A showcase of the incredible fusion of traditional indigenous sounds with metal from around the world. Each band in this compilation not only represents a unique sound but also tells a story deeply rooted in their indigenous cultures. From reimagined folk tales to political statements, these artists bring a fresh, authentic perspective to the metal genre
🎸 Featured Bands:
••• Shepherds Reign - New Zealand (Polynesian Metal) •••
Shepherds Reign is a Polynesian Metal band and seem to be a world first. The band is made up of 5 brothers, Pacific, Māori and Asian, who are united in their passion for writing and performing hard hitting music that expresses where they are from and shares their life experiences.
Their authentic sound comes from the fact that the members were raised in South Auckland of Aotearoa New Zealand, a Pacific hotspot and from here, they dream of world domination. (SoundCloud, 2020)
••• Blackbraid - Native American •••
Blackbraid is a solo indigenous black metal project from the Adirondack wilderness. The music of Blackbraid is inspired by the forces of nature in the land around us. "Blackbraid is a fiercely independent artist, viciously carving a new and inspiring path for indigenous people & underground musicians alike.” (Blackbraid.us, 2023)
••• Tengger Cavalry - China •••
Tengger Cavalry are known for the combination of the Central Asian musical tradition and heavy metal. (Metal-Archives, 2023).
“...a thrashy metal band that incorporates Mongolian folk music and traditional instrumentation like the horsehead fiddle and throat singing to convey a powerfully unorthodox message.” (Vice, 2015)
••• Cemican - Mexico •••
A musical Project where the main idea is to merge and fully integrate pre-Hispanic instruments to metal gender to achieve the essence of mysticism, cult and ideology of the ancient cultures of Mexico in the music created by Cemican. (Folk-Metal.nl, 2022)
••• Chthonic - Taiwan •••
Chthonic’s lyrics are inspired by Taiwanese mythology, folk stories, and history, and the music incorporates elements of traditional Taiwanese folk music, enka, and sorrowful melody from Taiwanese opera, accompanied by traditional Taiwanese musical instruments, such as hena, zheng -also known as “box zither”- and pgaku flute. (閃靈 CHTHONIC, 2016)
••• Bloodywood - India •••
Bloodywood is a Folk Metal band from India known for pioneering a sound that seamlessly fuses Indian Folk instruments with Metal to devastating effect. Expect to hear the percussive power of the mighty Dhol, the melancholic Flute, the single stringed Tumbi and several other uncommon yet distinctively characteristic sounds from India. (Bloodywood, 2016)
Sources:
• Blackbraid.us (2023) EPK - Blackbraid. blackbraid.us/epk/
• Bloodywood (2016) Indian Folk Metal | Bloodywood. www.bloodywood.net/
• 閃靈 CHTHONIC (2016) BIO/CONCEPT - 閃靈 CHTHONIC. chthonic.tw/en/bio-concept/
• Folk-Metal.nl (2022). Cemican. www.folk-metal.nl/bands/c-2/cemican/
• Goodman, E. (2020). Bloodywood: the Indian metal stars who broke the internet. Louder; Louder. www.loudersound.com/features/bloodywood-the-indian-metal-stars-who-broke-the-internet
• Metal-Archives (2023). Tengger Cavalry - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives. www.metal-archives.com/bands/Tengger_Cavalry/3540302366
• NZ Musician (2016) Feature - Shepherds Reign: Drawing Energy From Their Ancestors. nzmusician.co.nz/features/shepherds-reign-drawing/
• Pearlman, M. (2015). Meet Tengger Cavalry, the world’s first Mongolian folk metal band. Louder; Louder. www.loudersound.com/features/meet-tengger-cavalry-the-world-s-only-mongolian-folk-metal-band
• Perich, B. (2020). Google Translate mistranslates new Shepherds Reign single. Te Ao Māori News. www.teaonews.co.nz/2020/01/21/google-translate-mistranslates-new-shepherds-reign-single/
• Revolver. (2020) Cemican: Mexican Folk-Metal Warriors Channel “The Mystical Sound of Death.” www.revolvermag.com/music/cemican-mexican-folk-metal-warriors-channel-mystical-sound-death
• SoundCloud (2020) SHEPHERDS REIGN. soundcloud.com/shepherds-reign
‌• Taipeitimes. (2003). Chthonic put spin on Taiwan’s past. Taipeitimes.com; 台北時報. www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/09/14/2003067797
• The Pit. (2021). Meet Bloodywood, the New Delhi Band Bringing Indian Folk Metal to the Masses. The Pit; The Pit. www.wearethepit.com/2021/11/meet-bloodywood-the-new-delhi-band-bringing-indian-folk-metal-to-the-masses/
• The New York Times (2023). ‌Meet Blackbraid, a Black Metal Musician With Native American Roots. The New York Times. www.nytimes.com/2023/07/05/arts/music/blackbraid-native-american-black-metal.html
‌• Vice (2015) ‌Heritage, Horses, and Tengger Cavalry: Inside the World of Mongolian Folk Metal. www.vice.com/en/article/rdz73j/tengger-cavalry-interview-stream