Folk Metal!

When the stage-light dims, warm sounds of hurdy-gurdy and bagpipes invite to soulful ballads and energetic hymns, and let everyday life fade into a distant memory.
Crashing riffs, aggressive growls and clear female vocals blend uniquely with ancient instruments. This defines Ascéal.

Lend your ear to the storytellers and accompany them through Viking sagas, moving legends and stories of old!

Concerts

Upcoming

Videos

Biography

Founded in 2018, the band Ascéal has completed its line-up and played their first concerts in 2019.

With their first released single “Drink Whisky” in 2021, they managed to secure concerts on renowned stages, like the Metbar Lenzburg and Werkk Baden.

To kick of the concert season in 2023, the band released their first EP “Untold Stories” with five new songs. Touring together with “Calarook” throughout the summer, they honed their live performance to aim for festivals in 2024. Unfortunately the departure of their drummer at the end of 2023 forced them to take a break from live performances. While searching for a new member they recorded their second EP which is due to be released in early 2025. Now with a new drummer, they are ready to hit the stage again and bring their stories to life.

The name “Ascéal” is derived from the old Irish word for “story”. This is reflected in the EP  Untold Stories, which draws inspiration from folklore, mythology and historical events. Influenced by norse mythology, the songs Trial and Valkyrie tell the story of hardships faced on overcome by warriors of old. Wild Hunt alludes to ancient folklore of a ghostly procession of the dead, while Wildfire recounts the force the common man can bring to bare against tyranny by the elite. However, not all the songs linger on dark and forgotten times, as  Drink Whisky is a celebration of a fine drink with a light hearted message, that environmental protection is important.

The band is looking forward to sharing more stories about fictional heroes, intrigue and heartfelt goodbyes in your venue or festival. On stage, lead singer Melissa mesmerizes with classical vocals, when unexpectedly bassist Michael cuts through the mix with punchy growls. Celtic instrumentalists Imre
and Nathan expand on the theme with melodies and harmonies reminiscent of the story. Guitarist Simon’s riffs bring the drive or heaviness the story calls for and through it all, Drummer Dominik ties the different parts and influences together into a cohesive song. The result is a unique blend of melodic folk music with decidedly heavy metal influences.