Celtic METAL!!

[siva011]

As long as we are talking about folk metal in general, TYR is a great band to look into.

Also just missed Tyr in my area at the same show as Eluveitie. For all those that don't know them they do an interesting version of "the Wild Rover"

What could there be that is 'Celtic' about a metal band? When you get beyond the imagery, the swords, the pagan mysticism, or whatever persona the group puts out there, what will make the music 'Celtic' in nature? It's not even who the band members are.

What makes any band Celtic? In metal, the phrase "Celtic Metal" refers to a genre of folk metal that uses Celtic influence. The best example of this is Cruachan. If you were to remove the metal guitars, you wouldn't think any different of them than you would most of the other bands listed in this fourum. Many of these bands use bagpipes, bodhran, tin whistle, uilleann pipes, (and in Cruachan's case, Shane MacGowan) and the only thing that really makes them metal is they use distorted guitars as their rhythm section.

Once could actually argue that Cruachan isn't celtic infused metal, but rather metal infused celtic. On the other side, Heol Telwen has their primary focus on metal, with tin whistle woven throughout. It seems that regardless of the genre the main focus of their music falls under, as soon as a band plays one heavy guitar riff they are labeled as metal.

But if we can argue how can a metal band be celtic, then we can say the same for any music. How are bagpipes, which originated in the arabic world, considered celtic? I would say it's the feel. You can easily tell the difference between Arabic music, Greek music, Celtic music, Jazz, Japanese, etc... You can hear that element that makes each one unique. Listening to these bands above, the element you hear is very remenicent of Celtic music. Maybe saying "Celtic Metal" is a misnomer, but if you listen you will hear why it is called that.

The best thing to do for this and all music is just to listen!