drums in the forest in mind, who are some of the most popular metal artists in Scandinavia?
Meshuggah
Meshuggah is a Swedish metal band and has been around since 1985. Plenty of time to hone their grueling take on thrash metal. Start with the 2012 album Koloss and the first track; I Am Colossus.
In Flames
Another Swedish metal band, but a different genre. Melodic death metal, with a huge global fanbase. Reroute to Remain, Come Clarity, and Sounds of Playground Fading secured them a place in most metal playlists. Start with the very popular Take This Life (track 1 from the Come Clarity album and go anywhere from there).
Emperor
You can listen to their full album Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk on YouTube via the Candlelight Records page. The opening track starts melodically and slowly, but by track three, you’re no longer in a fairytale; you’re here to let out a primal scream and enjoy it.
Scandinavian music is rich, loud, cultured and just pretty great!
Map created by Jakub Marian.
If you don’t recall Lordi, they are the first heavy metal band to win the Eurovision, the first Finnish band to win, and opened the door for more metal bands to apply.
Metal is the most popular music genre across Scandinavia.
A fun map complied by Jakub Marian showed the density of metal bands in the Scandi countries.
Fun fact number 1: there are 72 metal bands per 1 million people in the US
Fun fact number 2: there are 68 metal bands per 1 million people in the UK
Mind-blowing fact number 3: There are an incredible 630 per million people in Finland.
Where did the popularity of metal music in Scandinavia come from?
Music has a deep history in the Nordics, dating back to the Vikings. It was a vital part of their culture, and the Norsemen used it to signify their heroic deads, folklore, mythology, exploration, and battles.
One of the first pieces of music to be found actually notated was the song ‘Drømde mik en drøm i nat,’ translated to ‘I Dreamt me a Dream’; it was found in Denmark. Written around 1300, and written in old Norse.
While Viking music has been preserved and reconstructed through the ages, Scandivanian music has evolved. Metal is the preference for the masses.
Metal in Scandinavia started to take hold in the 60s evolving from blues and rock and roll but can now be found in over 20 different subgenres of metal music.
In the 80s and 90s, pulling inspiration from their cultural heritage for music and the global rise of metal, Scandinavia birthed an incredible amount of metal bands.
In fact, you can even find different metal styles like Gothenburg metal. Hailing from Sweden, and the first wave with the likes Dismember, Unleashed, and later In Flames and Dark Tranquility.
Often described as melodic death metal, it is tuneful with plenty of layers of the ripping guitar you need in a great metal.
Scores of Scandinavia bands draw inspiration from Viking battles, Danish kings, and Unleashed’s bassist has been known to bring a horn filled with ale/mead to the stage!
Metal is a way of life, not just a music genre.
When you speak about Nordic music, you are covering multiple countries that all share some serious culture. The specific seasons that sees the sun for only hours if at all per day. Or where the night seems to never really happen.
Culture is deep, and when your music is blended with that, metal isn’t just a music genre; it becomes a part of the people.
That means it is in everything.
Tuska Festival, Helsinki Finland celebrates metal in all its glory. It is now in its 20th year; it has huge bands and local acts too - every year people travel from far off places to enjoy it.
Metal music is in our gaming; Quake has one of the most metal influenced soundtracks. Guitars, background depth, and deep atmospheric industrial noises in different locations throughout the game.
Crue Ball is a computerized pinball template that has a cool aesthetic and pumps out some classics too.
Metal music can really make some TV and movie moments memorable too. Some of the most loved movies like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective has a pinnacle moment bounding through a mosh pit to Cannibal Corpse - Hammer Smashed Face.
The Crows soundtrack was incredible, with tracks from The Cure, RATM, and NIN.
Trivium’s Matt Heafy, during an interview with Metal Hammer, said he always championed the fact that metal isn’t just a genre; it is a lifestyle.
3 Scandinavian metal bands, you need to know about.
So with those long roots all the way back to flutes and drums in the forest in mind, who are some of the most popular metal artists in Scandinavia?
Meshuggah
Meshuggah is a Swedish metal band and has been around since 1985. Plenty of time to hone their grueling take on thrash metal. Start with the 2012 album Koloss and the first track; I Am Colossus.
In Flames
Another Swedish metal band, but a different genre. Melodic death metal, with a huge global fanbase. Reroute to Remain, Come Clarity, and Sounds of Playground Fading secured them a place in most metal playlists. Start with the very popular Take This Life (track 1 from the Come Clarity album and go anywhere from there).
Emperor
You can listen to their full album Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk on YouTube via the Candlelight Records page. The opening track starts melodically and slowly, but by track three, you’re no longer in a fairytale; you’re here to let out a primal scream and enjoy it.
Scandinavian music is rich, loud, cultured and just pretty great!
Map created by Jakub Marian.
