Skálmöld - Ýdalir

Angry Metal Guy 70

For all the Viking metal I’ve consumed, Skálmöld is one such outfit I’ve yet to cross paths with. But seeing as how our baby-faced El Cuervo has been treating them in the Thunderdome, I wasn’t surprised to see their new record sitting dormant in the promo bin. I took the bait because I have nothing better to do with my life. After doing some exploration, I do not disagree with The Tequila‘s stance on Með vættum and Vögguvísur Yggdrasils. Though, more and more, I do feel that our cranky Brit doesn’t know how to have fun. Though Skálmöld does possess a weirdness with their hundred-guitar lineup and varying vocal styles, they combine the storytelling of Týr with the savagery of Fintroll. The result is some rather adventurous music with flailing riff changes, mead-swigging layers, and unexpected transitions from barks, rasps, and cleans. As one would expect, sometimes all this sorcery falls flat or straight-up doesn’t work. And after engaging with 2019’s Sorgir, I fear the band might be stuck in a well with great performances but incohesive songwriting and flow. Once I find the link to this fucking stream, I’ll let you know how Ýdalir fares.

What stands out the most on the first listen is the production. The vocals are farther up front in the mix and noticeably more vicious than in previous outings. Or maybe it’s just the stream. Regardless, it adds real heft to songs like the back-to-back “Ýdalir” and “Urður.” The title track, in particular, is a bark-filled crusher that still balances the stomping drive and folky, melodic elements. It’s a building piece that doesn’t disappoint as the layers pile on one another for an epic conclusion. “Urður,” on the other hand, is a death charge complete with venomous shrieks that eventually get suplexed by the Vader-esque growls. But, for all its umph, the main lick is awkward. Though the concrete-splitting, mid-paced transition saves it while the vocals work harder to drown everything and everyone out.

Ydalir by Skálmöld

For all the aggression that starts the album, the approach evolves in the middle of the album with “Verðandi” and “Veðurfölnir.” These two tracks are the most fun you’ll have all day. The first is an upbeat folk number with loads of key work and Korpiklaani-like guitar play. The best part comes when the song quiets and introduces a reverberating guitar lick that eventually explodes into an addictive groove. Then, all the various vocal styles take their turn to send it soaring. “Veðurfölnir” is a kickass number that uses an Amon Amarthy melodeath approach to hook you in. But the moment you think nothing more can come of this song, it cracks apart and transforms into a slick old-school Metallica lick that nearly snapped my neck. It’s a surprising direction for the band and a stellar song.

As you can probably gather, Ýdalir appears to be organized in pairs. A pair of gnarly assaults, a couple of fun numbers, and now two epic pieces. “Níðhöggur” and closer, “Ullur,” are just such pieces. “Níðhöggur” combines powerful Viking chants and organs with a mighty groove. It’s a wild ride of aggression and emotion that climbs and falls for five minutes. When you settle into the distorted guitars, it gives way to gorgeous passages. Only to rip those from you and beat your ass like a middle school teacher. The closer, though, is far more linear. This eleven-minute journey has one job, and that’s to spill its seed. Coated in melodic keys and Viking choirs, the song proceeds through a prairie before transitioning to a soft, pleasing stream. Then, the climb begins. Engaging in a soft guitar lead and beautiful cleans, these repetitious elements slowly thicken with distortion, keys, orchestration, and backing chants. Rarely can I stand to hear the same lyrics repeated this long, but there’s no other option. Without it, you’ll never find something so memorable and satisfying on Ýdalir.

Overall, I’m quite pleased with this new album. While the most recent ones were all over the place and less cohesive, Ýdalir has a good flow from song to song. It also develops as it goes, starting with the heavy shit and cruising into the more melodic and epic. You’d obviously want to craft an album this way, especially for the genre. But previous records went with moar is moar on a per-song basis. With Ýdalir, something clicked, and not only does it feel effortless, but you can also tell the band is having fun. This new effort is a grower. So, if you’re into this style, give it time. If you do, you’ll find all the nooks and crannies.

Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: Pissing Stream | Format Reviewed: Streaming Piss
Label: Napalm Records
Websites: skalmold.bandcamp.com | skalmold.is | facebook.com/skalmold
Releases Worldwide: August 18th, 2023

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