Graveland

Graveland is a Viking metal band from Wroclaw, Poland which was formed in 1992 by Rob Darken (Robert Fudali). Darken, who started Graveland as a solo project, was inspired by early black metal such as Bathory, Venom and Burzum's early works; but starting with "Thousand Swords", the band took on a powerful folk influence. As a result, later Graveland has sometimes been described as Viking metal or Pagan metal.

Darken, who started Graveland as a solo project, was inspired by early black metal such as Bathory, Venom and Burzum's early works; but starting with "Thousand Swords", the band took on a powerful folk influence. As a result, later Graveland has sometimes been described as Viking metal or Pagan metal.

Early Graveland lyrics were thematically connected to celtic pagan beliefs and were heavily anti-Christian, though with Graveland's development into an epic style, the lyrics have also thematically developed over time to glorify Slavinism; then more recently, to glorifying Wotanism.