Songs about Vikings are usually about the culture and history of the Norse people. These songs often tell stories of Viking raids and battles, as well as their everyday life and culture. Many of these songs are quite old, dating back to the time when the Vikings were a very real threat to much of Europe.
In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the most popular songs about Vikings. These tracks vary from metal anthems to folk ballads, but they all have one thing in common – they’re all about those fierce and feared Norsemen.
Contents
- 1. “Viking” by Peter Hammill
- 2. “Invaders” by Iron Maiden
- 3. “Ride of the Valkyries” by Richard Wagner
- 4. “I Am A Viking” by Yngwie J. Malmsteen’S Rising Force
- 5. “One Rode to Asa Bay” by Bathory
- 6. “Stonehenge” by Spinal Tap
- 7. “Singing Swords” by Heavy Load
- 8. “Twilight Of The Thunder God” by Amon Amarth
- 9. “Great Heathen Army” by Iced Earth
- 10. “End of an empire” by Turisas
- 11. “Valhalla” by Black Sabbath
- 12. “Hail to the Hammer” by Tyr
- 13. “Cry of the Blackbirds” by Amon Amarth
- 14. “King of Kings” by ManoWar
- 15. “Barbarian” by The Darkness
- 16. “Up On The Mountain” by King of Asgard
- 17. “Shores In Flames” by Bathory
- 18. “Swedish Pagans” by Sabaton
- 19. “Thousand Years of Oppression” by Amon Amarth
- 20. “Heathens From the North” by Heavy Load
- Final Thoughts
1. “Viking” by Peter Hammill
Starting off our list is a song that is simply entitled “Viking”. This track was written and performed by Peter Hammill, who was the frontman of the progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. It’s about the Nordic people, and their way of life. You can find this on his album Fool’s Mate.
2. “Invaders” by Iron Maiden
The next song is “Invaders” by Iron Maiden. This song is about the fear of being invaded, and the resolve to defend one’s land.
The lyrics make references to Viking culture, including longships and shields. It was released in 1982 and can be streamed on all music platforms out there.
3. “Ride of the Valkyries” by Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner is an opera composer from the 1800s, and “Ride of the Valkyries” is one of his most famous pieces.
It’s an intense, fast-paced song that has been used in popular culture many times. While it doesn’t specifically mention Vikings, it paints a picture of them as fierce warriors who are not to be messed with.
4. “I Am A Viking” by Yngwie J. Malmsteen’S Rising Force
“I Am A Viking” is a song by Swedish guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen. It’s an upbeat, positive song that celebrates Viking culture and heritage.
It was released in 1985 for the album Marching Out. If you’re a fan of metal music, you’re going to love this track.
5. “One Rode to Asa Bay” by Bathory
The next song is “One Rode to Asa Bay” by Bathory. This song is about a viking who rides to the bay to go pillaging.
The viking in the song is very excited about going on this adventure and getting loot. It was released in 1990 for his album Hammerheart, which is available for streaming on all music platforms.
6. “Stonehenge” by Spinal Tap
“Stonehenge” by Spinal Tap is about the famous stone structure in England that is believed to have been built by the Druids.
In the song, the band imagines what it would be like if vikings had come and destroyed Stonehenge. The song was released in 1984 and was featured in the movie, ‘This Is Spinal Tap’.
7. “Singing Swords” by Heavy Load
Next on the list is “Singing Swords” by Heavy Load. This song is about two viking warriors who are in battle.
They are fighting fiercely and singing their war songs. The song was released in 1983 on the album Stronger Than Evil. You can listen to this on all music platforms.
8. “Twilight Of The Thunder God” by Amon Amarth
Amon Amarth’s “Twilight of the Thunder God” is a riff-heavy, anthemic ode to Thor, the Norse God of Thunder.
The song’s lyrics are steeped in Viking lore, and its thundering guitars are sure to get your blood pumping. This was released in 2008 for the album of the same title.
