Skyforger
Encyclopedia
Skyforger is a heavy metal
band from Latvia
which was formed in 1995 out of the remains of doom metal
band Grindmaster Dead. Most of their songs are about pagan gods and warfare; they also play traditional Latvian folk
songs and metal covers. Although Skyforger is known for their folk metal, their style on their demo Semigall's Warchant is essentially black metal
. The band also has performed and recorded a number of folk songs, including the entirety of their fourth album Zobena Dziesma (Swordsong), released in 2003. Folk elements can be found on all of their albums. In December 2005, during the presentation of their latest album, Semigalls' Warchant (2005), the band announced their next album would be an experimentation with thrash metal
. They later pointed out that Latvian history still has enough untold stories, meaning their lyrics will probably retain their folk/pagan fashion. In 2010 band signed with Metal Blade Records
and released their newest studio album Kurbads
.
. The reason for this was the cover of their album Thunderforge (depicts a pagan god striking an anvil, bearing a pendant resembling depictions of Nazi "ancient Aryans
"), as well as the swastika
, or sun cross
, incorporated in Skyforger's logo. Some websites have therefore listed Skyforger as a Neo-Nazi band. The band denies any such claims and doesn't display any Nazistic tendencies in their lyrics. The first two Skyforger albums even had "No Nazi stuff here" written on their back sleeves. The scandal was most likely a result of the producer's poor knowledge of ancient Indo-European symbols.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band from Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
which was formed in 1995 out of the remains of doom metal
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
band Grindmaster Dead. Most of their songs are about pagan gods and warfare; they also play traditional Latvian folk
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
songs and metal covers. Although Skyforger is known for their folk metal, their style on their demo Semigall's Warchant is essentially black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
. The band also has performed and recorded a number of folk songs, including the entirety of their fourth album Zobena Dziesma (Swordsong), released in 2003. Folk elements can be found on all of their albums. In December 2005, during the presentation of their latest album, Semigalls' Warchant (2005), the band announced their next album would be an experimentation with thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
. They later pointed out that Latvian history still has enough untold stories, meaning their lyrics will probably retain their folk/pagan fashion. In 2010 band signed with Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...
and released their newest studio album Kurbads
Kurbads (Skyforger album)
Kurbads is the fifth studio album by the Latvian folk metal band Skyforger.-Track listing:# Curse Of The Witch - 05:04# Son Of The Mare - 05:26# The Nine-headed - 03:56# Bewitched Forest - 05:15# In The Yard Of The Father's Son - 00:39...
.
Controversy
Skyforger were involved in a minor scandal with one of their former producers who believed they were affiliated with Neo-NazismNeo-Nazism
Neo-Nazism consists of post-World War II social or political movements seeking to revive Nazism or some variant thereof.The term neo-Nazism can also refer to the ideology of these movements....
. The reason for this was the cover of their album Thunderforge (depicts a pagan god striking an anvil, bearing a pendant resembling depictions of Nazi "ancient Aryans
Aryan race
The Aryan race is a concept historically influential in Western culture in the period of the late 19th century and early 20th century. It derives from the idea that the original speakers of the Indo-European languages and their descendants up to the present day constitute a distinctive race or...
"), as well as the swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
, or sun cross
Sun cross
The sun cross, also known as the wheel cross, Odin's cross, or Woden's cross, a cross inside a circle, is a common symbol in artifacts of the Americas and Prehistoric Europe, particularly during the Neolithic to Bronze Age periods.-Stone Age:...
, incorporated in Skyforger's logo. Some websites have therefore listed Skyforger as a Neo-Nazi band. The band denies any such claims and doesn't display any Nazistic tendencies in their lyrics. The first two Skyforger albums even had "No Nazi stuff here" written on their back sleeves. The scandal was most likely a result of the producer's poor knowledge of ancient Indo-European symbols.
Discography
- Semigalls' Warchant (demo) (1997) (demo tape)
- Kauja pie Saules (Battle of the Sun) (1998)
- Latviešu Strēlnieki (Latvian RiflemenLatvian RiflemenThis article is about Latvian military formations in World War I and Russian Civil War. For Red Army military formations in World War II see Latvian Riflemen Soviet Divisions....
) (2000) - PērkoņkalvePerkonkalve- Track listing :English translated titles in italics.# "Intro" - 00:34# "Kad Ūsiņš Jāj" – 4:57# "Gada Isākā Nakts" – 5:48# "Nakts Debesu Karakungs" – 5:34...
(Thunderforge) (2003) - Zobena Dziesma (Sword Song) (2003) (the album contains only Latvian folk and war songs)
- Semigalls' Warchant (2005) (re-release of the 1997 demo with four additional new songs)
- KurbadsKurbads (Skyforger album)Kurbads is the fifth studio album by the Latvian folk metal band Skyforger.-Track listing:# Curse Of The Witch - 05:04# Son Of The Mare - 05:26# The Nine-headed - 03:56# Bewitched Forest - 05:15# In The Yard Of The Father's Son - 00:39...
(2010)
Current members
- Pēteris Kvetkovskis – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Latvian folk instruments (1995–present) - Edgars "Zirgs" Grabovskis – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals, Latvian folk instruments (1995–present) - Edgars "Mazais" Krūmiņš – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
(1998–present) - Mārtiņš Pētersons – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, backing vocals (2000–2001, 2008–present) - Kaspars Bārbals – Latvian folk instruments, backing vocals (2004–present)
Former members
- Viesturs Grīnbergs – guitar (1995–1996)
- Konstantīns Švedovs – vocals (1995–1996)
- Linda Bēce – flute (1995–1997)
- Imants Vovers – drums, backing vocals (1995–1998)
- Rihards Skudrītis – guitar, backing vocals (1996–2000, 2001–2004, 2006–2008)
- Ģirts "Motors" Kļaviņš – guitar, backing vocals (2004–2006)