For contemporary Pagan followers, especially Ursator and Heatherly, the heavy musical choices that somehow tied to their spiritual worldview tended toward black metal, death metal, Pagan metal, and Viking metal.
To old brains who grew up on heavy metal when it was still heavy, much of that 21st century metal music seems less heavy than extreme, fast and ferocious. This is not to say that bands like Amon Amarth, Ensiferum, Heidevolk and Týr haven’t been obsessed over the years.But after a while I started to miss weight In the traditional way of Black Sabbath.
In addition, I was skeptical about new bands in the wider black metal scene, for example, blatantly using Pagan’s image as a marketing tool. too often, ethnic and/or other right-wing ideologies bubbling under the surface.
Then, one day, I fell into modern doom, psych, stoner, sludge, and related subgenres. The heavens are open, and lo and behold! – Things were heavy.
Naturally, it was the sound of the music that first attracted me. Only later did I realize that many of today’s doomed bands have pagan elements in their lyrics.
When the beats are heavy and the lyrics speak to my heathen mind, does it matter if the band members themselves practice heathenism in some way? It was clear they were more interested in mythology than practice.
Again, much of what we accept as the key to the pagan experience comes from the non-pagan.of Eddas Sagas were composed and/or transcribed by Christians long after Iceland was converted. Saxo-grammaticians, Adam of Bremen, and other medieval writers who documented myths and described rituals openly opposed the old ways. From Jacob Grimm to Hilda Roderick Ellis Davidson, the modern writers beloved by today’s practitioners were not practitioners. So do performers like his Sequentia, who recorded Old Norse poetry as musical recreation.
What ultimately matters is how we receive, process, understand and celebrate the material.
I asked five of my favorite bands of destiny about their relationship with pagan religions. Their answers were very different. I highly recommend each of the albums below. I have played it many times since it was released in 2019 and his 2020. In any case, we recommend specific tracks for beginners.
The album titles are hyperlinked to the Bandcamp page, and playlists of all the individual tracks discussed can be found in the new featured playlists on The Norse Mythology YouTube channel.
We hope that heavy music lovers will check out and support these amazing young bands.
Ealdor Bealu
Spirit of the Lonely Place (2019)
self release
The band’s name is Old English and means “evil of life, death”. Beowulf The phrase “aldorbealu eorlum” on line 1676 is translated by JRR Tolkien as “the ruin of the lives of good people”. The band describes themselves as “a progressive heavy psych quartet from the high desert of Boise”.
When I asked vocalist and guitarist Travis Abbott about his connection to paganism, he had a lot to say.
I tend to draw inspiration from more nature-based ideologies, such as Norse/Celtic mythology and Taoism, which are centered around the natural world and our relationships with it. In addition to this, such ideologies appear to acknowledge human duality and complexity more fully than other popular religious practices. This is a consistent theme in our music.
Everything we do is somehow related to our (human) relationship with nature and the fact that most humans are morally grey.
In Idaho, this is strange because it’s a white supremacist-dominated state. is difficult to fully accept. So my spirituality is based on being in nature and I tend to be more receptive to it.
As someone who practices both Arthur and Kung Fu while being totally against the evils of white supremacists, I definitely agree with Travis.
For this white-bearded rocker, the glorious, ethereal “Sink Like Stone” is reminiscent of old Hawkwind. cosmic ritual peak. Hypnotic, swirling guitar chords and Travis’ chant-like vocals set a melancholy, meditative mood with introspective lyrics.
close your eyes and look inside
start again later
Over-sharpened knives become dull
Who knows where the highway will go
Bassist Riley Collingwood adds soaring vocal harmonies on top as the setting sun pierces through the storm clouds. very good.
witch
Aradia (2020)
Fuzzed and buzzed records
This superlative band from Toronto calls their music a “heavy proto-metal psychedelic sound” and they’re not lying. Not to be confused with the British band named in the same Swedish word meaning “witch”.
Vocalist Kaley explained a few things to me.
My personal connection with paganism is rooted in an anti-oppression, anti-racism, all-around direct action way of life. While writing the full album, I was inspired by an Italian book. Aradia, or Gospel of the WitchThe story is pure destruction of oppression.
