Pagan / Wiccan music

[Sirona]

Hello,

please help me with making a list of Pagan / Wiccan song titles and artists. I am completely new to this topic and thus I don't know where to start. Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

I can help out with this a lot. I've got tons of Pagan bands that I listen to.

 

[Liu]

There's a lot...

Well, not sure whether you're interested in that genre, for Metal music you could use the advanced search here: Home - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives
and specify pagan, paganism or heathen or norse or whatever in the lyrical themes, that should give you more than enough. There seem to be quite few results for wicca there for whatever reason, though ^^

For any genres, there is a collection here (a bit broader but should be clear what is what): Polytheistic Religious Hymns - Collection

That should be enough for the time being...

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

So here are all the Pagan bands that I listen to, with an example of their music:

Arkona (Russia): Slav'sya, Rus!, Liki Bessmertnykh Bogov, V Pogone Za Beloj Tenyu, Na Moey Zemle

Cruachan (Ireland): Blood for the Blood God

Danheim (Denmark): Herja (full album)

Eluveitie (Switzerland): The Call of the Mountains

Ensiferum (Finnish): From Afar

Faun (Germany): Walpurgisnacht (Director's Cut), Sonnenreigen [Snippet], Federkleid

Fferyllt (Russia): Yule

Finntroll (Sweden): Under Bergets Rot

Garmama (Sweden): Black

Gjallarhorn (Finland): Suvetar

Grai (Russia): Song of Mother Earth

Hagalaz Runedance (Germany): Frigga's Web

Hedningarna (Sweden/Finland): Drafur Och Gildur

Heidevolk (Netherlands): Yngwaz' Zonen

Heilung (Germany, Denmark, Norway): Lifa (full show- I HIGHLY recommend watching this)

Kalevala (Russian): Nagryanuli

Korpiklaani (Finland): Rauta, Ämmänhauta

Ladushka (Russia): Neba Berega

Lumsk (Norway): I Trollhender

Manegarm (Sweden): Odin Owns Ye All

Metsatoll (Estonia): Vaid Vaprust, Kuu,

Omnia (Netherlands): I Don't Speak Human, Earth Warrior

Poeta Magica (Germany): Du Sam Har Mitt Hela Hjärta

Troll Gnyot El' (Russia): Ave, Celia!, Zhopotras

Wardruna (Norway): Voluspá, Raido

Woodscream (Russia): Alan

 

[Cassandra]

So here are all the Pagan bands that I listen to, with an example of their music:

A lot of metal. Probably not bad if you are into dark metal.
But is that "Pagan" music? To me it does really relate to anything Pagan. Pagan music is simply folks songs, and those are not gloomy, dark or heavy at all and only have light instrumentation. These songs are about simple things in life. We should not create the idea that Pagans are somewhat depressed people wandering the woods thinking about war and revenge.

That is untrue. It is Abrahamism that descended like a dark cloud on people allowing for only one hope in life: salvation. Even if Catholicism has become less suffocating than Judaism or Islam. Protestantism often can be pretty depressing, even forbidding people to laugh. And look at those monks who were locked into there cells and whose saying was "ora et labora" (life is pray and work). I find Abramist religions pretty gloomy . This idea that life is a valley of tears but we should all rejoice because we can have a better afterlife, offers little hope in life, just hope that suffering ends in death if we voluntarily accept suffering in life.

So called "Pagan music" has little to do with the music of out ancestors. One can better look for folk and country music. Because Pagan music is folk music of country dwellers, music of the people by the people, cheerful and happy, because Pagans rejoice(d) in life. Before Christianity Pagans in the Roman empire had 180 holy days in which they revered the Gods in festivities. They only worked 4 hours a day. And those people were worse off than our ancestors in the north that remained free and lived on subsistence agriculture and only produced what they needed for their own use and did not have to pay taxes.

