Oakenshield

Oakenshield is a UK folk metal and viking metal group active since 2007. The project begins in 2004, when Ben Corkhill writes music under the name Nifelhel and releases two self-produced CDs. In 2007, the project changes name and adopts a new approach to songwriting, developing into Oakenshield.

History

After the name change, Oakenshield circulates a demo for the material that becomes its debut album across Europe and online. In July 2007, the group signs to German label Einheit Produktionen. Its first album, Gylfaginning, is released in 2008 and receives strong critical response. A second album, Legacy, follows in 2012 after three years of development.

Style

The band works within folk metal and viking metal, and its sound also draws on black metal, doom metal, folk-rock and traditional music. This broader mix gives the project a darker approach to the genre than a straightforward folk metal style.