Let’s take a look at the lyrics (directly from the text). And you will bind the soul of your oppressor with power. Aradia was born of Satan and Diana with the specific goal of empowering the slave class. These are the ideals that resonate with me and guide me in my work and personal experience as a harm reduction worker.
The album track I’m most obsessed with is the dizzyingly heavy ‘Nicodemus’. Kaley’s powerful voice soars over heavy-duty riffs and celebratory drumming, taking her Sabbath spirit and taking it to new places of inspirational female power. Her soulful power is truly inspiring.
book of magic
magic and mischief (2020)
south cross song
If you’re worshiping the altar of Motorhead, Thin Lizzy, and Judas Priest and wondering what their heavy metal trio love child sounds like, here’s your answer . Speed beats, harmonious dual lead guitars, and fist-pumping vocals melt into a serious mix on this glorious album from the Pennsylvania rocker.
Singer Nate Tyson told me he spent his early teens immersed in black metal and its “anti-Christian beliefs.” These days, he doesn’t consider himself a practitioner of any particular religion, but he shares “many of the same beliefs” from paganism and “certain forms of witchcraft.”
“Wands to the Sky,” the opening track of this modern classic album, explodes from the speakers with powerful words.
Who rules the night in this age of threat and violence?
Caution is requiredWe must use the power given to us
time is of the essenceDark spells line up for those who have lost their way!
Staff to the sky, to the traitor!A cult of death sorcerers attacks the night
evil, tag it togetherOur Elders, trust in their wisdom and power now
our faith must be strong
Sometimes a new album from a new band takes a few listens to really understand. Spell Book hooked me in the first few seconds. Check them out!
rough spell
noon ruins (2019)
Fuzzed and buzzed records
Rough Spells, another great Toronto band, are known for their rushing grooves and wild vocal harmonies, enigmatic and mystical lyrics, and pagan track titles like “Ocean Mother” and “Children of the Moon.” are combined. I asked her quartet of three women and her one man about their relationship with modern pagan religions.
We are definitely queer, so there will always be conscious and unconscious queerness in our spirituality. But nothing is more formalized in our identities and practices.
Some of the source texts are Wiccan spells for inspiration. This flows into the development of the original spell. We use ritual objects such as crystals, candles and oils in our practice to foster creative energy.
We sometimes reflect on mainstream Judeo-Christian concepts and memories and subvert them. Another great inspiration is setting your intentions based on the lunar calendar.
The track “Chance Magic” rolls along a classic Deep Purple type of feel reminiscent of 1990s Riot Girl and incorporates a ritualistic feel that reflects the mystery of the lyrics.
my suit is full of diamonds
she reminds us can’t fail
Her laws, her laws are three
Victory brings a shining golden rainmany people think it’s a sin
and judge my inclinations
there’s nothing to fear, it comes from within
no malice no malice
This album has a lot to dig into.
scorch oak
dry earth (2020)
self release
Hailing from Dortmund, Germany, this young trio describes their music as “stoner rock with heavy rock, blues and doom influences”. The album features gorgeous front and back cover art by Maciej Kamuda featuring his five ambient track titles: ‘Mountain’, ‘Swamp’, ‘Forest’, ‘Tide’ and ‘Desert’ .
I expected to hear about earth-centered spirituality in some way, but the trio of Linda, Ben and Freed were the most reticent of the bands I asked about paganism.
Unfortunately, we don’t think there’s much we can say on this topic. None of us are really into anything spiritual or religious.
So it is.
The music is as huge as the subject matter of the lyrics. On “Mountain”, a haunting section of reading from Jon Krakauer’s 1997 book is surrounded by an epic riff in the mode of an early album by The Sword. Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster Then Linda’s introspective vocal soars over a quietly thumping marching snare drum, and the hammering riff zips back.
Pagan or not, this is powerful music.
As someone who supports heavy new music and believes its creators should be celebrated and rewarded, consider purchasing some or all of these great albums in your preferred medium. I would appreciate it.
The album title link takes you to the Bandcamp page, where you can check out featured tracks on The Norse Mythology YouTube Channel’s Featured Playlist.
Long live Rock!
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