Today we are still living the same Abrahamist slave system, we only have less holidays and work more hours. It even recently increased as they managed to fool women into thinking they should enter wage slavery as well. In return we get these luxury goods to feed into out greed and keep us working. That is what the Jews, Romans and Arabs brought. They forced taxes on people forcing them to produce for others and brought luxury goods to entice them to produce for trade. That is the greed system that is now bringing the whole Earth to her knees. If you read the Bible carefully you will discover it brings a slave system, and the Romans adopted that to their own benefit. We have been suffering from that ever since.

But remember that the Pagans we are talking about were free people, and they were free spirited people as well. They were generally joyful people, except for big disasters. Even if they had to work hard in areas where Nature was harsh. Because this brings people together in very close knit social structures. They were generally happy people, unless disaster struck them.

On the other hand look at Rome, that was nicknamed "the devourer of people", the head of the empire where all wealth was gathered that was extracted and extorted from the colonies. It had all this high culture, but only if you were fortunate enough. The USA is the next iteration of this empire, unimaginably rich, but still having lots of people living in poverty, because this system lives on poverty as it needs cheap soldiers and workers. It is a demonic system in which not the welfare of the people is important but driving the slave production to the highest levels. If young people are drawn to dark metal that simply reflects their state op mind, because that is not something lighthearted people would seek.

So rather than concentrate on gloomy dark metal music, lets concentrate on joyous folk songs. Sure some folk songs tell a sad story, because misfortune is part of life too, but that is only a small part of life. People may not be aware of this, but playing dark metal is actually embracing spirits of darkness. Well if that is your thing, fine, but do not present it as "Pagan" except in modern youth culture.

Simple children's song have more to do with Pagan songs. Even American country music has more to do with our ancestors music tradition than dark metal. Dark metal is youth subculture stuff. It tells a lot about our society that youngsters descend in that. And walking in bear skins? That may have been useful in cold climates, but it is shown off as some kind of warrior dress with swords and axes and stuff. Some thousand years ago there indeed were problematic gangs of youth roaming the countryside, the wolves men and bear men that plundered the countryside and engaged in battles wit each other, rather like modern football hooligans. But to make such outlaws representative for our ancestors culture is nonsense. People generally lived very happily on the countryside in close-knit communities. And these war lords were more like a big nuisance. The Vikings were not the pride of the Norse people but mainly outlaws and anti-social elements hat were thrown out when things got overcrowded, so they started roaming coastal areas in search for wealth and abduct people to sell as slaves in the middle east. Nothing I want to identify with even if they were excellent warriors.

So here something that I think is closer to Pagan music even it is modern
one
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five
six
seven
eight

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

A lot of metal. Probably not bad if you are into dark metal.
But is that "Pagan" music? To me it does really relate to anything Pagan. Pagan music is simply folks songs, and those are not gloomy, dark or heavy at all and only have light instrumentation. These songs are about simple things in life. We should not create the idea that Pagans are somewhat depressed people wandering the woods thinking about war and revenge.

That is untrue. It is Abrahamism that descended like a dark cloud on people allowing for only one hope in life: salvation. Even if Catholicism has become less suffocating than Judaism or Islam. Protestantism often can be pretty depressing, even forbidding people to laugh. And look at those monks who were locked into there cells and whose saying was "ora et labora" (life is pray and work). I find Abramist religions pretty gloomy . This idea that life is a valley of tears but we should all rejoice because we can have a better afterlife, offers little hope in life, just hope that suffering ends in death if we voluntarily accept suffering in life.

So called "Pagan music" has little to do with the music of out ancestors. One can better look for folk and country music. Because Pagan music is folk music of country dwellers, music of the people by the people, cheerful and happy, because Pagans rejoice(d) in life. Before Christianity Pagans in the Roman empire had 180 holy days in which they revered the Gods in festivities. They only worked 4 hours a day. And those people were worse off than our ancestors in the north that remained free and lived on subsistence agriculture and only produced what they needed for their own use and did not have to pay taxes.

