Skyforger

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 their folk metal, the style on their demo {{Interlanguage link|Semigalls' Warchant|lv|Semigalls' Warchant}} is essentially black metal.{{cite web |title=Skyforger |url=http://www.metalstorm.net/bands/band.php?band_id=2362&bandname=Skyforger|accessdate=18 July 2018 |website=Metal Storm}} The band also has performed and recorded a number of folk songs, including the entirety of their acoustic fourth album {{Interlanguage link|Zobena Dziesma|lv|Zobena Dziesma (albums)}}, released in 2003.{{cite web |title=SKYFORGER'S Sword Song Shows that Modern Folk Metal can be Deeply Authentic |url=http://www.metalinjection.net/tbt/122164 |accessdate=18 July 2018 |website=Metal Injection |date=May 17, 2018}} Folk elements can be found on all of their albums. In December 2005, during the presentation of their album, Semigalls' Warchant, the band announced their next album would be experimentation with thrash metal. They later pointed out that Latvian history still has enough untold stories, meaning their lyrics will retain their folk/pagan fashion.

In 2010, Skyforger signed with American label Metal Blade Records and released their 5th studio album Kurbads about the deeds of mythical Latvian warrior {{Interlanguage link|Kurbads|lv|Kurbads}}, son of mare.{{cite web |title=SKYFORGER Signs With METAL BLADE RECORDS |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/skyforger-signs-with-metal-blade-records/ |accessdate=8 September 2012 |website=Blabbermouth.net |date=February 8, 2010}}{{cite web |title=Skyforger - Sign With Metal Blade Records |url=http://www.metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=10347 |accessdate=8 September 2012 |website=Metal Storm |date=February 9, 2010}}{{cite web |first=Egils |last=Kaljo |title=Skyforger signs deal with Metal Blade Records |url=http://latviansonline.com/skyforger-signs-deal-with-metal-blade-records/ |accessdate=8 September 2012 |website=Latvians Online |date=February 10, 2010}}{{cite web |first=Egils |last=Kaljo |title=Skyforger's gruff lyrics tell the story of Latvian warrior Kurbads |url=http://latviansonline.com/skyforgers-gruff-lyrics-tell-the-story-of-latvian-warrior-kurbads/ |accessdate=8 September 2012 |website=Latvians Online |date=February 2, 2011}} The album received 2010 Annual Latvian Music Recording Award as the best rock album, as well as the 2010 Latvian Metal Music Award as the best metal album with Skyforger also winning the "Best Metal Band" category.{{cite web |title=SKYFORGER Honored At Latvian Music Awards; Band Splits With Guitarist |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/skyforger-honored-at-latvian-music-awards-band-splits-with-guitarist |accessdate=8 September 2012 |website=Blabbermouth |date=19 April 2011}} Skyforger was featured on BBC's series "Close-Up" episode on Latvian folk music.{{cite web |title=SKYFORGER Featured In BBC Latvian Music Special |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/skyforger-featured-in-bbc-latvian-music-special/ |accessdate=8 September 2012 |website=Blabbermouth.net |date=May 5, 2010}}

In 2015, the band released their 6th studio album titled {{Interlanguage link|Senprūsija|lv|Senprūsija (albums)}} dedicated to the now 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. For the writing of the album, Skyforger recruited historian Agris Dzenis as a historical consultant. After releasing the album, the band embarked on a European tour on April 8.{{cite web |title=Skyforger goes Prussian for latest album |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/culture/culture/skyforger-goes-prussian-for-latest-album.a124418/ |accessdate=18 July 2018 |publisher=Public Broadcasting of Latvia |date=April 7, 2015}}{{cite web |first=Egils |last=Kaljo |title=Heavy metal band Skyforger dedicate album to Ancient Prussia |url=http://latviansonline.com/heavy-metal-band-skyforger-dedicate-album-to-ancient-prussia/ |accessdate=18 July 2018 |website=Latvians Online |date=August 26, 2015}} In 2016, Senprūsija received the Annual Latvian Music Recording Award as the best hard rock/heavy metal album of 2015. In 2016, Skyforger also re-issued their 2003 album Zobena dziesma with 2 additional songs.{{cite web |first=Egils |last=Kaljo |title=Skyforger reissues folk song album "Zobena dziesma"|url=http://latviansonline.com/skyforger-reissues-folk-song-album-zobena-dziesma/ |accessdate=18 July 2018 |website=Latvians Online |date=May 25, 2016}}

