Now the conjuncture of the soccer world cup gives us a meeting between Sweden and England that is very promising, since they are two of the greatest exponents of European football. England is credited with inventing football, one of the most practiced sports in the world. For its part, Sweden has historically been the cradle of great footballers such as Patrick Anderson, Henrik Larsson and lately Zlatan Ibrahimović.
But beyond football, these two countries have a vast history that makes them represent their culture with great honor. In ancient times the Vikings invaded and plundered English territories. Although there is no clear record that the Vikings who inhabited the regions now known as Sweden have participated in such expeditions, it is a fact that ideological, social and, above all, religious disparity, was a determining factor in the relationship between both regions.
As always, music is not far behind, and in terms of metal these two countries provide many of the most outstanding bands in the genre. So now I bring you the most prominent bands from the Swedish and English scenes.
SWEDEN / / /
Sweden sees death metal and melodic death metal as the hallmark of the house. The vehemence in creating explosive metal is a characteristic that Swedish bands adopt. Viking roots are evident in Sweden's metal offering, one of the best in Europe; a real metal making machine.
Ghost
Metal in true King Diamond and Mercyful fate style. An iconic concept that some applaud and others criticize for being a "vile copy" of the mentioned bands.
The characterization of the members of the band in fantasy characters is their particular touch.
Arch Enemy
When melodic death metal is performed by a female guttural voice, it becomes a harmonious ritual of chaos. By the hand of Angela Gossow, Arch enemy has conquered the ears of a large number of metalheads. Although it must be admitted that Alissa White-Gluz has not done anything wrong.
HammerFall
Oscar Dronjak, creator of the Gothenburg band, is the current member who has managed to keep heavy metal present in HammerFall, which since 1993 has released 14 record materials.
Dark Tranquility
A group that has the melodic style as a hallmark of the house, although light but well integrated with the voice of Mikael Stanne. Unmissable in the collection of every fan of melodic death metal.
Hypocrisy
Producer and multi-instrumentalist Peter Tägtgren, one of the most dedicated metalheads, raffled off the creation of Hypocrisy, which maintains a concept with lyrics from aliens, UFOs, aliens, abductions, and a bit of Satanism. A heavy death metal that sometimes becomes melodic combining various types of guttural voices that is transformed into a unique concept.
Bathory
One of the bands that drove the creation of black metal through an injection of intense Satanism and thrash. Quorthon took it upon himself to take Bathory to the metal Valhalla.
Dark Funeral
Demons inhabit Transylvania, the power of darkness is consecrated and the night beasts come out of hiding. Dark funeral has had six record productions since 1996, establishing itself as an indispensable band within the Swedish black metal trend.
Opeth
Exquisite progressive metal the one that practices Opeth. If yours is the technique and methodically well-structured songs with varied lyrics, yours is Opeth: iconic band that shows some interesting aspects of jazz.
Therion
The beast emerged in 1991 with raw and direct death metal, had a drastic turn in its music by immersing itself in gothic / symphonic metal with interesting opera choirs that are combined with guttural voices and high tones of heavy metal. Christofer Johnsson is the conductor of such an insatiable metal orchestra.
Dissection
Jon Nödtveidt se ganó el respeto en la escena del black metal con su banda Dissection. Su clásico álbum Storm of the Light’s Bane forma parte de las más selectas recopilaciones de black metal. Sin duda Dissection vino a darle un giro al género con un toque de death y voces guturales sin precedentes.
Amon Amarth
Viking stories cannot be better told by anyone other than Amon Amarth, a melodic death metal band who, with their 10 studio albums, confirm that their sympathy with the public is due to their unique Nordic style.
At the Gates
Sweden's specialty: melodic death metal, is championed by the classic band At the gates, which combines the melodic with powerful riffs that no metalhead who likes power in music does not dislike.
Saturday
It is characterized by its warlike lyrics, an aspect that attracts the public, in addition to the unbeatable style of its vocalist Joakim Brodén that can never be missed at metal festivals in Europe. Sabaton's power metal will make you review your world history classes with its letters that go fully into war battles.
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ENGLAND / / /
England has historically been the cradle of great rock groups such as Deep purple, Queen and the iconic The Beatles. But the musical deck expands with bands that offer a special badge that only the English can give.
Godflesh
A recalcitrant industrial metal that will reach the depths of your senses. With a different sound, Godflesh will keep you awake with its electric tracks and full of good guitars.
Iron maiden
A gang monument looms. Iron Maiden is one of the most important bands in the heavy metal industry. Bruce Dickinson, Steve Harris and company are the engine that makes this heavy metal machinery float.
Napalm Death
Interesting death metal that at times incorporates grindcore and even punk, it will blow your brains with the brutality emitted by its distorted guitars that perfectly combine with the voice of Mark Greenway.
Judas Priest
Another English icon. Rob Halford is the soul of this beloved heavy metal band that has enough cover letters. In force since 1974, it is a classic band that overflows metal everywhere.
Venom
Directly from England, another precursor to black metal arrives: Venom. The band that took Satan as their institutional emblem, taking all the power of their music to the limits that no one had ever done, through a dark and anti-Christian concept. Her iconic Black Metal album named the genre that has a lot of gangs as followers.
Lock up
Death metal from Birmingham to the world, may not be the most recognized band but it has a great sound that tears the brain. Not many bands do death metal like they do.
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath does not need much introduction, it is a monster of heavy metal. Tony Iommi became a legend to join the metal roundabout as true sensei. They will hardly take the throne away from Black Sabbath, although they have stated that Mastodon is a gang they like to overthrow.
Paradise lost
A bizarre combination of death and doom metal is what handles (and handles well) Paradise Lost. They have fifteen records and can boast of being a band that has endured since 1990 in a particularly difficult industry.
Cradle of Filth
Vampirism, Gothic culture and horror literature are the emblem of this black metal band that with its distinctive symphonic sound has positioned itself together with Dimmu Borgir as the most recognized bands of that style. Dani Filth masters her voice changes and her female voices fill her musical sphere with fantasy.
Motörhead
Lemmy Kilmister and her hat immortalized Motörhead, or Motörhead immortalized Lemmy Kilmister and her hat, I don't know. The truth is that there is no metalhead who does not know a single song by this band that is one of the most important and his legacy will last for a long time.
Carcass
Death metal is also one of the strengths of English metal, of course. For this we have Carcass, who masterfully demonstrate that England is not only football, they also know how to create good metal, aggressive and ruthless.
Saxon
Since 1976, Saxon has been creating and developing high quality heavy metal, establishing himself along with Iron Maiden as the leaders of the English heavy metal trend. Nothing more and nothing less than 22 discs support this very complete band led by Biff Byford on vocals.
Led Zeppelin
The ruby of English metal. Jimmy Page and Robert Plant endowed this band with wisdom, a virtue that only Led Zeppelin can possess. Blues and rock in 9 record productions that the guitar geniuses gave us with the unmistakable voice of Plant.
They left a legacy that few will be able to match, set a trend and served as influence and inspiration for later bands. A band that every rock and metal lover should know by general culture.
In football England is the favorite against Sweden to win the game with a tactically unforgiving team and the defined English style. Sweden always shows a tough attitude and has a motivated team. But, if we talk about metal, who would win?