Metal Wyrd

Just because we love Folk-Metal, Pagan-Metal, Viking-Metal, Celtic-Metal, and Melodic Doom-Metal music doesn’t mean everyone does. (To each his own, eh?) But that means our tastes are outside of the mainstream. In other words, don’t expect to find the latest Korpiklaani, Manegarm, Thyrfing, Skyforger, Nebelhorn, or Alestorm next to the latest Britney Spears, Kanye West, or REO Speedwagon at Barnes & Noble. Or Borders Books. Or Best Buy. No, to feed our need for Folk-Metal music, we hearty lads and lasses must take to the Internet.

Here are a few sources for you to try. NOTE: I don’t vouch for or recommend any of them. I provide this list for your shopping pleasure only. So don’t blame me if your order gets lost in the pit of Hades.

Amazon. Although CDs in the aforementioned genres on Amazon proper are often pricey imports, Amazon Marketplace sellers almost always offer select titles for up to 50% less. It pays to visit your nearest country Amazon first. If you can’t find what you’re looking for there, try another source.

TrollZorn, a German Folk-/Pagan-Metal label and mail order service. They have a great selection of hard-to-find titles. Prices in Euros. Payment made via PayPal or bank transfer. Shipping to the States is a whopping 19,00 Euros, which is about 30 USD. Yikes!

Century Media Distribution (CMDistro, for short). Century Media, the mammoth metal label, has a very good selection of many hard-to-find titles at extremely reasonable prices. Fast delivery service, too. Free shipping for orders over $100 (for orders shipped to the continental U.S.).

Einheit Productions. A German label and mail order service. Prices in Euros.

The End Records. Label and mail order service. Great customer service, fantastic selection, and rock-bottom prices. A U.S.-based company (New York). I have purchased from The End Records several times. Once, I ordered a bunch of very hard-to-find Folk/Pagan/Black-Metal CDs and, within 45 minutes, they had pulled, packed, and shipped my order. I received my order within four days. Unreal.

Red Stream. A Florida-based distributor of metal on the darker side. A limited selection of Folk-Metal bands, but it contains some interesting ones nonetheless (Finntroll, Lumsk, Moonsorrow, Cruachan, etc.). They accept all major credit cards.

Morbid Winter Records. A Canadian label and distro. I find their web site confusing and difficult to read. But your mileage may vary.

Vinland Winds. A New York-based distro. They “accept PayPal, money orders, personal checks, and well-hidden cash.” Appears to be music on the heavier, darker side.

Dark Symphonies. Another U.S.-based label/distro (Massachusettes). More Black-Metal than Folk-Metal bands. They offer payment via PayPal and major credit cards.

If there are other labels/distributors for these genres of music, please let us know.