HRH Vikings is my final festival of the year, and I really am looking forward to it. It’s my kind of metal, and some of my favourite people in the world will be there to enjoy it with me. HRH Vikings takes place at the O2 Academy in Sheffield, UK, on the 1st and 2nd December.
Special Mentions
I will always recommend these three bands, I’m lucky to consider them friends, and they are a talented bunch. Sellsword, Atorc and Isarnos will all be playing the festival. You can read my review of the Jorvik Viking special featuring Sellsword and Isarnos here, and Grimner’s Nottingham show featuring Atorc and Isarnos as supports here.
Facebook Links:
Atorc: https://www.facebook.com/AtorcOfficial/
Isarnos: https://www.facebook.com/Isarnos/
Sellsword: https://www.facebook.com/mercenarymetal/
Listen:
Atorc: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7JzeHfVuEk5UDEvSLrQRLG
Isarnos: https://soundcloud.com/isarnos/
Sellsword: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5dyxrQ5wTWXvhMz5eaEttp
Svartsot
Svartsot are the first band I’m recommending. I hadn’t heard of them until they were announced for this festival, and I’ve been thoroughlu enjoying what I’ve heard so far. With jaunty melodies, harsh vocals and heavy use of flutes and traditional instruments, they are a must-see for any folk metal fan. Svartsot play on the Sunday.
Svartsot website: http://www.svartsot.dk/
Follow Svartsot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/svartsot/
Buy Svartsot music and merch: http://shop.svartsot.dk/
Listen to Svartsot: https://open.spotify.com/artist/25yCmYx78hTeQu2RD7ZAvz
Waylander
Waylander have been around for a while, and although I’ve heard of them, I’ve never taken the time to listen to them properly. That was a mistake on my part, as I am very much looking forward to seeing them live. They are primarily more pagan metal in their lyrical themes, but there are some folk metal elements to the instrumental. Waylander play on the Saturday.
Waylander website: https://waylanderband.com/
Follow Waylander on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clanwaylander/
Buy Waylander music and merch: https://waylanderband.com/shop/
Listen to Waylander: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0qUJsXZZylr2nesCy4XWll
Accursed Years
I reviewed the single release of Accursed Years a while back, and so I’m looking forward to hearing those tracks live, as well as a few more. The instrumental is very atmospheric with a good mix of clean and harsh vocals. Accursed Years play on the Saturday.
Follow Accursed Years on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/accursedyears/https://www.facebook.com/accursedyears/
Buy Accursed Years music and merch: https://accursedyears.bandcamp.com/
Listen to Accursed Years: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4hmuFVGOMyVz5Wluqlvf1Z
Ereb Altor
I was introduced to Ereb Altor by Martin of Grimner, and it will be good to see what these guys can do live. With atmospheric instrumentals and clean vocals with clear emotion behind them make this band the perfect calmer prelude to the Saturday headliner.
Ereb Altor website: http://www.erebaltor.com/
Follow Ereb Altor on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErebAltorOfficial/
Buy Ereb Altor music and merch: http://www.erebaltor.com/merch
Listen to Ereb Altor: https://open.spotify.com/artist/11sL6ZJmmfutSoWopcXbFm
Valafar
With a freshly released full-length album Wolfenkind, Valafar are an excellent addition to the lineup. With their hard hitting death metal influenced by Amon Amarth, Obituary and Entombed, there are sure to be pits aplenty on the Sunday.
Valafar website: https://www.valafar.com/
Follow Valafar on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valafarofficial/
Buy Valafar music and merch: https://valafar.com/shop
Listen to Valafar: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3uePtTbAxFZKAqUa8aaM61
Ravenage
A band that don’t often play anymore, Ravenage are bringing their own brand of pagan metal to the festival. With harsh vocals, headbanging riffs and use of keys, these guys are not to be missed on the Saturday.
Follow Ravenage on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialravenage/
Buy Ravenage music and merch: https://elliotvernon.bandcamp.com/
Listen to Ravenage: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4QosMbkw8WfoLemu9kqiVg
Old Corpse Road
There are few in the UK underground metal scene who have not heard of Old Corpse Road. Their dark instrumentals with heavy use of keys are an ideal backdrop to the lyrical themes of the folklore of our island. Catch Old Corpse Road on the Saturday.
Old Corpse Road website: http://www.oldcorpseroad.co.uk/
Follow Old Corpse Road on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OldCorpseRoad/
Buy Old Corpse Road music and merch: https://oldcorpseroad.bandcamp.com/merch
Listen to Old Corpse Road: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3SvZe6YBi0RO3iObk9KSgW
Finsterforst
Finsterforst are a band you can definitely have a party to. With heavy riffs and a mix of clean and harsh vocals, Finsterforst are definitely a band I’m looking forward to seeing live. You are sure to need to go to the bar for a refreshment after they play on the Sunday.
Finsterforst website: http://www.finsterforst.de/
Follow Finsterforst on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FinsterforstOfficial/
Buy Finsterforst music and merch: https://finsterforst.bandcamp.com/
Listen to Finsterforst: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Gh3UMZ0WVesXifHfziSx9
Turisas
The Saturday headliners, Turisas are sure to cause a party to erupt. I am very happy that I’ll be able to see them live for the first time. Prepare for war(paint) when they take to the stage, I don’t think there will be a single person standing still as Turisas play their way through some absolutely fantastic battle metal. Expect to wake up the next day with no voice.
Turisas website: http://www.turisas.com/
Follow Turisas on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/turisas/
Buy Turisas music and merch: https://shop.turisas.com/
Listen to Turisas: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ykT1si9XRFPmEvWOnf4YI
Týr
Týr are a band I have seen twice before, and both times I have been amazed. I am definitely looking forward to a third time seeing them perform. Their straightup metal sound with pagan, Viking and folk lyrics are a big hit with me. They are one of my favourite bands to listen to as their back catalogue has so much to offer. Týr bring the festival to a close on the Sunday.
Follow Týr on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tyrband/
Buy Týr music and merch: https://firebirdindustries.eu/shop/TYR
Listen to Týr: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6TmGNPW2oDM5uaXBILozGa
HRH Vikings Links
Ostara Metal’s HRH Vikings Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/dawnmae91/playlist/0UgAXLF4glCM2oHpNMjK7X?si=GtyU4_ViThma4HKbqWIWWQ
HRH Vikings website: http://www.hrhvikings.com/
HRH Vikings Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hrhvikings/
Ostara Metal 
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