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Abstract
“Viking metal” is a genre infused with romantic ideology beckoning to the past via Norse mythology, folklore, folk elements, paganism and the Viking Age. Aficionados embrace and immerse themselves in Nordic ideology and culture out of fascination and respect. This paper seeks to highlight particular aspects of Viking metal music including a survey of the origins of Viking metal, its cultural roots and meanings, controversies surrounding the music, and musical elements (i.e. instrumentation and playing styles in Viking metal, followed by an investigation of the lyrics). Lastly, the thesis will deal with the expansion of the fanbase beyond Scandinavia, in particular amoung Latinx fans in the U.S., Mexico and other regions of Latin America.