Skyforger
| Skyforger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Riga, Latvia |
| Genres |
Folk metal Black metal[1] |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels |
Metal Blade Records Folter Records Mascot Records |
| Website | www.skyforger.lv/ |
| Members |
Pēteris Kvetkovskis Edgars Grabovskis Alvis Bernāns Artūrs Jurjāns |
| Past members |
Edgars Krūmiņš Imants Vovers Rihards Skudrītis Kaspars Bārbals Mārtiņš Pētersons Ģirts Kļaviņš Egons Kronbergs |
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 Semigalls' Warchant is essentially black metal.[1][2][3] The band also has performed and recorded a number of folk songs, including the entirety of their fourth album Zobena Dziesma (Sword Song), released in 2003.[4] 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 Skyforger signed with American label Metal Blade Records and released a new studio album Kurbads.
Controversy
Skyforger were involved in a minor scandal with one of their former producers who believed they were affiliated with Neo-Nazism. The reason for this was the cover of their album Thunderforge, which depicts a pagan god striking an anvil while 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. [5]
Members
- Current members
- Pēteris Kvetkovskis – lead vocals, guitar, Latvian folk instruments (1995–present)
- Edgars "Zirgs" Grabovskis – bass guitar, backing vocals, Latvian folk instruments (1995–present)
- Alvis Bernāns – guitar (2014–present)
- Artūrs Jurjāns – drums, percussion (2016–present)[6]
- Former members
- Imants Vovers – drums, backing vocals (1995–1998)
- Rihards Skudrītis – guitar, backing vocals (1996–2000, 2001–2004, 2006–2008)
- Edgars "Mazais" Krūmiņš – drums, percussion (1998–2015)
- Kaspars Bārbals – Latvian folk instruments, backing vocals (2004–2012)
- Mārtiņš Pētersons – guitar, backing vocals (2000–2001, 2008–2010)
- Ģirts "Motors" Kļaviņš – guitar, backing vocals (2004–2006)
- Egons Kronbergs – guitar (2010–2013)
Timeline
Discography
- Semigalls' Warchant (demo) (1997) (demo tape)
- Kauja pie Saules (Battle of the Saule) (1998)
- Latviešu Strēlnieki (Latvian Riflemen) (2000)
- Pērkoņkalve (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)
- Kurbads (2010)
- Senprūsija (Old Prussia) (2015)
References
- 1 2 Skyforger biography page at metalstorm.ee
- ↑ Lordsofmetal review of Semigalls Warchant demo
- ↑ Metalcoven review of Semigalls' Warchant reissue
- ↑ Metalcoven review of Pērkonkalve (Thenderforge)
- ↑ http://skyforger.lv/en/index.php?main_page_id=21&page_type=text
- ↑ http://skyforger.lv/lv/grupas_vesture/biedri/
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Skyforger. |