Viking Metal

Sólstafir is an Icelandic metal band, formed in 1995.  Their name translated in Icelandic means "radiating sun beams".  Sólstafirs music certainly lives up to their obscure name.  While their early work featured a heavier sound, along the lines of traditional viking metal and black metal, it has evolved to include more dynamic elements of progressive metal and post-metal.

Unleashed are a Swedish death metal band that formed after founding member Johnny Hedlund left the band Nihilist.  Formed in 1989, they are considered to be one of the first death metal acts to incorporate Norse/Viking folklore into their lyrical themes, rather than the death and gore typical of the period, and they are considered among the forefathers of Viking metal.