Ardagast channels folk metal from Nitra since 2022. Named after the medieval Slavic chieftain, they bring early medieval Slavic heritage to folk-enriched metal from one of Slovakia's oldest cities.

Ardduc merges folk and pagan metal from Scotland since 2025, their Welsh name meaning "highness" or "sublime" adding Celtic linguistic depth. Their approach draws from the ancient traditions of Britain's Celtic nations.

Ardwynn is a folk metal band from Liège, Belgium, formed in 2014 and influenced by Amon Amarth, Eluveitie, and Korpiklaani. Their 2017 EP "Légendes de Héros Oubliés" features five tracks recorded at SAM in Liège and blends energetic folk instrumentation with heavy metal riffs.

Arhaizam blends progressive and groove metal with folk influences from eastern Serbia since 2026. Their name — 'archaism' in Serbian — brings ancient linguistic and cultural elements into a modern progressive metal framework.

Arillus is a black and folk metal project from Gross Stieten in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, originally founded as Forseti in 2007 before rebranding in 2013. The project's discography spans from the debut album Weltenwandel through Poesie to the 2013 album Nacht, released in a limited edition of fifty-one copies, with all music, lyrics, and photography created entirely by the band.

Arkanor creates melodic death and folk metal from an undisclosed Slovenian location since 2013. Their mystical name drives over a decade of compositions that blend folk tradition with melodic aggression.

Arkonian channels folk black metal from Gevgelija in southern North Macedonia since 1994, making them one of the oldest metal acts in the country with three decades of activity. Their name evokes ancient civilizations, and their geographic position near the Greek border infuses their folk elements with Balkan and Mediterranean character.

Arkveid blends atmospheric black, doom, and folk metal from Perm in the western Urals since 2014. Their genre-spanning approach draws from the deep forests and ancient traditions of the Kama River region.

Thessaloniki's Around the Fire craft a warm, earthy blend of doom, folk, and stoner metal that evokes communal gathering and ancient ritual. Since 2019, they've created music designed for shared experience, built on heavy grooves and folk-tinged melodies.