Skyforger
Skyforger is an extraordinary folk metal band from Rīga, Latvia. They have … Read Full Bio ↴Skyforger is an extraordinary folk metal band from Rīga, Latvia. They have been tempering their music in the smithy of the Latvian Thundergod Pērkons since 1995. For almost three decades, the band has been fighting under the flag of Latvian pagan metal; an extreme blend of traditional Baltic folk music and various metal influences ranging from Norwegian inspired black metal through to 80s-rooted heavy metal. The band's unique combination of ancient and modern influence has given them a wide appeal throughout both the metal and folk scenes, and has brought great variety to their song writing over the course of the seven Skyforger albums.
The first of these was unleashed from the forge in 1997. Titled Semigalls' Warchant, the demo-album told tales of the last free pagan tribes of the Baltic people; and their struggles with Christian invaders throughout the thirteenth century. The album's music is heavily inspired by the Scandinavian black metal of the early nineties. Harsh and cold, the extremity is balanced by traditional folk instruments, which anchor the venomous brutality firmly in the past; never loosing sight of the ancestral legends the music seeks to describe.
These tales of ancient tribal Latvia and its heathen tradition were to be expanded upon in Skyforger's first full-length album, 1998's Kauja pie Saules ('The Battle of Saule'). Later in 2000 followed their third release, the First World War themed Latviešu strēlnieki ('Latvian Riflemen').
At the end of 2002 Skyforger signed to German label Folter Records. Soon the world saw the release of their pagan metal masterpiece Pērkoņkalve ('Thunderforge'), which was a fine return to their old themes of ancestral culture and heathen gods. The album successfully recaptures the spirit of ancient Latvia; this time eschewing specific historical tales in favour of describing the ancient Baltic traditions, myths and wisdom. The music is powerful, precise; perhaps slower overall than previous offerings, which gives each song an unhurried strength - imbued with pagan fire and crushing might.
The next album in line, recorded also in 2003, was the Zobena dziesma ('Sword Song'), an album of purely acoustic Latvian Folk music and a long coming tribute to their ancient forefathers' heritage.
Soon later band signed deal with Folter Records for releasing their Semigalls' Warchant demo tape on CD format, release date happened in April of 2005. Album features every track from the band's original demo (a rarity long since out of print), which has been completely re-mastered and combined with a brand new EP 'Asinslauks', written especially for this release. This new material presents Skyforger's music after a decade of evolution - still burning with pagan fire and fierce loyalty to the band's Latvian homeland, but with a richer sound and an even stronger fusion of melodic folk music with their unique brand of extreme metal.
After that for next few years, Skyforger worked on a conceptual album about the legendary Latvian fairytale hero Kurbads, who was born magically from the white mare and did many great deeds. The album, similarly entitled Kurbads was released via Metal Blade Records in April of 2010 and later was chosen as best Metal album by Latvian Music Awards 2010.
SKYFORGER released their latest opus Senprūsija ('Old Prussia') in April of 2015 on Thunderforge Records. Album tells about now extinct old Baltic Prussian tribes, their mythology, life and death. Band singer Peter commented: "For us Latvians and Lithuanians, the two remaining Baltic nations, it is very important not to forget this part of our common history and that is why we made this album." Album was supported by three years touring all across the world, in total band visited 24 countries. 'Senprūsija' was voted as best Rock & Metal album at the annual Latvian Music industry Awards ceremony "Golden Microphone" 2015.
Through the years, band has been busy on festival stages all over Europe, has performed also in USA and South America, and SKYFORGER is well known for their non-compromising live performances.
At the moment, band is actively working on a new album with a tentative release date in spring 2025.
