10 Best Viking Metal Bands Of All Time

10. Tyr

Hailing from the Faroe Islands, Tyr exploded onto the scene in 1998. Named after the one-handed Norse God of War, Law and Justice, their songs are steeped in Faroese folk lore, Norse mythology and Viking history.

Frontman Heri Joensen has often railed against labels and genres, considering Tyr an exercise in breaking down and merging a variety of subgenres including Viking, power, black and epic metal. The bands focus of kvæõi, a traditional Faroese music, has set them apart from their peers and fascinated international listener for years.

Their conservative approach to traditional music types is often contrasted by complex, imaginative takes on the related harmonies and chord developments.

Tyr have not escaped controversy however, often being peppered with accusations of embracing Nazi doctrines due to their use of certain runes and images. The group lashed out at the accusations on their 2011 release Lay of Thrym. Tracks like Shadow of the Swastika furiously attack extreme political ideologies for their appropriation of these ancient symbols from a pre-Christian Northern Europe.

Tyr are still going strong today, most recently releasing Hel in 2019.