Skálmöld:
Sorgir
Release date: 12th of October 2018
Label: Napalm Records
Release date: 12th of October 2018
Label: Napalm Records
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Since the
birth of Icelandic viking/folk metal band Skálmöld in 2009, the band is now
releasing their fifth studio album Sorgir
(‘Sorrows’). ‘Skálmöld’ is an
Icelandic word translated to “Age of Sword” which greatly represents their
music as well. The album consists of eight well-produced tracks with a total of a
little more than 54 minutes. Bassist and lyricist Snæbjörn Ragnarsson has
explained in a video that the album is divided in two parts. The first part is
called Sagnir (‘Tales’ or ‘Stories’)
and contains the first four songs and tells the main story, and the second part
is called Svipir (‘Ghosts’) and
contains the last four songs, filling in the missing gaps in the stories. It is
four stories told twice, one from the perspective of humans, and the other from
the perspective of ghosts. He calls it a an ugly, cold and vicious record
compared to the previous album, which is also illustrated in the cover art by
Icelandic artist Kristjan Lyngmo.
The album opens with the semi-progressive song Ljósið which has a fresh touch and works well as an opening track and is also one of the heavier songs on the album. My first thought was that if the album continues in this path, it can only turn out to be a well-made folk metal album! The next song Sverðið, which also was the first single from the album, has this slower, classic boat-rocking melody, typically used by many folk metal bands. Not much to be said, this works every time and has a catchy rhythm, and you cannot help swaying your head to this melody. The song is about an epic tale of a brave Viking fighting in a battle and then winning against all odds. But his sword then breaks in half and he gets killed.
The album opens with the semi-progressive song Ljósið which has a fresh touch and works well as an opening track and is also one of the heavier songs on the album. My first thought was that if the album continues in this path, it can only turn out to be a well-made folk metal album! The next song Sverðið, which also was the first single from the album, has this slower, classic boat-rocking melody, typically used by many folk metal bands. Not much to be said, this works every time and has a catchy rhythm, and you cannot help swaying your head to this melody. The song is about an epic tale of a brave Viking fighting in a battle and then winning against all odds. But his sword then breaks in half and he gets killed.
Brúnin, Gangári and Skotta are
songs in the heavy and fast scale of the album, the latter even with a guitar
solo and then another guitar part sounding like something taken from a power
metal song which to my ears is a bit out of place. Móri is the second single from the album, a song about forbidden
love, where a man slays the women he loves in a moment of madness to save his
own life. A sad song indeed, and this is also felt in the intro which is sombre
and fraught with a touch of melancholy. Funny enough, the song brightens, and
the chorus is sung by an uplifting male choir. Halfway into the song it is also
divided by an acoustic part with a light female voice singing, followed by a
heavy breakdown – possibly representing the killing of the woman. This track is one of my favourites on the album, if not the favourite, as it contains a lot of
different elements put well together. I believe and hope the band will play
this song live in the future as well, as I believe the song would create some
thrill and excitement among the crowd.
Mara is the longest track of the album with its 8 minutes and 20 seconds. It is a great choice for finishing the album. Is has both slower parts in the first part, and then escalates towards the end, finishing off with a classic fading of the tones.
A classic Skálmöld feature is the male choir chorus, which is also present on this album, and has a resemblance of something great or victorious. Skálmöld as a folk metal band has got a significant sound and vocal not really found anywhere else in this genre. It is obvious where the band is rooted and sometimes it feels like their Icelandic ancestors are singing directly through the music. I have never been to Iceland, but I can sense how Skálmöld’s music reflects and represents the feeling and spirit of Iceland. As usual, Skálmöld keeps loyal to their native tongue and do the vocals in Icelandic. I do not speak a read the language – but it sounds awesome!
Mara is the longest track of the album with its 8 minutes and 20 seconds. It is a great choice for finishing the album. Is has both slower parts in the first part, and then escalates towards the end, finishing off with a classic fading of the tones.
A classic Skálmöld feature is the male choir chorus, which is also present on this album, and has a resemblance of something great or victorious. Skálmöld as a folk metal band has got a significant sound and vocal not really found anywhere else in this genre. It is obvious where the band is rooted and sometimes it feels like their Icelandic ancestors are singing directly through the music. I have never been to Iceland, but I can sense how Skálmöld’s music reflects and represents the feeling and spirit of Iceland. As usual, Skálmöld keeps loyal to their native tongue and do the vocals in Icelandic. I do not speak a read the language – but it sounds awesome!
Sorgir is a genuine good album; Skálmöld sticks to
their tones and but has incorporated new elements, and it works as it should.
It is a solid album that I will definitely point out as a good folk metal
release in 10 year’s time as well.
Sorgir receives🌋🌋🌋🌋🌋
out of 6
out of 6
1. Ljósið (‘The Light’)
2. Sverðið (‘The Sword’)
3. Brúnin (‘The Edge’)
4. Barnið (‘The Child’)
5. Skotta (Possibly a kind of ghost which is to be found among fairies, which people believe to exist in the Icelandic nature)
6. Gangári (‘Gangári’ is a certain type of ghost. Gang means ‘to walk’ and ári is like a creature)
7. Móri (‘Móri’ derives from a native story about a man who pursued peasants, destroyed their food and killed their livestock. It is said that the man wore a ‘móraud’ coat, therefore the word ‘móri’)
8. Mara (‘Mara’ is a creature which attacks sleeping people. If you are having nightmares, you are filled with möru)
2. Sverðið (‘The Sword’)
3. Brúnin (‘The Edge’)
4. Barnið (‘The Child’)
5. Skotta (Possibly a kind of ghost which is to be found among fairies, which people believe to exist in the Icelandic nature)
6. Gangári (‘Gangári’ is a certain type of ghost. Gang means ‘to walk’ and ári is like a creature)
7. Móri (‘Móri’ derives from a native story about a man who pursued peasants, destroyed their food and killed their livestock. It is said that the man wore a ‘móraud’ coat, therefore the word ‘móri’)
8. Mara (‘Mara’ is a creature which attacks sleeping people. If you are having nightmares, you are filled with möru)
Buy the
album and merchandise here: https://skalmold.is/shop/Home /
https://shop.napalmrecords.com/skalmold.html
Official
Skálmöld site: https://skalmold.is/
Official
Skálmöld Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skalmold/
Listen to
the new album here: https://open.spotify.com/album/74OwyyAZV6DyBjpK85yVId?si=u5EsiGHJSSOMrt1TZfZIkA
Kristjan Lyngmo: http://www.kristjanlyngmo.com/ / https://www.facebook.com/kristjanlyngmoart/?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARD8Uc58rNHtI92gGnKOlHxGwxNdfxEHQ8WYStOY3KUYLzEVleyyHsCF4X2nZDhDWzoZNdPyEAPJCwYB&fref=mentions / https://www.instagram.com/kristjanlyngmoart/
Kristjan Lyngmo: http://www.kristjanlyngmo.com/ / https://www.facebook.com/kristjanlyngmoart/?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARD8Uc58rNHtI92gGnKOlHxGwxNdfxEHQ8WYStOY3KUYLzEVleyyHsCF4X2nZDhDWzoZNdPyEAPJCwYB&fref=mentions / https://www.instagram.com/kristjanlyngmoart/
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