“We are to Vikings what the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are to turtles.” Eihwar have brought chaos to the European folk metal scene with their Viking war trance – could they be its next big thing?
Eihwar, a Viking-themed folk metal act blending war drums, throat-singing and EDM-influenced beats, are drawing packed crowds and building a cult following across the European folk metal scene. The band, who perform in full pagan warrior costume and stay in character throughout interviews, describe their concept as an exaggerated, theatrical take on Norse culture, likening themselves to Vikings in the way the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles relate to actual turtles. Louder's writer witnessed the atmosphere firsthand at a sold-out show at the Dome in North London, where metalheads, pagans and other fans threw themselves into the performance.
The feature centres on an interview with band member Asrunn, who appeared still dressed as a wolf-skull-wearing shaman during the conversation, alongside a bandmate in Viking chainmail and a spangenhelm helmet. Their live show combines traditional-sounding percussion and vocals with a driving electronic dance beat, a hybrid sound the article suggests could position Eihwar as one of the genre's breakout acts.
- Viking-themed band Eihwar merge folk metal, war drums and EDM.
- They performed to a packed, costumed crowd in North London.
- Band stays in character, likening itself to a stylised Viking pastiche.