Falkenbach

Infobox musical artist
Name = Falkenbach
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Germany
Genre = Viking metal
Folk metal
Black metal
Years_active = 1989–present
Label = Napalm Records
Associated_acts =
URL = http://www.falkenbach.de
Current_members = Vratyas Vakyas

Falkenbach is a Viking metal one-man project from Germany that is currently signed to Napalm Records.

History

The band formed in 1989. In 1995, no more than three demos were released - "Skinn Av Sverði Söl Valtiva", "Læknishendr", and "Ásynja". A total of seven demos have been recorded since the band's inception; however, only five of these demos are known about. With the exception of the "Havamal" demo (which is allegedly clean folk music), the band started out with a raw sound, with considerable black metal influence. Since then, Falkenbach has progressed into more of a matured, epic band.

Most of Falkenbach’s lyrics were written in English, but some were written in Old Norse, Latin, and Old German. Most, if not all of the lyrics written in Old Norse are actually taken from heathen literature: for example, the chorus lines in the song "Donar’s Oak" are actually verses four and five in Grímnismál, part of the Edda (Grimnir’s Song).

In 1995, recording of the debut album "Fireblade" began, but due to equipment troubles, the recording process was ceased shortly before mixing began. "Fireblade" was not released, and in December of the same year, recording for "...En Their Medh Riki Fara..." started. The recording for the actual debut album was completed in March 1996.After "Magni Blandinn Ok Megentiri" was released, Vratyas Vrakyas ceased recording music so he could focus more upon his record label Skaldic Art Productions.In 2003, Vratyas Vrakyas returned to the studio with three other musicians and close friends of Vratyas to record "Ok Nefna Tysvar Ty". The next and most recent Falkenbach album was recorded in August-September 2005, using the same session musicians he had used for "Ok Nefna Tysvar Ty".

In 2006 Skaldic Arts Productions released a tribute album called "An Hommage to Falkenbach". It consisted of two parts, each limited to 500 units. The work contains 16 covers by diverse bands such as Eluveitie, Vinterriket, Hildr Valkyrie and more.

Vratyas Vakyas (whose name roughly translates to "the searching wanderer"), the sole member of Falkenbach, resides now in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Discography

Albums
* "...En Their Medh Riki Fara..." (1996)
* "...Magni Blandinn Ok Megintiri..." (1998)
* "Ok Nefna Tysvar Ty" (2003)
* "Heralding - The Fireblade" (2005)

Demos (5 of 7 known)
* "Havamal" (1989)
* "Laeknishendr" (1995)
* "Promo '95" (1995)
* "Skinn Af Sverði Söl Valtiva..." (1996)
* "Asynja" (1995)

Members

Current members

*Vratyas Vakyas Guitars, keyboards, vocals

ession members

* Hagalaz - Guitars on "Ok Nefna Tysvar Ty" and "Heralding - The Fireblade".
* Tyrann - Vocals on "Ok Nefna Tysvar Ty" and "Heralding - The Fireblade".
* Boltthorn - Drums on "Ok Nefna Tysvar Ty" and "Heralding - The Fireblade".

External links

* [http://www.falkenbach.de Official website]
* [http://www.napalmrecords.com/promo/falkenbachp.html Falkenbach] at Napalm Records
* [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=1071 Falkenbach] at Encyclopaedia Metallum