Falkenbach

One of the most important--and one of the oldest--bands in the history of the Viking/pagan subgenre of black metal is Germany's FALKENBACH. Formed in 1989 by Dusseldorf-born Vratyas Vakyas (real name Markus Tummers), Falkenbach was initially a nameless project designed to be an outlet for an expression of Germanic pagan ideas. The first demo--1989's Havamal--didn't even have a band name attached to it.

Vratyas labored in the underground for several years, churning out a style that can clearly be characterized as a folk-infused pagan black metal. Between 1989 and 1995, Falkenbach released a slew of demos (many of which are next to impossible to find) that show the development of this sound. Check out the 1995 demo Laeknishendr, below:

Following the release of demos such as Laeknishendr in 1995 and ...skinn af sverđi sól valtiva... in 1996, Vratyas was able to sign with German label No Colours Records in order to put out a proper studio album. The result was the epic ...en their medh riki fara... album. Shortly after the release of this album, Vratyas was approached by Napalm Records and he was impressed with the terms of their contact, so he signed with them. Falkenbach has since put out several quality albums through Napalm. During this time period, Vratyas recruited several session musicians to help craft Falkenbach's music. That being said, however, Falkenbach remains the brainchild of Vratyas Vakyas through and through.

"Winternight" is from their 1996 debut album

 Despite the fact that Falkenbach's sound clearly has much in common with other classic viking metal bands--especially Bathory's viking material--Vratyas has said that he has not been influenced by any other metal bands. He has stated that he draws musical inspiration from Romantic composers like Wagner, Grieg, and Franz Grothe. Being that one of the hallmarks of Romantic music is a glorification of the past and pride in one's heritage, it makes perfect sense that Falkenbach would draw on these traditions.

As can be heard in Falkenbach's lyrics, Germanic and Norse paganism is very real, very authentic, and very personally important for Vratyas Vakyas. He has explicited stated that he wants his music to glorify the ancient gods and goddesses of the Northern European tradition, even admitting to being a practitioner of modern-day Asatru. He also writes most of his lyrics in old languages---Old Norse, Old German, Old Icelandic. Falkenbach is first and foremost about Germanic heritage.

Many people consider "When Gjallarhorn Will Sound" to be Falkenbach's best song

Aside from being the mastermind behind Falkenbach, Vratyas Vakyas also ran his own label--Skaldic Art Productions--for a while. Furthermore, Vratyas has stated in interviews though that he doesn't know what the future holds for Falkenbach, and has often thought about just hanging it all up. We'll have to see. In the meantime, we'll enjoy this classic-sounding pagan black metal.

2005's Heralding the Fireblade gives us "Heralder"

Select Discography:
Havamal (demo) (1989)
Tanfana (demo) (1990)
Towards Solens Golden Light (demo) (1991)
Laeknishendr (demo)  (1995)
Promo '95 (demo)  (1995)
...skinn af sverđi sól valtiva... (demo) (1996)
...en their medh riki fara... (full-length) (1996)
...magni blandinn ok megintíri... (full-length) (1998)
Ok nefna tysvar Ty (full-length) (2003)
Heralding the Fireblade (full-length) (2005)
Tiurida (full-length) (2011)
Asa (full-length) (2013)

Next time: OPERA IX