Skald - Vitterland
Unexploded Records

file under black/pagan metal

Vera: Two Swedish friends, Henrik Kindvall and David Wiktorsson, decided in 2005 to start making folk music together. Initially their purpose was creating acoustic music, but soon they agreed that their lyrics fit better with a heavier approach of music. That is how their plan came into being of fusing folk with metal. Two demos and an EP were released earlier, but now they finally come up with their first full length album 'Vitterland', completely sung in Swedish language.

They always took the time before releasing something, so that 'Vitterland' happens to be the best work they could come up with at the moment. For instance, programmed drums from the past are replaced by a drummer of flesh and blood: Daniel Gadd is the name. At first, Skald was very influenced by Oryg, the former acoustic project of Vintersorg and Mattias Marklund, but I cannot hear much of that influence anymore on 'Vitterland'.

Besides an undisputable authenticity – invigorated by the use of Swedish language and a proper sound of their own – 'Vitterland' is a kind of disappointment. That is mainly due to the monotonous vocals of Henrik Kindvall. From 'Jordegryning (Världsalltets Konstnär)' and 'En Höstlig Storm' on, it is obvious that those vocals are very storytelling. Quite logical when talking about folk music, since it mostly deals with traditional transmitted stories, but nevertheless it soon gets boring here. It seems as if they read from a book with rough bard's voice in every song. Since I do not understand Swedish, it comes over as endless jabbering. 'Häxhammaren' and 'Uti Helvetessalen' are a bit better, because they insert beautiful, slow guitar notes and thrifty orchestral arrangements, but when lyrics join in again, it makes not much difference. Guitar melodies are quite nice (nothing more, nothing less) and melodic, but unfortunately nagging vocals throw a spanner in the works. Once in a while they are a bit heavier. In 'Häxhammeren' and especially in the latest track, one can hear any black metal influences. Thus 'Ett Sista Farväl (Jordeskymning)' has more variegation, although they end up with a strange acoustic part that does not fit. Even if they turned to Tore Stjema (Watain) for the mastering this time, a long way has to be done. Bands like Otyg or Fejd are way much better in this approach.

Rating 60/100

ORIGINAL LINK HERE