There was so many heavy, extreme, and beautiful folk metal albums created from every region of the world this past year, ranging from Turkey and Ukraine t0 Greece and Togo. To bring closure to 2024, our readers voted for their favorite folk metal album.
While there was much back and forth between who would take the throne, our top three winners included some noteworthy bands from India and Argentina to Japan.
Enjoy the most-voted for folk metal albums of 2024…
Folk Metal Album of the Year – 2024 (Bronze Tier)
Ryujin
Ryujin
Released via Napalm Records
Japan
Already earning a position on the best death metal albums of 2024, Ryujin‘s self-titled is equally notably for their tantalizing melodic headbanger tracks as their stunning folk-fusion. Creative talent is oozing off their forward-thinking mesh of Japanese musicality through frontman Ryoji’s orchestration as well as performance on instrumentation including shamisen, erhu, and dragon flute. Shout-out to Matt Kiichi Heafy (Trivium, Ibaraki) for his production and features, making for truly unique must-listen.
FFO: Bloody Tyrant, Children of Bodom, Trivium
Folk Metal Album of the Year – 2024 (Silver Tier)
Vorgrum
Summit of Dreams
Self-released
Argentina
Hailing from Buenos Aires, one-man pagan metal project Vorgrum is led into the wild nature by vocalist / multi-instrumentalist Folter. On his latest adventurous EP Summit of Dreams, dreamy soundscapes of wonder are created through layers of accordion atop black metal, to create a near Elder Scrolls-like symphonic score. I’m craving a giant mug of ale while listening to this cold, invigorating record.
FFO: Trollfest, Enslaved, Amon Amarth
Folk Metal Album of the Year – 2024 (Gold Tier)
Flint Knife Murder
Pretayug
Self-released
India
Consisting of the vicious duo of Saptarshi Das and Siddharth Barua, Shillong-based folk-death metal act Flint Knife Murder are impeccable on the grotesquely beautiful EP – Pretayug. Revolving around the stories of the historic Jaintia, Buddhist, and Khasi folklore, east and south Asian folk music is intertwined with the most crucial of death metal intensity. Few bands have pulled off this musical blend; Pretayug is a religious awakening.
FFO: Demonic Resurrection, Nile, Septicflesh