| CD REVIEW Skálmöld |
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Band : Skálmöld No annoying volcano from Iceland this time. What we do get is a brand new viking metal band from the depths of icy Iceland, called Skálmöld. Don't even ask me to try to pronounce this. What's a fact is, that, with Skálmöld, a new powerful viking/folk metal band is born. With their debut album, entitled Baldur (which is way easier to pronounce if you ask me) they might have just gained their place amongst this vastly occupied and 'used' genre in metal music. It's undeniable that it's hard to be creative as a folk metal band nowadays. There are just so many of these bands that appeared at the same time and the 'traditional', 'special' instruments have been reintroduced time after time, band after band, album after album. However, on Baldur, we also get to hear some up tempo, happy parts that perfectly introduce some welcome variation in the viking metal genre. Thumbs up Skálmöld, for this was exactly what we needed. Just listen to songs such as Sorg, Draumur and Hefnd. You can give it a try to sing along with these incomprehensible lyrics, but just the melodies make it worth the listen. When it comes to the grunts of vocalist Árni Baldvinsson, I have no remarks at all. He's convincing enough to make Baldur an outstanding and delightful album. 80/100 Tim |