Storm - Nordavind

The pagan/viking metal supergroup from Norway here, Storm. For those who are unaware, this featured Satyr (Satyricon), Fenriz (Darkthrone) and Kari (The Third & The Mortal) playing an approximation of folsky viking metal. It's actually really good, and having owned it for years and years, I'm surprised I've not featured it on this site before. Original pressing on Satyr's own Moonfog Productions.

Wyrd / Häive / Kehrä / 3-Way Split (Metal Tin Edition)

This is the limited to 200 hand-numbered copies metal tin version of the 3 way split between these great Finnish bands (you can just about make out the hand numbered bit on the back in the top left corner). Upon buying this, the only band I was aware of was Wyrd, who have been pretty prolific over the years and released a lot of good stuff, but Häive & Kehrä certainly hold their own on this release too. Comes with an extended booklet featuring all the bands, a Northern Silence label flyer and a Wyrd logo patch

Vintersorg - Hedniskhjärtad EP

The first release for Vintersorg (a.k.a Andreas Hedlund) Hedniskhjärtad (or Heathen-hearted, in English), was one of the very earliest releases on Napalm Records. I'm a huge fan of Vintersorg's mix of clean and harsh vocals, and have followed his career throughout not only his own band, but also Borknagar, Otyg and many others. This is a nice piece to have to hear some of his earliest material and to see how he's progressed as an artist (and a vocalist) over the years. Great, epic melodies, fizzing guitars and heartfelt music. Good stuff.

Khors - Night Falls onto the Fronts of Ours

The most recent album from Khors here, named after the slavic God of sun and light. Featuring former & current members of the brilliant Astrofaes and Nokturnal Mortem, I found the beginning of Khors career to be the most impressive, but they are still able to pull out some excellent atmospheres and frosty cold passages to get those hairs bristling on this, their most recent album from 2015.

Moonsorrow - Jumalten Aika

Moonsorrow's most recent album here, continuing their journey in metal to channel the ancient spirit of Bathory, and then some. These guys rarely put a foot wrong with their pagan/folk black metal, and this album is no different. Supreme atmospheres abound and music with true heart. Digibook pressing on Century Media, with free patch. If you're interested, the title translates to "The Age of Gods".

Negura Bunget - Vîrstele Pămîntului 'Earth Box'

This is the earth box version of Romanians Negura Bungets Vîrstele Pămîntului album, and still to this day I'm amazed it managed to get through customs with a huge scoop of soil and fauna sitting in it(!). Yes, this was released by code666 Records in a special limited edition - handmade wooden box (with 'burned' artwork), roped and filled with the very earth of the place it comes from, as well as a poster, a pin badge and a sticker. I can't quite remember, but I think it was *meant* to be limited to 555 copies, but due to production issues at the time, I'm not even sure that many were made (I remember having to wait a long time for it to be shipped to me due to everything being put together by hand).

Agalloch - Of Stone, Wind & Pillor / Grey E.P / White E.P

These E.Ps went out of print pretty quickly, probably because Agalloch seem to have an insane following these days and there's always a crazy clamour for their limited EP material in particular. The White & Grey EPs were limited to 2,000 units and 1,000 units respectively, but I'm not certain about the limitation of the 'Of Stone, Wind & Pillor' EP - I think it could've been 2,500, but don't quote me on that. The White & Grey EPs feature dreamy, folky music (with the Grey in particular featuring an ambient remix track), whereas 'Of Stone..' features more of their embryonic black metal roots. Original pressings on The End Records, Vendulus and Vendulus respectively.

Ensiferum - 1997-1999

Finland's very own folky vikings here with their self released 2005 compilation of their three demos. Only available directly from the band or from their gigs, this was released shortly after the bands 2nd album and disappeared pretty quickly due to the small quantity printed and the sudden clamour for their material after they got very popular very quickly. Worth checking out if this sort of thing is to your taste!

Ragnarok (UK) - To Mend The Oaken Heart / Domgeorn

This isn't the same band as the Norwegian black metal crew who I featured early on in my blog, this Ragnarok is the British version who are much more of a Pagan outfit, but do have a blackened edge. Worth a check if you're into the 'jolly fiddles and distortion' shizznit. Their only two full length studio albums, released on Neat Records (debut) and Eldethorn (sophomore) respectively.

Thyrfing - Hednaland

This is the demo compilation from these blackened/viking Swedes. Limited to 1,000 copies on Hammerheart Records, and out of print. In my opinion, this now only captures some of the bands most raw material, but also their best.

Isengard - Vinterskugge

The debut album from Fenriz' side project Isengard. His vocals can be off a little at times, but you can fault its heart. The tracks were originally spread over 3 separate demos, but here they are compiled into one full length album. Original first press on Deaf Records, the Peaceville offshoot.

Skythrone - The Way

The 1995 debut album from pagan/ambient crew Skythrone. Original press on Metalagen - hard to come across these days, but not particularly well sought after due to the band's super-obscure nature.

Odhinn - From a Splendourus Battle

Odhinn from Sweden never lasted long, but they certainly left a scorch mark in the world of viking/black metal. The band featured members of In Battle and Valkyria, and this was the band's debut E.P on Napalm Records from 1998. They went onto release a lesser full length album, before dissolving.

Allegiance - Hymn Till Hangagud

A great album from these Swedes, originally released on No Fashion Records in 1996. Although Allegiance used to play death metal on their early demos, this, their debut album is more a Viking metal album with touches of melodic death/black thrown in. Definitely the bands best release if you ask me, so well worth checking out.

Cadaverous Condition - In Melancholy / "For Love", I Said

One of the weirdest extreme bands out there in their day, Cadaverous Condition were always pushing the boundaries of what was accepted in death metal. This is the bands debut and 2nd albums, both out of print, in their original pressings on Lethal Records.

Jaldaboath - Hark the Herald E.P

This is pretty damn eccentric, from James Fogarty - the mind behind Ewigheit, and the early works of Meads of Asphodel. This is the debut EP, released on a 3" CD, with a paper parchment listing all the knights who fought at the Battle of Haystings. Nutty as a squirrels turd, and pretty enjoyable too luckily. Released on Fogarty's own Death to Music anti-label.

Skyclad - Wayward Sons of Mother Earth / A Burnt Offering for the Bone Idol

Skyclad's debut and sophomore albums, both on Noise Records & out of print.