Official discography:
1997 - Semigalls' Warchant (demo tape)
1998 - Kauja pie Saules (The Battle of Saule) CD/LP
2000 - Latviešu Strēlnieki (Latvian Riflemen) CD/LP
2003 - Pērkoņkalve (Thunderforge) CD/LP
2003 - Zobena Dziesma (Sword Song) CD/LP
2005 - Semigalls' Warchant (demo + additional EP) CD/LP
2010 - Kurbads CD/LP
2015 - Senprūsija (Old Prussia) CD/LP
Selected videography:
Jump, Fir Tree (2022) http://y2u.be/dioOAFaU1JA
Romuve (2022 live) http://y2u.be/tQFAZ6wSE98
Nothing Is Forgotten (2018) http://y2u.be/UD04RxYsM54
The Black Sails (2015) http://y2u.be/v5hDhkVEboY
Line-up:
Pēteris Kvetkovskis - guitar, vocals (ex-Grindmaster Dead) (1995 - present)
Edgars Grabovskis "Zirgs" - bass guitar, backing vocals (ex-Grindmaster Dead) (1995 - present)
Alvis Bernāns - guitars (also in Green Novice) (2014 - present)
Jānis Osis - drums (2022 - present)
Former members:
Imants Vovers - drums (ex-Grindmaster Dead) (also in Druun) (1995 - 1998)
Ģirts Kļaviņš "Motors" - guitar (2004 - 2006)
Rihards Skudrītis - guitars (1996 - 2000, 2001 - 2004, 2006 - 2008)
Mārtiņš Pētersons - guitar (ex-Grindmaster Dead) (2000 - 2001, 2008 - 2010)
Kaspars Bārbals - various folk instruments, backing vocals (also in Auļi) (2004 - 2012)
Egons Kronbergs - guitars, (also in Iļģi) (2010 - 2013)
Edgars Krūmiņš "Mazais" - drums (also in Auļi) (1998 - 2015)
Artūrs Jurjāns - drums (also in Uguns) (2015 - 2021)
Website:
www.skyforger.lv
skyforger.bandcamp.com
open.spotify.com/artist/5QLr9mctfuwi8KGF1W211r
music.apple.com/us/artist/skyforger/268908289
www.facebook.com/skyforgerofficial
www.instagram.com/skyforgerofficial
www.youtube.com/skyforgerofficial
www.twitter.com/skyforger
soundcloud.com/skyforgerofficial
The first of these was unleashed from the forge in 1997. Titled Semigalls' Warchant, the demo-album told tales of the last free pagan tribes of the Baltic people; and their struggles with Christian invaders throughout the thirteenth century. The album's music is heavily inspired by the Scandinavian black metal of the early nineties. Harsh and cold, the extremity is balanced by traditional folk instruments, which anchor the venomous brutality firmly in the past; never loosing sight of the ancestral legends the music seeks to describe.
These tales of ancient tribal Latvia and its heathen tradition were to be expanded upon in Skyforger's first full-length album, 1998's Kauja pie Saules ('The Battle of Saule'). Later in 2000 followed their third release, the First World War themed Latviešu strēlnieki ('Latvian Riflemen').
At the end of 2002 Skyforger signed to German label Folter Records. Soon the world saw the release of their pagan metal masterpiece Pērkoņkalve ('Thunderforge'), which was a fine return to their old themes of ancestral culture and heathen gods. The album successfully recaptures the spirit of ancient Latvia; this time eschewing specific historical tales in favour of describing the ancient Baltic traditions, myths and wisdom. The music is powerful, precise; perhaps slower overall than previous offerings, which gives each song an unhurried strength - imbued with pagan fire and crushing might.
The next album in line, recorded also in 2003, was the Zobena dziesma ('Sword Song'), an album of purely acoustic Latvian Folk music and a long coming tribute to their ancient forefathers' heritage.
Soon later band signed deal with Folter Records for releasing their Semigalls' Warchant demo tape on CD format, release date happened in April of 2005. Album features every track from the band's original demo (a rarity long since out of print), which has been completely re-mastered and combined with a brand new EP 'Asinslauks', written especially for this release. This new material presents Skyforger's music after a decade of evolution - still burning with pagan fire and fierce loyalty to the band's Latvian homeland, but with a richer sound and an even stronger fusion of melodic folk music with their unique brand of extreme metal.
After that for next few years, Skyforger worked on a conceptual album about the legendary Latvian fairytale hero Kurbads, who was born magically from the white mare and did many great deeds. The album, similarly entitled Kurbads was released via Metal Blade Records in April of 2010 and later was chosen as best Metal album by Latvian Music Awards 2010.
SKYFORGER released their latest opus Senprūsija ('Old Prussia') in April of 2015 on Thunderforge Records. Album tells about now extinct old Baltic Prussian tribes, their mythology, life and death. Band singer Peter commented: "For us Latvians and Lithuanians, the two remaining Baltic nations, it is very important not to forget this part of our common history and that is why we made this album." Album was supported by three years touring all across the world, in total band visited 24 countries. 'Senprūsija' was voted as best Rock & Metal album at the annual Latvian Music industry Awards ceremony "Golden Microphone" 2015.