Today we are still living the same Abrahamist slave system, we only have less holidays and work more hours. It even recently increased as they managed to fool women into thinking they should enter wage slavery as well. In return we get these luxury goods to feed into out greed and keep us working. That is what the Jews, Romans and Arabs brought. They forced taxes on people forcing them to produce for others and brought luxury goods to entice them to produce for trade. That is the greed system that is now bringing the whole Earth to her knees. If you read the Bible carefully you will discover it brings a slave system, and the Romans adopted that to their own benefit. We have been suffering from that ever since.

But remember that the Pagans we are talking about were free people, and they were free spirited people as well. They were generally joyful people, except for big disasters. Even if they had to work hard in areas where Nature was harsh. Because this brings people together in very close knit social structures. They were generally happy people, unless disaster struck them.

On the other hand look at Rome, that was nicknamed "the devourer of people", the head of the empire where all wealth was gathered that was extracted and extorted from the colonies. It had all this high culture, but only if you were fortunate enough. The USA is the next iteration of this empire, unimaginably rich, but still having lots of people living in poverty, because this system lives on poverty as it needs cheap soldiers and workers. It is a demonic system in which not the welfare of the people is important but driving the slave production to the highest levels. If young people are drawn to dark metal that simply reflects their state op mind, because that is not something lighthearted people would seek.

So rather than concentrate on gloomy dark metal music, lets concentrate on joyous folk songs. Sure some folk songs tell a sad story, because misfortune is part of life too, but that is only a small part of life. People may not be aware of this, but playing dark metal is actually embracing spirits of darkness. Well if that is your thing, fine, but do not present it as "Pagan" except in modern youth culture.

Simple children's song have more to do with Pagan songs. Even American country music has more to do with our ancestors music tradition than dark metal. Dark metal is youth subculture stuff. It tells a lot about our society that youngsters descend in that. And walking in bear skins? That may have been useful in cold climates, but it is shown off as some kind of warrior dress with swords and axes and stuff. Some thousand years ago there indeed were problematic gangs of youth roaming the countryside, the wolves men and bear men that plundered the countryside and engaged in battles wit each other, rather like modern football hooligans. But to make such outlaws representative for our ancestors culture is nonsense. People generally lived very happily on the countryside in close-knit communities. And these war lords were more like a big nuisance. The Vikings were not the pride of the Norse people but mainly outlaws and anti-social elements hat were thrown out when things got overcrowded, so they started roaming coastal areas in search for wealth and abduct people to sell as slaves in the middle east. Nothing I want to identify with even if they were excellent warriors.

So here something that I think is closer to Pagan music even it is modern
one
two
three
four
five
six
seven
eight

It's rude to bash people's tastes in music, which you don't seem to really be familiar with in the first place. Post what you like and move on. Keep your preachy, judgemental bs to yourself.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

So here are all the Pagan bands that I listen to, with an example of their music:

Arkona (Russia): Slav'sya, Rus!, Liki Bessmertnykh Bogov, V Pogone Za Beloj Tenyu, Na Moey Zemle

Cruachan (Ireland): Blood for the Blood God

Danheim (Denmark): Herja (full album)

Eluveitie (Switzerland): The Call of the Mountains

Ensiferum (Finnish): From Afar

Faun (Germany): Walpurgisnacht (Director's Cut), Sonnenreigen [Snippet], Federkleid

Fferyllt (Russia): Yule

Finntroll (Sweden): Under Bergets Rot

Garmama (Sweden): Black

Gjallarhorn (Finland): Suvetar

Grai (Russia): Song of Mother Earth

Hagalaz Runedance (Germany): Frigga's Web

Hedningarna (Sweden/Finland): Drafur Och Gildur

Heidevolk (Netherlands): Yngwaz' Zonen

Heilung (Germany, Denmark, Norway): Lifa (full show- I HIGHLY recommend watching this)

Kalevala (Russian): Nagryanuli

Korpiklaani (Finland): Rauta, Ämmänhauta

Ladushka (Russia): Neba Berega

Lumsk (Norway): I Trollhender

Manegarm (Sweden): Odin Owns Ye All

Metsatoll (Estonia): Vaid Vaprust, Kuu,

Omnia (Netherlands): I Don't Speak Human, Earth Warrior

Poeta Magica (Germany): Du Sam Har Mitt Hela Hjärta

Troll Gnyot El' (Russia): Ave, Celia!, Zhopotras

Wardruna (Norway): Voluspá, Raido

Woodscream (Russia): Alan

We have pretty much the same tastes! Nice!