9. “Great Heathen Army” by Iced Earth
Next on the list is Iced Earth’s “Great Heathen Army.” This song tells the story of the Viking invasion of England in the 9th century.
The lyrics are written from the perspective of the Vikings, and they paint a picture of brutal warfare and conquest. The song is full of heavy metal fury, and it’s sure to get your adrenaline flowing.
10. “End of an empire” by Turisas
This song, “End of an Empire” by Turisas, is a powerful ballad that tells the story of the fall of the Roman Empire.
The lyrics are written from the perspective of a Viking raider, and they describe the sack of Rome in vivid detail. It was released in 2011 for their Stand Up and Fight album.
11. “Valhalla” by Black Sabbath
“Valhalla” is a Black Sabbath song that tells the story of Odin, the Norse God of War. The lyrics describe Odin’s battle with the giants, and his eventual triumph in Valhalla.
The song is heavy and driving, with a classic Black Sabbath sound. It was released in 1990 for the album Tyr.
12. “Hail to the Hammer” by Tyr
“Hail to the Hammer” is a song by the Viking metal band Tyr. The lyrics are an ode to Thor, the Norse God of Thunder.
They sing of his might and power, and call on him to protect them in battle. The song is heavy and driving, with a thundering drum beat. It was released in 2002 for their How Far to Asgaard album.
13. “Cry of the Blackbirds” by Amon Amarth
The next song is called “Cry of the Blackbirds” and it’s by Amon Amarth. It’s off their album With Oden on Our Side. This song is about a battle between two Viking tribes.
The losing tribe is crying out to their gods, begging for help. It was released in 2006 for the album With Oden on Our Side.
14. “King of Kings” by ManoWar
“King of Kings” is a song by German power metal band Manowar. It’s off their album King of Kings. It’s a song about calling out and asking help from the Gods.
It was released in 2005 for the album King of Kings. You can stream it on all music platforms out there.
15. “Barbarian” by The Darkness
Next on the list is “Barbarian” by The Darkness. This song is all about the brutal, wild nature of Vikings. It talks about how they were “born from the cold” and how they were “raised by the wolves”.
The song also mentions some of the Viking’s most famous weapons, like axes and swords. It was released in 2015 for the album Last of Our Kind.
16. “Up On The Mountain” by King of Asgard
The next song is “Up On The Mountain” by King of Asgard. This song talks about how he sacrificed his eye to gain knowledge and how he created humans from trees.
The song was released in 2012 for the album … To North. You can stream this song on all music platforms out there.
17. “Shores In Flames” by Bathory
Another song about Ragnar Lothbrok, “Shores in Flames” by Bathory is from the album Hammerheart. This song is about a call to the Gods of the sea. It was released in 1990 and is still popular among Viking metal fans.
18. “Swedish Pagans” by Sabaton
Sabaton’s song “Swedish Pagans” is from the album The Art of War. It is a song about the Swedish empire during the 17th century.
The lyrics talk about how the Swedish people fought against other nations and how they won many battles. This song was released in 2008 and is one of the band’s most popular songs.
19. “Thousand Years of Oppression” by Amon Amarth
The next song is about Vikings is “Thousand Years of Oppression” by Amon Amarth. This song is about how the Viking people have been oppressed for centuries, and it talks about how they will never give up or stop fighting. It was released in 2002 for the album Versus the World.
20. “Heathens From the North” by Heavy Load
Finishing off the list of songs about Vikings is “Heathens From the North” by Heavy Load. This song talks about how the Viking people are heathens and how they come from the north. It was released in 1981 for the album Metal Conquest. This can be streamed on all music platforms.
Final Thoughts
There you have it! A list of songs about Vikings for your listening pleasure. These songs cover a range of topics, from the oppression of the Viking people to their heathen ways. No matter what you’re looking for, there’s sure to be a song on this list that you’ll enjoy. Thanks for reading!