Through the years, band has been busy on festival stages all over Europe, has performed also in USA and South America, and SKYFORGER is well known for their non-compromising live performances.
At the moment, band is actively working on a new album with a tentative release date in spring 2025.
Official discography:
1997 - Semigalls' Warchant (demo tape)
1998 - Kauja pie Saules (The Battle of Saule) CD/LP
2000 - Latviešu Strēlnieki (Latvian Riflemen) CD/LP
2003 - Pērkoņkalve (Thunderforge) CD/LP
2003 - Zobena Dziesma (Sword Song) CD/LP
2005 - Semigalls' Warchant (demo + additional EP) CD/LP
2010 - Kurbads CD/LP
2015 - Senprūsija (Old Prussia) CD/LP
Selected videography:
Jump, Fir Tree (2022) http://y2u.be/dioOAFaU1JA
Romuve (2022 live) http://y2u.be/tQFAZ6wSE98
Nothing Is Forgotten (2018) http://y2u.be/UD04RxYsM54
The Black Sails (2015) http://y2u.be/v5hDhkVEboY
Line-up:
Pēteris Kvetkovskis - guitar, vocals (ex-Grindmaster Dead) (1995 - present)
Edgars Grabovskis "Zirgs" - bass guitar, backing vocals (ex-Grindmaster Dead) (1995 - present)
Alvis Bernāns - guitars (also in Green Novice) (2014 - present)
Jānis Osis - drums (2022 - present)
Former members:
Imants Vovers - drums (ex-Grindmaster Dead) (also in Druun) (1995 - 1998)
Ģirts Kļaviņš "Motors" - guitar (2004 - 2006)
Rihards Skudrītis - guitars (1996 - 2000, 2001 - 2004, 2006 - 2008)
Mārtiņš Pētersons - guitar (ex-Grindmaster Dead) (2000 - 2001, 2008 - 2010)
Kaspars Bārbals - various folk instruments, backing vocals (also in Auļi) (2004 - 2012)
Egons Kronbergs - guitars, (also in Iļģi) (2010 - 2013)
Edgars Krūmiņš "Mazais" - drums (also in Auļi) (1998 - 2015)
Artūrs Jurjāns - drums (also in Uguns) (2015 - 2021)
Website:
www.skyforger.lv
skyforger.bandcamp.com
open.spotify.com/artist/5QLr9mctfuwi8KGF1W211r
music.apple.com/us/artist/skyforger/268908289
www.facebook.com/skyforgerofficial
www.instagram.com/skyforgerofficial
www.youtube.com/skyforgerofficial
www.twitter.com/skyforger
soundcloud.com/skyforgerofficial
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Skyforger Lyrics
1916. Gada Marts [The March Of 1916] Lai atbalstitu sabiedrotos (Angliju u…
A Crested Bird Sings Cekulaina zīle dzied Staļļa spāres galiņā Ej māsiņa klausīt…
A Silver River Flows Sidrabiņa upe tek Visgarāmi zelta kalnu Tur jāj visi karakun…
Around the Hill I Went Apkart kalnu gaju Kalnina uzkapu Ieraudziju meiteniti Gauzi …
Battle at Garoza Forest Burn, my heart, burn in blazing hate Let my hand grip…
Be Like a Man Pēc Ziemassvētku kaujām strēlniekiem atpūta nebija ilga, 23…
Bewitched Forest Kurbads decides to go and seek his fortune across the…
Curse of the Witch Izsalcis vilks naks un apris sauli Gaisma izdizsis-purvos b…
Gada īsākā nakts Kur ir ta zeme, No kurienes vins nak Kas ir tas viedais, Kur…
In Darkness and Frost Kurš var pateikt, kur ir sākums Un kurš zin, kur ir…
In the Underworld Tell us, Kurbads, where have you been In the foreign…
Kad Usins Jaj [When Usins Rides] Hei, ziemeļu ļaudis, vai dzirda…
Kalējs kala debesīs Kalējs kala debesīs Dzirkstis bira jūrmalā Eita, brāļi, sala…
Kam pūšat kara taures Kam pūšat kara taures Mani balti bāleliņi? Neba nāca svešas …
