I thought I would make a thread for appreciating folk music from around the world and start it by sharing some interesting folk rock/metal bands that I have come across. Folk rock/metal, in my opinion, tends to have a more positive feel to it than the overly negative and whiney stuff that has dominated rock and metal in the West since at least the mid 2000s. It tends to give me an energized and optimistic feeling whereas the screamo stuff, for example, tends to make me feel depressed and lethargic. It also often has the ability to be both energizing and relaxing at the same time.
I especially like it when lyrics are intelligible (as opposed to "screamo") and when songs incorporate native instruments so that it is not just the same rock sound in another language but really a different and possibly even new sound. The unintelligible growling and dramatically gory music videos of many current metal bands just feel cringey and don't do it for me. Many folk metal bands on the other hand have songs that are so upbeat and catchy that you can dance to them. Even when it is not a dancing song though, the feeling seems more primal and natural to me.
This is by no means limited to folk rock and folk metal. If you know of any cool folk music pieces, post them here.
Anyway, here are some to start with.
Mongolia and Inner Mongolia
The Hu: From what I can tell, they are probably one of the most famous bands from Mongolia. They incorporate throat singing as well as native instruments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM8dCGIm6yc
Tengger Cavalry: Not sure what is going on in Mongolia and Inner Mongolia but a lot of decent bands in this genre seem to be coming out of there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kCTc7Mdkb0
Nine Treasures: More lyrical content than The Hu and a different singing style.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e1JyWgVfnI
Hanggai: Inner Mongolia strikes again. What's up with Mongols, man? They must have music in their blood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhkeqeUX4tk
Hanggai: On the list again because they are great.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvW8JEuIo58
I especially like it when lyrics are intelligible (as opposed to "screamo") and when songs incorporate native instruments so that it is not just the same rock sound in another language but really a different and possibly even new sound. The unintelligible growling and dramatically gory music videos of many current metal bands just feel cringey and don't do it for me. Many folk metal bands on the other hand have songs that are so upbeat and catchy that you can dance to them. Even when it is not a dancing song though, the feeling seems more primal and natural to me.
This is by no means limited to folk rock and folk metal. If you know of any cool folk music pieces, post them here.
Anyway, here are some to start with.
Mongolia and Inner Mongolia
The Hu: From what I can tell, they are probably one of the most famous bands from Mongolia. They incorporate throat singing as well as native instruments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM8dCGIm6yc
Tengger Cavalry: Not sure what is going on in Mongolia and Inner Mongolia but a lot of decent bands in this genre seem to be coming out of there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kCTc7Mdkb0
Nine Treasures: More lyrical content than The Hu and a different singing style.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e1JyWgVfnI
Hanggai: Inner Mongolia strikes again. What's up with Mongols, man? They must have music in their blood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhkeqeUX4tk
Hanggai: On the list again because they are great.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvW8JEuIo58