In a previous blog post, I argued that gimmicky folk metal bands, which were popular in the mid to late 2000s, are in decline. On the other hand, folky elements, especially from cultures outside of Western Europe, are now integrated throughout metal subgenres. The algorithm gods must have read my assessment because they promptly delivered a new wave of familiar folk metal, complete with Pagan costumes, proving that the medieval battle cry lives on.
Through TikTok, I discovered two bands that achieved success by covering iconic songs from internet history. Italian power metal band Windrose pioneer the novel subgenre of “dwarf metal” with their rendition of Diggy Diggy Hole, a song that originally evolved from a humorous exchange between streamers playing Minecraft in 2011. German contemporaries Feuerschwanz apply a similar approach by reinventing Moldovan pop hit Dragostea Din Tei, which was featured in a popular meme video known as the “Numa Numa Dance” in 2004. Another band that appeared on my “for you page” is Lombolo, a Swedish group that refreshes the Nordic aesthetic while embracing a broader definition of folk by drawing upon Middle Eastern and Mediterranean traditions.
The emergence of these bands offers interesting insights about how technology continues to impact the production and consumption of music. Music can develop from memes and social media videos, undergoing multiple iterations of remixes, covers, and mashups to achieve viral success. This music is delivered to us by algorithms that are not well understood but quickly adapt to our narrowest interests. Have you ever seen someone else’s Netflix, YouTube, or Spotify landing page and thought, wow this is totally different content? The internet is now infinitely segmented and allows niche markets and subcultures, like folk metal, to be revived and to thrive in the digital age. Trends arrive and disappear at rapid pace, but a single video clip can serve as a gateway to metal music and culture.
Nevertheless, the most important takeaway is that folk metal is back, and I am here for it.
Metalnomics 