Baldur 2010

"Sung in Icelandic and incorporating elements from traditional Icelandic music, this has got to be as Viking as Viking metal gets.

The metal music base is a blend of traditional metal, speed metal and a bit of power metal and incorporates solid riffs akin to the typical riffage of all three metal subgenres, and both uptempo, midtempo and heavy paces, which generates a nice feel of variation. There are plenty of twin lead guitar and single lead guitar melodies, many of which are based on folksy melodies. But the folk influences do not stop there, as Skálmöld incorporate traditional Norse choirs and vocal melodies into their music, and several of the tracks also feature traditional folk instrumentation - especially in the intros. The lead vocals are harsh and semi-growled, and I must say that Icelandic is the most metal language in the world.

There is an overall epic heroic feel to this album - and this epic atmosphere is generated by both folk elements and metal elements, but there is also a dark and melancholic side to the music which is present in much Nordic folk music.

This is Viking metal. It's big. It's heroic. It's fucking awesome!

(review originally posted on metalmusicarchives.com)"