 In his thesis paper " ' <unk> Pride Once Lost ' : <unk> and European Folk Metal " , Aaron Patrick Mulvany says that while much of the thematic history of heavy metal uses parodies of the occult in an incongruous fashion , Viking metal bands use " a very specific mythology which controls not only textual choices , but also the imagery used on albums and frequently the kind of music composed . " Deena Weinstein comments that despite a whole pantheon of Norse gods to choose from , Viking metal bands typically focus on Odin , the god of war , and Thor , " whose hammer , ' the hammer of the gods ' , defended the Pagans against the Christians . " Alcohol , particularly mead , is also a common lyrical <unk> von Helden identifies two main trajectories that Viking metal bands take toward their subject matter . The first trajectory is one of romanticism and escapist ideas , where bands cultivate an image of strength and barbarism and quote passages from various poems and sagas . The second trajectory emphasizes historical accuracy , typically relying on Norse mythology as the sole focus of lyricism and identity . Trafford and Pluskowski find that many Viking metal bands identify first with local roots — for instance , Moonsorrow with Finland or Einherjer with Norway — and perhaps a northern European identity second . 