Kauja Pie Plakaniem Kauja Pie Veisiem [Battle Of Plakani, Battle Of Veisi] Tas bija pirmas latvie…
Kauja pie Saules.1236 Sēdies, ceļiniek, krastā Skatus pāri met Redzi lēzeno lauku …
Kur Tu Jasi Balelini Kur tu jasi, balelini Vakara kajas auni? Ej masina, nevaica …
Kurbads Tur jau nāk mūsu sirmais Kurbads Zobens rokās varonim Metā…
Kurshi Piesēdiesi, Vēja māte Sausas egles galiņā Kamēr mani bālel…
Latviešu Strēlnieki (Starts with a variation of Latvian folk song "Div' dūjiņas…
Long I Heard Now I See Sen dzirdēju, nu ieraugu Dievam sirmi kumeliņi Dievam sirmi …
Migla Migla Rasa Rasa [Oh Fog, Oh Dew] Migla, migla, rasa, rasa Tas man labu neda…
Nakts debesu karakungs [Night Sky's Master Of War] Melnam sagsam Nakts zemi kla…
Neighed the Battlehorses [Ancient Latvian warriorsong] The battlehorses were neigh…
Night of the Winter Solstice [Music by Rihard & Peter] The sun has vanished Freezing …
O kai Saulute Tekejo [When Sun Is Rising - Lithuanian folk song] O kai saulutй…
Oh Fog Oh Dew Migla migla rasa rasa Ta man labu nedarij' Rasa manas kaja…
Perkonkalve [Thunderforge] Tris dienas gaju caur dzilu mezu, Caur dz…
Perkons Brought the Bride Pārkiuns veda Pārkiuns veda vedekļeņu No Vōczemes šai zemē …
Prussian Maid Rides to War Prusu meita kara jaja Zelo jaunu balelinu Nu ardievu tevs, m…
Pulkvedis Briedis [Colonel Briedis] (Fridrihs Briedis (1888–1918) — viens n…
Ready to Be a Warrior Gatavs biju karavīrs Gatavs kara kumeliņš Tās dieniņas vien…
Semigalls' Warchant [Music by Rihard & Peter] Titmouse sings Near the house …
Senču ozols Es paceļu rokas pret sauli, Kas spīd manā sejā caur ozola…
Sidrabiņa Upe Tek Sidrabiņa upe tek Visgarāmi zelta kalnu Tur jāj visi karak…
Son of the Mare On a mountain top By a clear wellspring Laima weaves…
Sunrise over the Sacred Forest saat kita berpisah kau pegang erat tanganku sepertinya tak m…
Sword Song Dry timber, green trees All torn asunder Small hills broke …
The Ancient Oak I raise my hands to the sun That shines in my…
The Horses Neighed Zirgi zviedza, jodi brauca Upīt' tecēj' čurkstēdam' Es stāvē…
The Sacred Firecross It's the sacred firecross Woven in the belts of priests, I…
The Shortest Night of the Year Kur ir tā zeme, No kurienes viņš nāk Kas ir tas viedais, Kur…
The Woman of Serpents Asins rasa rīta miglā Žvadz dzelži, zobeni, pīķi Simtiem p…
Thunderforge Trīs dienas gāju caur dziļu mežu, Caur dziļu mežu, caur mežu…
To the Northern Shores Uzjāja svētnieks augstajā kalnā Raudzījas ilgi nakts debesis…
Tumsā un salā Kurs var pateikt, kur ir sakums Un kurs zin, kur ir…
Warlord of the Night Sky Melnām sagšām Nakts zemi klāj, Jātnieks balts Pār debesju…
Werewolves [music by Rihard & Peter] The pale moon casts its evil…
When the Sun Was Rising O kai saulutė tekėjo Brolis žirgelį balnojo Kelkis sesela, ž…
When Ūsiņš Rides Hei, ziemelu laudis, vai dzirdat ka dzied Jau pirmie putni u…
Why the Horns of War are Blown [Ancient Latvian warriorsong] The horns of war are blown,…
Zirgi zviedza Zirgi zviedza, jodi brauca Upīt' tecēj' čurkstēdam' Es stā…
Zobena dziesma [Sword Song] Sausi koki, zali koki Visi truka gabalos Visi …
Zviegtin' zviedza kara zirgi [Neighed The Battle Horses] Zviegtin' zviedza kara zirgi Ka…