There is a lot of great nordic viking metal music out there. Many of these bands employ an epic sound mixed with expansive arrangements and wide open production techniques. Many may have been influenced to a degree by Bathory’s seminal album, Blood Fire Death.
Some bands that come to mind right away are Enslaved, Amon Amarth, Ancient Rites, and Borknagar. Of course, in reality viking metal is just an arbitrary label that we can use to distinguish between extreme metal bands. In the end though, the genres and classifications don’t matter a bit. Whether or not the music speaks to you is the bottom line.
Until next time, keep it heavy.