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.{{cite web |title=First metal opera to be staged in Latvia |url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng2/baltic_news/?doc=17759 |accessdate=18 July 2018 |website=The Baltic Course |date=April 5, 2017}} On February 14, 2018, the performance was awarded Kilogram of Culture award as the "Surprise of the Year".{{cite web |title=9 'Kilogram of Culture' awards presented at the official ceremony in Latvia |url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng2/baltic_news/?doc=19114 |accessdate=18 July 2018 |website=The Baltic Course |date=February 20, 2018 |quote='Surprise of the Year' award for 2017's achievements goes to the metal opera 'Kurbads. Son of Ķēve' by director Inga Tropa and the Skyforger Group with this production also being the first Latvian metal opera.'}} On June 17, 2018, Skyforger played a special concert at the festival Zobens un Lemess commemorating the 20th anniversary since the release of their first full-length album {{Interlanguage link|Kauja pie Saules|lv|Kauja pie Saules (albums)}} in 1998.{{cite web |title=Skyforger - To Play Entire Debut Album, Win Latvian Awards |url=https://metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=33168 |accessdate=18 July 2018 |website=Metal Storm |date=16 February 2018}}{{cite web |title=Internationally renowned "Skyforger" is calling for a grand concert |url=http://www.latvia.travel/en/node/325937 |accessdate=18 July 2018 |website= Latvia Travel |date=16 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904225835/http://www.latvia.travel/en/node/325937 |archive-date=4 September 2018}} On 18 November 2018, the centenary for the proclamation of Latvia, Skyforger released a video directed by Kristīne Neikena and starring actress {{Interlanguage link|Maija Arvena Ozoliņa|lv|Maija Arvena Ozoliņa}} for their song Nekas nav aizmirsts from album Senprūsija.{{cite web |title=SKYFORGER Releases 'Nothing Is Forgotten' Video |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/skyforger-releases-nothing-is-forgotten-video |accessdate=7 September 2022 |website=Blabbermouth.net |date=20 November 2018}}

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:

{{cquote

|Skyforger has never been interested in any kind of national-socialistic ideology. Also not in any other ideologies whatsoever. All album themes and lyrics simply display pure Latvian pagan art and symbols, which have been used for thousands of years. (..) To our people, the swastika (or as called here - Thundercross) was a sign of the pagan god of Thunder, and it gives protection against evil things. On the first two album sleeves we even included labels which read "No Nazi stuff here" to avoid misunderstanding, and prevent false interpretation of the symbol. The Thundercross existed long before the NS regime of 1930s. Sadly, it seems that there is still prejudices against the symbol alive today; therefore Skyforger has removed the symbol from the logo permanently.

|author=Skyforger

|source={{cite web |title=SKYFORGER Latvian Folk/Pagan Metal Band |url=http://skyforger.lv/en/index.php?main_page_id=21&page_type=text |accessdate=August 26, 2015 |website=Skyforger.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227135415/http://skyforger.lv/en/index.php?main_page_id=21&page_type=text |archive-date=February 27, 2012}}

}}

;Current members

• {{Interlanguage link|Pēteris Kvetkovskis|lv|Pēteris Kvetkovskis}} ("Peter") – lead vocals, guitar, kokles, stabule (1995–present)
• {{Interlanguage link|Edgars Grabovskis|lv|Edgars Grabovskis}} ("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

• {{Interlanguage link|Imants Vovers|lv|Imants Vovers}} – drums, backing vocals (1995–1998)
• {{Interlanguage link|Rihards Skudrītis|lv|Rihards Skudrītis}} – guitar, backing vocals (1996–2000, 2001–2004, 2006–2008)
• {{Interlanguage link|Edgars Krūmiņš (musician)|lt=Edgars Krūmiņš|lv|Edgars Krūmiņš (mūziķis)}} ("Mazais") – drums, percussion (1998–2015)
• {{Interlanguage link|Kaspars Bārbals|lv|Kaspars Bārbals}} – dūdas, kokles, backing vocals (2004–2012)
• {{Interlanguage link|Mārtiņš Pētersons|lv|Mārtiņš Pētersons}} – 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)

{{#tag:timeline|

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Skyforger Dark Troll 2018 01.jpg|Singer and guitarist Pēteris

Skyforger Dark Troll 2018 03.jpg|Guitarist Alvis

Skyforger Dark Troll 2018 05.jpg|Bass player Edgars

Skyforger Dark Troll 2018 10.jpg|Drummer Artūrs

• {{Interlanguage link|Semigalls' Warchant|lv|Semigalls' Warchant}} (1997; demo)
• {{Interlanguage link|Kauja pie Saules|lv|Kauja pie Saules (albums)}} (1998)
• {{Interlanguage link|Latviešu strēlnieki (album)|lt=Latviešu strēlnieki|lv|Latviešu strēlnieki (albums)}} (2000)
• Pērkoņkalve (Thunderforge) (2003)
• {{Interlanguage link|Zobena Dziesma|lv|Zobena Dziesma (albums)}} (2003; acoustic album)
• Semigalls' Warchant (2005; expanded re-release)
• Zobena Dziesma (2006; expanded re-release)
• Kurbads (2010)
• {{Interlanguage link|Senprūsija|lv|Senprūsija (albums)}} (2015)
• Senprūsija Live (2015; live album)
• Teikas (Folktales) (2025)

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Skyforger}}

• {{Official website|http://www.skyforger.lv}}
• [http://www.diva.lv/video/latvijas-kulturas-norises/zobena-dziesma Zobena dziesma] {{in lang|lv}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Latvian heavy metal musical groups

Category:Black metal musical groups

Category:Latvian folk metal musical groups

Category:Latvian folk music groups

Category:Metal Blade Records artists

Category:Musical groups established in 1995