10 Medieval Rock Bands You Should Listen To
This is an article comprising 10 rock bands with medieval-sounding songs, ranging from the sub-genres of progressive rock to folk rock and hard rock, all of them, at the same time, being unified under the ‘blanket sub-genre’ of classic rock, if you will. From the very beginning, I would like to underline the fact that this article includes a list (and, as such, is not a top) of 10 illustrative rock bands which, in some form or another (either conceptually or instrumentally, or both; and here, by conceptually, I primarily mean lyrically) depict the Middle Ages in their music. At the same time, the following list is also similar to one of my previously published articles, namely 10 Illustrative Classic Rock Songs About The Middle Ages from 2017. Additionally, if you are more interested, two other previously published related articles of mine here on The Dockyards are One Genre To Rule Them All – Classic Rock And J. R. R. Tolkien (from 2018) and Led Zeppelin’s Welsh, English, And Norse Influences (also from 2018).
Now, to get back to this article, for the purpose of this list I decided to include several notable songs from the discographies of the following rock bands mainly based on personal preference (or, simply put, just personal taste) but also taking into consideration other criteria such as their popularity (in some cases, at least), the overall musicianship behind them as well as the quality, relevance, and importance of the medieval theme(s) depicted in the respective songs. The order of the bands in the list is purely inspirational (or, shall I better put it, I enlisted the bands in the best possible order in which I recalled them from my very own memory). Last but not least, a short description or biography of each band is also included in the list below. Therefore, I truly hope you will like reading this article and find it interesting!
Image source: www.pixabay.com
1. Focus
Focus is one of the finest Dutch rock bands ever. Formed in Amsterdam in 1969 and revolving around flautist, lead vocalist, and keyboardist Thijs van Leer and guitarist Jan Akkerman, the Dutch group was initially active until 1978 and released 6 studio albums throughout this period of time. They briefly re-united in 1990 and were active once more between 1997 and 1999. Since 2002, they started performing again and have been musically active thus far. They are best known for their hits ‘Hocus Pocus’ as well as ‘House of the King’ (which was later used as the theme song for the British sitcom series Saxondale).
2. Pentangle
Pentangle is a true classic on the British folk rock music scene of the 1960s. They have a long-standing career spanning several decades of musical activity, being initially active between 1967 and 1973 and then once more since 1981 onwards. Co-fronted by two very gifted musicians, more specifically legendary guitarist Bert Jansch and singer Jacqui McShee, the band made quite a name for themselves back during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Below you can listen to Hunting Song via YouTube:
3. Swordedge
Swordedge is a lesser known folk rock band from England which only released one eponymous studio album back in 1980. Nonetheless, their only self-titled studio album managed to include several folk ballads worth listening, among which, most notably, are Rosemary Lane, No Pain, Squire Of Hainborough, or The Shearing’s Not For You.
You can listen to Rosemary Lane via YouTube below:
4. Folkal Point
Folkal Point were a Bristol-based English folk and folk rock band formed in 1971 which was musically active during the 1970s. A group of teenagers as they were back then, these highly talented English lads released a bittersweet masterpiece bearing the same name as their band back in 1972. While listening to the album, the listener can be delighted by the well known English ballads Lovely Joan and Scarborough Fair or the Joan Baez cover Sweet Sir Galahad.
5. Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were one of the best rock bands of the 1970s and also one of the most popular ones. Their noteworthy musical legacy lives on to this day. being cherished by newer and younger generations of fans. While their music was not entirely inspired by the Middle Ages, certain songs were, being in particular influenced by the Norse (Vikings), the Viking Age, and the Norse mythology. In these respects, Immigrant Song (from Led Zeppelin III released in 1970) and No Quarter (from Houses of the Holy released in 1973) are two illustrative musical examples from their discography (at the same time, their influences also included J. R. R. Tolkien’s legendarium).
The land of ice and snow in the lyrics of this song was actually Iceland (based on the band’s real life touring experience):
6. Jethro Tull
Progressive rock legends Jethro Tull, fronted by singer-songwriter and flautist Ian Anderson, were also influenced by the Norse (Vikings), the Viking Age, and the Norse mythology throughout their heyday during the 1970s. One such prominent example from their discography is Cold Wind To Valhalla from their 1975 studio album Minstrel in the Gallery. Another important song while we are at it is the very title song of the album.
7. Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant were one of the most prominent British progressive rock bands of the 1970s. Gentle Giant’s music was quite complex even by the elevated standards of progressive rock music of their time, being influenced by of folk, soul, jazz, and classical music (more specifically baroque, modernist, and chamber music), all these genres of music adding considerable value to their intricate musical mixture. They were also significantly influenced by medieval music. Not only was the medieval influence noticeable in their music, but also on the frontal cover artwork of their sixth studio album entitled The Power and the Glory which was released in 1974 (the frontal cover artwork of the respective studio album depicts a king on a playing card).
8. Rainbow
Rainbow was one of the most notable classic rock and hard rock bands of the 1970s. Formed in 1975 after Ritchie Blackmore’s first departure from Deep Purple (due to creative differences), the medieval influences on their music are prevalent on the studio albums Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow (1975), Rising (1976), and Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll (1978). The touching and imposing vocal contributions of Ronnie James Dio on the following songs from Rainbow’s discography have left an indelible positive impact on the history of classic rock music, a beautiful musical legacy which has been enduring for decades to the present day (and, I am convinced, well beyond in the future as well):
9. Deep Purple
Deep Purple were British classic rock legends in a league of their own back in the 1970s and 1980s. Just as in the case of Led Zeppelin, while their music was not entirely inspired by the Middle Ages, their early discography bears an important reference to the Book of Taliesin (this also being the title of their second studio album which was released back in 1968, although slightly modified as The Book of Taliesyn), a 14th century Welsh poetic manuscript. The first track/song from this studio album entitled Listen, Learn, Read On names the Book of Taliesin in its lyrics.
10. Ougenweide
Ougenweide were a German progressive rock band from Hamburg, northern Germany, initially active between 1970 and and 1985, and then once more between 1996 and 1998, briefly in 2004, and last time between 2006 and 2011. The band’s name stems from the term ougenweide from Middle High German, meaning feast for the eyes. Their second studio album, All die weil ich mag (released in 1974), was inspired by the Merseburg incantations written in Old High German.
Special mention: Celelalte Cuvinte from Romania
Celelalte Cuvinte is one of the most enduring Romanian rock bands, active since December 1981 onwards. With origins from Oradea but formed in Timișoara (a very important city in the contemporary history of Romania, where the Romanian Revolution started in December 1989), Celelalte Cuvinte have an almost unchanged line-up since December 1981. They released 8 studio albums so far. Their overall sound also incorporates influences from medieval music and the lyrics of some of their songs describe legendary medieval themes. Two of their most illustrative songs in the context of historical themes are ‘Comoara’ (i.e., The Treasure) and ‘Zmeie’ (i.e., Kites) which you can listen via YouTube below.
Special mention: Emerson, Lake & Powell
Emerson, Lake & Powell was a short-lived English progressive rock trio which was active from 1985 to 1986. They released only self-titled studio album in 1986 which included the hit single Touch and Go. The keyboard part of the song is inspired by the English traditional ballad Lovely Joan. Below you can listen to a remastered version of the song via YouTube:
