  waylander is a northern irish folk metal band influential in the realms of celtic metal. formed in 1993, the band blends traditional irish folk with 1990s heavy metal. ==biography== formed in 1993, waylander released their debut demo, once upon an era, in early 1995, mixing irish folk music with extreme metal. waylander were soon dubbed folk, celtic and pagan metal. in 1996, with the addition of a full-time tin whistle player, waylander released their second demo, dawning of a new age, which soon gained the band a prominent position in the folk metal scene. this was cemented when waylander signed to century media records, and in 1998 their debut album was released, entitled reawakening pride once lost. a handful of gigs were undertaken to promote this album but label problems and internal strife blunted the potential somewhat. after overcoming some line-up changes, waylander signed with blackend records and released their the light, the dark and the endless knot album in early 2001. again internal strife reared up, culminating in numerous line-up changes for several years. despite this waylander managed to perform some notable gigs, including the bloodstock and day of darkness festivals, as well as gigs with ancient rites, cathedral, sabbat and skyforger. in 2005, joining original members ardchieftain o' hagan, michael proctor, and den ferran were saul mcmichae
Black_metal_musical_groups Celtic_metal_musical_groups Folk_metal_musical_groups Heavy_metal_musical_groups_from_Northern_Ireland Musical_groups_established_in_1993 Musical_sextets