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

A lot of metal. Probably not bad if you are into dark metal.

Almost none of that is Dark Metal. The only band that would come close is Cruachan, who are decidedly Pagan. A lot more of it is folk music (bands like Faun, Omnia, Hedningarna, and Gjallarhorn). The songs also ring with a lot of Pagan meaning. Pagan music isn't like Christian music; it's not all hymns and praising the gods. It is also a celebration of the Earth, of culture, and of the peoples that make up a specific branch of Paganism. You will get songs of joy and celebration, sorrow and remembrance, war and vengeance. Songs of myth, history, and fun. It cannot be all love and light.

Arkona - Folk Metal:

The song "Slav'sya, Rus!" (Hail, Rus!) sings of the glory of the Russian Lands, the Children of Dazhdbog, and the blessings of Mokosh (Mother Earth) that make the land beautiful. "Liki Bessmertnykh Bogov" (Faces of the Immortal Gods) describes a human who has lost his reason for being. With his spirit in vexation, he stands on a crossroad, fearing death and having a wish to flee from the reality. Only faith in the gods can give him the will to live on. "V Pogone Za Beloj Tenyu" (In Pursuit of the White Ghost) describes chasing after things that appear not to be there, but are, i.e. the gods. "Na Moey Zemle" (In My Land) is a song about a warrior who leaves his motherland to seek happiness in other countries. He meets foreign folk and asks them what their happiness is about. And they tell him that their happiness is their beautiful land, traditions, folk, home, their children, and gods. After a long journey, the warrior returns back to his native land to find peace and happiness there.

Cruachan - Folk Black Metal:

You probably got this far and stopped, right? "Blood for the Blood God" is about human sacrifice, yes. Which, historically and factually, did happen. Such is life. Cruachan also sing about several Celtic myths, such as seen in The Brown Bull of Cooly, which tells the myth of Donn Cúailnge, a bull sacred to the Morrighan, and features the cultural hero Cuchulainn.

Ah, and then there's Faun. A band that has songs to Hekate and Odin, sing of many German and Norse Heathen tales, and who's songs for Walpurgisnacht (May Day) and Sonnenreigen (Lughnasad) I linked.

Then there's also Heilung, a band that recreates Iron Age Norse music, and sing many songs and battle-magics from Norse culture. Also Wardruna, who brings the old tales, myths, poems and songs into the modern era with ancient sound.

And Omnia, a band that first truly brought about the term "Pagan Folk" for music, and is self-published as Pagan Scum Records.

Again, the only band on there that you'd have any hope of labeling as "Dark Metal" is Cruachan, and not even entirely at that.

But is that "Pagan" music? To me it does really relate to anything Pagan.

Well, that's you. Fact is that yes, it is Pagan music in that the artists are Pagan (and reason as to why I didn't include bands like Amon Amarth or Tyr - bands who play songs about Norse mythology, and who's band members are more-or-less Atheistic). Some, like Masha Arkhipova (Arkona), take serious roles in Pagan religion. Artists like Einar Selvik (Wardruna) are modern skalds, bringing to us the poems and myths of the past, and making new stories to teach the old lessons with. Other's like Sik Stevens and Jenny Van der Harten (Omnia) lead many awareness campaigns for nature conservation, environmentalism, and Green Pagan living.

They are certainly more Pagan in genre than artists like Hugo Duncan or Anne Murray - songs and artists that don't touch on much of anything related to Paganism at all.

Pagan music is simply folks songs, and those are not gloomy, dark or heavy at all and only have light instrumentation. These songs are about simple things in life. We should not create the idea that Pagans are somewhat depressed people wandering the woods thinking about war and revenge.

