What is your favorite genre of music?
If you know me, you know one of them is Heavy Metal. But not just any metal will do! I love any fantasy inspired music. I’ll share some of my favorite bands and songs here.
Now, you must understand, I do not listen to only metal. I listen to gaming soundtracks, Classical, and Celtic music. There is nothing better to take you away on a fantasy journey than a good fantasy inspired song. Here is a list of my top ten fantasy inspired songs. And yes, there will be metal!
Fair warning: David Arkenstone may be on this list multiple times. (I haven’t decided yet.)
Fair warning 2: Please understand I will mix fantasy and mythology. So, yeah there is that.
Number 10: The Shadow of Uther – Kamelot
Kamelot is a Power Metal band hailing from Tampa, Florida. The singer in this song is Roy Kahn, who has a powerful operatic voice. It’s a face-paced Arthurian legend song that makes you wanna pick up a sword!
Number 9: The Dragon Born Comes – by LEAH
LEAH is a Celtic/Metal artist hailing from Canada. She has a fantastic voice and makes amazing music, if you want to check out her music, so do here: Leahmusic.net
This is her version of the famous song from Skyrim.
Number 8: Emerald Sword – Rhapsody of Fire
European Power Metal at its finest here. The Italian band has soaring vocals and shredding guitars, and fantasy-based lyrics. Emerald Sword fits the bill. Here is a snippet of the chorus.
“For the king, for the land, for the mountains
For the green valley’s where dragons fly’
Kings, dragons, the land, mountains. How much more fantasy can you get?
Number 7: Mystery of the Forest – Thy Majestie
Another Power Metal outfit from Italy. Thy Majestie is one of the early bands I discovered once the 90’s ushered in grunge and I hated grunge and needed something to slake my desire for good music. This song has it all. Medieval music intro, guitar solo, fantasy lyrics. This song is long by rock standards coming in at nearly 7 minutes. I love it!
Number 6: Nightfall – Blind Guardian
A power metal band hailing from Germany and they define the genre! Hansi Kürsch’s vocals are powerful and the dual lead guitars make for some awesome fantasy-based songs. This one of course is from their Nightfall in Middle Earth album. Middle Earth, need I say more? This is a slower song, per se’, and it is excellent.
Number 5: The Grey Havens – David Arkenstone
This is more symphony type music, but it is inspired by Lord of the Rings and it is therefore on the list!
There are no words just music, it is beautiful.
Number 4: Totems of the Grizzlemaw – Derek Duke, Glenn Stafford, and Russell Bower
This is a track from World of Warcraft – Wrath of the Lich King. It doesn’t get any more fantasy than that. This song also has deep Celtic roots as you will hear. It takes you to a place inside yourself and makes you feel better.
Number 3: The Last Goodbye – Billy Boyd
This song comes to us from the Hobbit soundtrack. It was written and sung by one of the Hobbits from Lord of the Rings – Pippin.
“Over hill and under tree
Through lands where never light has shone
By silver streams that run down to the sea”
It’s wonderful and JRR Tolkien’s work is by far the best fantasy ever written.
Number 2: Realms of Baba Yaga – EdGuy
This song inspired my book, The Bloodstone Reckoning. It is more mythology than fantasy, and I told you that I’d do that. EdGuy is a power metal band from Germany and one of the reasons I like them so much is that they don’t take themselves too seriously. Check out the video for Robin Hood and you’ll see. Anyway, this song is based on the myth of Baba Yaga, the supernatural being in Slavic folklore.
The lyrics are great!
“You can’t wait to see what mortals they dare!”
Now we have reached that spot. My number one fantasy inspired song.
Number 1: The Dragon’s Breath – David Arkenstone
Now I am not sure what inspired David Arkenstone to write this song but for me, if you have watched 1980’s Excalibur, you know that The Dragon’s Breath is a spell that Merlin uses to help Uther sleep with Igraine and therefore beget Arthur. Now, that’s from the movie, and I have not read in any legend where it happened that way, only that Merlin disguised Uther, himself and another knight to enter the castle of the Duke of Cornwall. Anyway, I always associate this song with Arthurian legend because of the movie. But the title says it all. The Dragon’s Breath. This is the ringtone on my phone, so if I get a call, I get to hear my favorite song.
Well that’s it for me, good people. What is your favorite fantasy themed song? You do have one right? If not, hopefully now you do!
Fare thee well, traveler! Until next time.
Michael S Wigington
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