Northern Oak

Northern Oak

Northern Oak is a folk metal group from Sheffield, England, active since 2006. The band forms around progressive and medieval-influenced folk metal, with a flute-heavy sound that combines metal riffing, keyboards, guitar and layered vocals.

History and releases

The group forms in early 2006 after a trip to the Peak District. It builds a live reputation through gigs in Sheffield and elsewhere in the UK, including festival appearances in Edinburgh, London and Nottingham. Its debut album, Tales From Rivelin, appears in 2008 and attracts positive reviews. A second full-length album, Monuments, follows as a darker and more complex release than its predecessor.

Musical style and themes

Northern Oak’s music blends rock-solid grooves and heavy double-kick drumming with detailed harmonies for guitar, flute and keyboards. Its sound is described as moving from calm, spacious passages into harsher, more jagged sections. The vocals range from whispered and spoken lines to screams and roars, depending on the song.

The band’s lyrics often focus on nature and its landscape imagery. On Monuments, the songs form part of a concept centred on the final writings of a Victorian scholar on his death-bed, with individual tracks addressing episodes from his life or retelling historical, mythological and natural stories. Examples include “In These Hills”, which deals with grief after a wife’s death, and “Gawain”, which retells the story of Gawain and the Green Knight.

Live work and lineup

Northern Oak is noted for energetic, powerful and theatrical live performances, and its members continue to tour and play live as part of its ongoing activity.

Christopher Mole is listed among the members, alongside Elliot Sinclair on keyboards and piano, Catie Williams on flutes and recorders, Martin Collins on vocals, Richard Allan on bass, and Paul Whibberley on drums.