That is a part of life, and stories told by skalds and Pagan artists inevitably will include war and revenge. Paganism can't be all Love and Light. Your focus on "dark gloomy metal" more tells me that you didn't sample the full range of artists that I offered. I will continue to present this all as Pagan music, despite your constant haranguing that any Pagan tradition and view but your own Rose-Tinted one is not Pagan. Need it be reminded that just because Wicca - or whatever you personally practice - is Pagan, not all Paganism is Wiccan.

Bonus:

Faun (feat. Wardruna) "Odin"

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Wardruna - Helvegen:

 

[Baladas]

Cruachan also sing about several Celtic myths, such as seen in The Brown Bull of Cooly, which tells the myth of Donn Cúailnge, a bull sacred to the Morrighan, and features the cultural hero Cuchulainn.

I'm planning to check out all of the bands you recommended, but especially this one!
My path is mainly focused on the Celtic gods and goddesses, and it was very cool to hear The Morrigan represented here.

 

[Cassandra]

When the Gods inspire people they can briefly hear the language of the Gods and everything else fades into insignificance.

 

[The Hammer]

Hello,

please help me with making a list of Pagan / Wiccan song titles and artists. I am completely new to this topic and thus I don't know where to start. Thanks for your suggestions!

I'm partial to Wardruna myself, but I associate with the Norse/Germanic gods and their myths. Check them out if you don't mind listening to music in other languages (Norwegian/norse/proto-norse)

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

 

[Hildeburh]

.....our ancestors in the north that remained free and lived on subsistence agriculture and only produced what they needed for their own use and did not have to pay taxes..........But remember that the Pagans we are talking about were free people, and they were free spirited people as well. They were generally joyful people, except for big disasters. Even if they had to work hard in areas where Nature was harsh. Because this brings people together in very close knit social structures. They were generally happy people, unless disaster struck them.

If you are discussing the Germanic tribes (of which the Norse are a group), I think you may have rose coloured glasses. Life was tough, life expectancy short, infant mortality high, girls married at 12, slavery was endemic and war/land shortage/ climate change drove the Germanic tribes to leave their homes (hence the term migration age).

They also were not only subsistence farmers (early tribal agricultural economy was based on cattle) they traded amber, timber, furs, some minerals and slaves (some of whom would have been rival Germanic tribesmen) and some served as foederati in the Roman Army/Navy.

They did actually pay tax in the form of tolls and tribute.
.

The Vikings were not the pride of the Norse people but mainly outlaws and anti-social elements hat were thrown out when things got overcrowded, so they started roaming coastal areas in search for wealth and abduct people to sell as slaves in the middle east..

No, that is a pejorative stereotype. Vikings were not outlaws or anti social elements, outlawry is an entirely different concept under medieval Norse law.

The word Viking relates to the activity and vikingr to the person. Vikings were men (largely men but women did accompany men) who left their homes to raid, trade, explore and/or settle. They were farmers, fishermen and some were famous Scandinavian kings. To be a Viking was simply a wealth generating activity undertaken to improve social status, gain land, trade, settle a new land and generally improve ones lot in life.

Were some the activites of the Vikings brutal sure, but no more so than their counterparts in any other early medieval society.

There is a historical discussion here on Vikings and the etymology of the word viking
Hurstwic: What Does The Word Viking Mean?

And a discussion here on outlawry in the Viking age
Outlawry in the Viking Age - Norse Mythology for Smart People

 

[Cassandra]

They are certainly more Pagan in genre than artists like Hugo Duncan or Anne Murray - songs and artists that don't touch on much of anything related to Paganism at all.

We have very different views on my ancestor's culture.

To me this metal scene seems like distorted picture of earlier European traditions. I see it more like a part of a modern subculture, like Gothics. More like a side effect of the metal scene and fantasy books on young generations.

By the way. I wanted to ask you: Why do you wear animal skins? Is this common in your scene, or something personal?

 

[Cassandra]

If you are discussing the Germanic tribes (of which the Norse are a group), I think you may have rose coloured glasses. Life was tough, life expectancy short, infant mortality high, girls married at 12, slavery was endemic and war/land shortage/ climate change drove the Germanic tribes to leave their homes (hence the term migration age).

