Skyforger Ignites Riga: Pagan Fury and Folk Fire
There are shows, and then there are rituals—and on May 3rd, 2025, Skyforger delivered the latter in full force at Arēna Rīga, as part of their long-awaited “Teikas” concert show. With support from Swedish doom legends Ereb Altor and Latvian folk metallers Skandinieki, this wasn’t just a gig. It was a full-blown cultural and sonic uprising, steeped in blood, folklore, and fire.
From the moment the lights dimmed at 19:00, the crowd, an eager mix of old-school fans, battle-jacketed maniacs, and face-painted newcomers, was locked in. And when the band finally erupted on stage with “Intro – Mālpils purvs,” followed by the explosive “Dieva Suns” (lit with CO2 and pyrotechnics), it was clear: Riga was in for a war dance.
Skyforger doesn’t do things by halves. The stage production was highly impressing. Towering screens rolled behind them, casting shadowy historical imagery, misty forests, battlefields, and pagan symbology—turning each track into a short film. These visuals didn’t distract; they deepened the narrative of the songs, giving a haunting backdrop to tales of Baltic legends, gods, and warriors. You could feel the weight of centuries behind each scream, each beat.
As “Spīgana” lit up with more pyro and “Mājas Kungs” dropped the tempo into a folk-laced groove, the mosh pit opened up like a chasm—a ritual circle where boots thudded and fists flew in sync with the blast beats. For a band deeply rooted in tradition, Skyforger still rips with more intensity than bands half their age.
Mid-set, the band paid tribute to ancient Latvian roots with acoustic moments like “Zvaigznāja kara zirgi” and the mystical “Kokles solo,” drawing a hush over the arena before detonating into “Kauja pie Saules. 1236,” a war anthem that’s practically Latvia’s second national anthem at this point. Watching 10,000 fists punch the air to the chant was nothing short of spiritual.
But the encore sealed it.
After a brief breath, the band returned with “Akmenī iekaltās zīmes,” “Lec, eglīte” (with the folks from Skandinieki returning), and “Migla rasa,” a melancholy epic that rang through the arena like a funeral hymn for forgotten warriors. The final blow, “Outro – Saulriets pār svēto mežu,” saw the screen fade to twilight and smoke swirl like ghosts above the pit. A solemn, beautiful end to an otherwise ferocious night.
The arena sound was thunderous, yet clear—every chanted lyric and tremolo riff cut through the mix with surgical precision. The pit energy was nonstop, with fans lifting each other mid-chaos, and even a few older metalheads joining the fray when “Vecie latvieši” exploded halfway through the set.
Technically, this show was a benchmark for Eastern European metal. Visually, it was theatre. Sonically, it was punishment. And emotionally? It was a celebration of heritage through heaviness.
Be sure to support Skyforger, buy the new album and get yourself some merch!
Written by: Chort the Crop Infestor
“Hi, I’m Chort I infest crops and listen to Black Metal!”
