Skyforger is a metal band from Latvia formed in 1995.
History Skyforger succeeded doom metal band Grindmaster Dead. Most of their songs are about Baltic mythology and warfare. They also play Latvian folk songs and their metal arrangements. Although Skyforger is known for folk metal, the style on their demo is black metal. The band has performed and recorded a number of folk songs, including their acoustic fourth album, , released in 2003.
In 2010, Skyforger signed with Metal Blade Records and released their fifth studio album, Kurbads, about mythical Latvian warrior , son of mare. The album received the 2010 Annual Latvian Music Recording Award for best rock album, as well as the 2010 Latvian Metal Music Award for best metal album. Skyforger also won "Best Metal Band". Skyforger was featured on BBC's series "Close-Up" episode on Latvian folk music.
In 2015, the band released their sixth album, , which they dedicated to the extinct Baltic people Old Prussians. Two of the album's songs are sung in Old Prussian (Ei skīja, skīja and Rāmava), while the rest are in Latvian. To write the album, Skyforger recruited historical consultant Agris Dzenis. After releasing the album, the band went on an European tour on April 8. In 2016, Senprūsija received the Annual Latvian Music Recording Award for best hard rock/heavy metal album of 2015. In 2016, Skyforger re-issued their 2003 album Zobena dziesma with two bonus tracks.
On June 3, 2017, Skyforger performed a one-time multi-media concert – metal opera "Kurbads. The Son of The Mare" – at Lielezers open-air stage in Limbaži as a part of a programme for 100th Anniversary of the Latvian Republic. On February 14, 2018, the performance won the Kilogram of Culture award for "Surprise of the Year". On June 17, 2018, Skyforger played a special concert at the festival Zobens un Lemess, commemorating the 20th anniversary of their first album, , in 1998. On 18 November 2018, the centenary of the proclamation of Latvia, Skyforger released a Kristīne Neikena-directed video starring actress for their song Nekas nav aizmirsts from album Senprūsija.
Controversy Skyforger was involved in some controversy with one of their former producers who believed they were affiliated with Neo-Nazism. The reason for this was the cover of their album Pērkoņkalve, which depicts Baltic god of thunder Pērkons wearing a belt buckle adorned with a swastika and striking an anvil, as well as the swastika incorporated in Skyforger's logo. Some websites had therefore listed Skyforger as a Neo-Nazi band. The band addressed the controversy on their website, writing:
Members Current members ("Peter") – lead vocals, guitar, kokles, stabule (1995–present) ("Zirgs") – bass guitar, backing vocals, ģīga (1995–present) Alvis Bernāns – guitar (2014–present) Jānis Osis – drums, percussion (2022–present)
Live/session members Edgars Zilberts – kokles (2017 – present) Geoffroy Dell’Aria – bagpipes, flutes, jaw harp (2019 – present)
Former members – drums, backing vocals (1995–1998) – guitar, backing vocals (1996–2000, 2001–2004, 2006–2008) ("Mazais") – drums, percussion (1998–2015) – dūdas, kokles, backing vocals (2004–2012) – guitar, backing vocals (2000–2001, 2008–2010) Ģirts Kļaviņš ("Motors") – guitar, backing vocals (2004–2006) Egons Kronbergs – guitar (2010–2013) Artūrs Jurjāns – drums, percussion (2016–2022)
Timeline
Gallery
Discography (1997; demo) (1998) (2000) Pērkoņkalve (Thunderforge) (2003) (2003; acoustic album) Semigalls' Warchant (2005; expanded re-release) Zobena Dziesma (2006; expanded re-release) Kurbads (2010) (2015) Senprūsija Live (2015; live album) Teikas (Folktales) (2025)
References
External links
Zobena dziesma