They also were not only subsistence farmers (early tribal agricultural economy was based on cattle) they traded amber, timber, furs, some minerals and slaves (some of whom would have been rival Germanic tribesmen) and some served as foederati in the Roman Army/Navy.

They did actually pay tax in the form of tolls and tribute.

I have different information

What period (before or after the Romans) and area are you talking about?

No, that is a pejorative stereotype. Vikings were not outlaws or anti social elements, outlawry is an entirely different concept under medieval Norse law.

This came from a scientist specialized in the field. I have no reason to doubt it.

 

[Cassandra]

No need to live in the past. I believe, our ancestor spirits have always expressed themselves throughout the ages and continue to express themselves constantly renewing themselves musically and otherwise.

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

Well, that's you. Fact is that yes, it is Pagan music in that the artists are Pagan (and reason as to why I didn't include bands like Amon Amarth or Tyr - bands who play songs about Norse mythology, and who's band members are more-or-less Atheistic). Some, like Masha Arkhipova (Arkona), take serious roles in Pagan religion. Artists like Einar Selvik (Wardruna) are modern skalds, bringing to us the poems and myths of the past, and making new stories to teach the old lessons with. Other's like Sik Stevens and Jenny Van der Harten (Omnia) lead many awareness campaigns for nature conservation, environmentalism, and Green Pagan living.

They are certainly more Pagan in genre than artists like Hugo Duncan or Anne Murray - songs and artists that don't touch on much of anything related to Paganism at all.

That is a part of life, and stories told by skalds and Pagan artists inevitably will include war and revenge. Paganism can't be all Love and Light. Your focus on "dark gloomy metal" more tells me that you didn't sample the full range of artists that I offered. I will continue to present this all as Pagan music, despite your constant haranguing that any Pagan tradition and view but your own Rose-Tinted one is not Pagan. Need it be reminded that just because Wicca - or whatever you personally practice - is Pagan, not all Paganism is Wiccan.

Would you consider The HU to be Pagan metal? They're a Mongolian metal band who celebrate Mongolian strengths, loyalty to ancestors & tradition etc. I'm sure you've heard of them but I wanted an excuse to load up the video so I could post it here.

English subtitles on the video interface if you don't speak Mongolian.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Would you consider The HU to be Pagan metal? They're a Mongolian metal band who celebrate Mongolian strengths, loyalty to ancestors & tradition etc. I'm sure you've heard of them but I wanted an excuse to load up the video so I could post it here.

English subtitles on the video interface if you don't speak Mongolian.

They're pretty awesome. They're definitely a folk metal group. Some people only think revived European polytheistic/animistic religions can be rightfully called Pagan. I think this is bunk since it was a smear term from Christians (and later Muslims) for anyone who held to their ancestral beliefs, not just Europeans. Hindus are also often referred to as "pagans" by Abrahamics, for example. I think anyone who follows their ancestral folkways can refer to themselves as such, especially if those traditions and beliefs were persecuted and suppressed. Regardless, I consider all who follow pluralistic, polytheistic, animistic paths to be part of a greater community due to a shared foundational worldview.

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

They're pretty awesome. They're definitely a folk metal group. Some people only think revived European polytheistic/animistic religions can be rightfully called Pagan. I think this is bunk since it was a smear term from Christians (and later Muslims) for anyone who held to their ancestral beliefs, not just Europeans. Hindus are also often referred to as "pagans" by Abrahamics, for example. I think anyone who follows their ancestral folkways can refer to themselves as such, especially if those traditions and beliefs were persecuted and suppressed. Regardless, I consider all who follow pluralistic, polytheistic, animistic paths to be part of a greater community due to a shared foundational worldview.

I totally agree and find this whole 'you can only call European traditions this word' notion to be ironically Eurocentric because it minimises the conflicts & suffering other indigenous belief systems around the world would have had (and are still having) with Christianity & Islam who would almost certainly have called them pagan (or whatever Arabic equivalent). I mean there's no reason to not consider traditions like Shinto or Tengrism 'Pagan': they have the features of Pagan religious systems.