Folkearth
International folk and Viking metal project uniting musicians worldwide.
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Folkearth was an international metal project founded in 2003 by musicians involved in folk and Viking metal. Its name combines "folk" and "earth" to reflect the idea of players from across the globe making folk music together. The project was headed by Metfolvik, who was from Lithuania. Over its existence, Folkearth released twelve full-length albums, the last of which was Balder's Lament.
History
The project began in February 2003 when several musicians conceived of a collaboration that could unite folk and pagan metal artists from different countries. Their first album, A Nordic Poem, came out in 2004. Dissatisfied with its sound quality, the group later remastered and reissued it. The second album, By the Sword of My Father, followed on August 1, 2006, and featured contributions from bands including Van Langen, Thiasos Dionysos, Hildr Valkyrie, Death Army, and The Soil Bleeds Black, with a total of 31 musicians from eight countries.
Drakkars in the Mist was released on May 28, 2007, and had the largest lineup yet, with over 30 musicians involved. On that album, a musician who contributed only a single track was listed in the booklet as a full member. Participants do not earn money from the project and do little to promote it, likely due to a lack of funds.
In 2007, Ruslan Danisevskis started a related offshoot project called Folkodia, also featuring folk and Viking metal musicians. On June 18, 2008, Folkearth released their fifth album, Songs of Yore, which was their first entirely acoustic record. It used instruments such as acoustic guitars, cellos, Celtic harps, violins, accordions, whistles, flutes, bodhrans, mandolins, banjos, clarinets, Galician bagpipes, soprano recorders, and recorders. Because of the project’s complex structure, Folkearth never performed live and was unlikely to do so in the future.
On June 30, 2013, founder and leader Ruslanas Danisevskis (Metfolvik) died after battling melanoma. The twelfth and final album was made in his honor.
Musical style
Folkearth described itself as a musical forum where established folk and metal musicians from around the world came together. Its recording process differed from that of typical bands: each song started with an individual or band volunteering to collaborate, and then other members added their parts.
Lore & Background
Folkearth began in February 2003 when the idea of creating a project uniting musicians from different countries who play folk and pagan metal originated from some musicians. Their debut album, A Nordic Poem, was released in 2004. Because of what the band perceived as the poor quality of this record, Folkearth later decided to remaster and reissue it. On 1 August 2006, shortly after the reissue, the second album By the Sword of My Father was released, featuring 31 musicians from 8 countries.
Drakkars in the Mist followed on 28 May 2007, with the biggest lineup to date. The band members do not make money out of the project and do not promote it, probably because of lack of funds. In 2007, Ruslan Danisevskis founded an offshoot project, Folkodia, joined by musicians playing folk and Viking metal.
On June 18, 2008, the band released their fifth album Songs of Yore, their first acoustic album, using a wide array of instruments including acoustic guitars, cellos, Celtic harps, violins, accordions, whistles, flutes, bodhrans, mandolins, banjos, clarinets, Galician bagpipes, soprano recorders, and recorders. Because of the project's complex structure, Folkearth has not performed live, and it is unlikely they would perform live in the future. On 30 June 2013, Ruslanas Danisevskis (Metfolvik), the founder and leader, passed away after battling melanoma. The twelfth and last album was produced in honor of him.
Reader's Guide
Folkearth's significance lies in its unique structure as an international musical forum that brought together dozens of folk and metal musicians from around the world, operating without live performances or profit. The project's recording process was collaborative: each song began with an individual or band volunteering, then other members added their contributions, sometimes based on a single riff or melody, other times with one artist writing a song entirely and others orchestrating minor details.
The music incorporated a diverse selection of folk instruments such as the lute, nyckelharpa, shawm, and saz. Lyrics were written in English (except 'Gryningssång') and focused on ancient history, beliefs, and mythology, especially Norse, Celtic, and Greek mythology, aiming to entertain rather than carry symbolic or personal messages. The project's legacy is marked by twelve full-length albums, the final one produced in honor of its founder after his death from melanoma in 2013.
More in Viking metal musical groups
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Folkearth (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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