The Pagan Music List 31
The PAGAN MUSIC LIST is an attempt to create a comprehensive list of Pagan, Heathen, Esoteric, Animist, and related music that we listen to and love. We include embedded YouTube, Soundcloud, or Bandcamp links when possible for each artist.
Previous collections in this series have been archived here, and new collections of reviews will be posted monthly (supporters get early access to new collections—find out more here).
We also provide a constantly updated index of artists that we have reviewed by name and genre.
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Collection 31
The HU, SYR, Eliwagar
The HU
Metal (Mongolian)
Website: https://www.thehuofficial.com
Recommended Album: The Gereg
The HU is a Pagan metal band from Mongolia, propelled to international fame in 2019 through several American media references, including the otherwise quite milquetoast National Public Radio. Soon thereafter, viral clips of their performances spread through social media feeds, leading them to sell out large venues in Europe, the United States, and elsewhere.
Without sounding too “hipster” about them, much of their early success was at least partially a product of their apparent “exotic” sound versus mainstream music. Throat singing, for example, isn’t much heard on popular radio, though of course it’s very well known to those already familiar with Hungarian, Eastern-Slavic, and other regional traditions.
Despite the commercial orientalist dynamics, The HU (their name means “human” in Mongolian) are regardless quite an interesting band. I’ve chosen two of their less metal songs, which are most approachable. The first is “The Legend of Mother Swan,” a Mongolian tale about a swan who sacrifices herself for her late-born offspring as winter sets in.
Quite recent is their anthem, “Mother Nature,” helpfully release with an English lyric translation video:
SYR
Folk/Traditional (Celtic—American)
Website: https://syrmusic.com/
Recommended Album: Winter King
For very good reasons, it’s easy to dismiss American “Celtic” bands. Syr, on the other hand, is serious enough that you can quite quickly forget they are American at all. Especially with the depth of their lyrics and the quality of their musicianship, they’re worth giving your attention to.
From their album Winter King, the song “Diarmuid” is very beautiful and quite relevant for anyone who’s read Melinda Reidinger’s The White Deer, as the tale which the song evokes involves a “Loathly Lady.”
Their second album, Sentinel, sometimes shows a bit much of their actual home of South Carolina, meaning they get a bit “country.” Still, listeners who enjoy that genre would enjoy the album, especially the song “Tir n”Aill.”
Eliwagar
Nordic traditional/folk
Website: https://eliwagar.bandcamp.com/album/eliwagar
Recommended Album: I Vølven's Vev
Eliwagar is one of the earlier projects of the fantastic and haunting musician and seidr practioner, Runahild, who has been featured in several previous editions of this list and also an interview.
According to a former website, Eliwagar is now a finished project. This feels a bit sad, since many of the songs — despite some less than perfect production quality — are very, very good. In fact, some of them even have more listens on Spotify than most other pagan bands.
One quite beautiful song is “Alver og Disir”:
And from the album which I think is absolutely close to perfect and very, very recommended, I Vølven's Vev , here’s her song “Urdarbrunn:”