(Viking/Folk Metal) [CD] Skálmöld (Skalmold) - Baldur - 2010, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

[url=http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Skálmöld/3540318962]http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Skálmöld/3540318962[/url]

Baldur is an album that, as the band had announced, follows the strict rules of traditional Icelandic poetry. It's quite a bummer my Icelandic isn't as good as it could be, but that's the way things are. The album tells the tale of Viking Baldur, whose family is killed by a demon. The Viking begins a quest to meet with his sworn enemy, kills him, dies and enters Valhalla. The good thing about this album is that it immediately absorbs you into this atmosphere of storytelling. In opener Heima you hear an older man sing a song for some children in the warmth of the hearth. Everything is right here: you here the echoes from the building they're sitting in, the children who sing along, the crackling of the fire and even the cries of a baby. A very nice way to begin an album, and it adds to the variation on the album.
After Heima begins the metal, metal supported by keys and an oboe, yes. The oboe you can hear in Árás, or in the intro of Kvaðning. It may sound strange but this peculiar sound that is used sporadically really adds to the quality of the music. Not that the music supports on it, because Skálmöld makes its music very interesting, in a way only few bands can. There is definitely an accent on the instrumental part of the music, as most of the songs have long parts without vocals and thus where the band can show its mastery of the instruments. These parts may last for quite a while, as in Kvaðning, but they are really interesting. The many changes in tempo, instruments used and melodies makes that a single song has much more to offer than you can absorb in a single listening session.
The vocals on the album switch between a raw lead vocalist and a choir. For example Árás, where the lead vocals to the more important parts and the choir provides support here and there. But immediately after that there is Sorg, where you only here the choir. Also these changes add to the variation on the album.
And as you may have noticed, the word "variation" has been used a few times already. It is one of the most important, if not the most important, keywords of the album. Both in a single songs as between the different songs. The types of variation you hear in the songs themselves also occur between the different songs, with the main difference that two parts of a song couple seamlessly with one another, creating a solid whole. The variation between the different songs is bigger. There is the faster and harder Dauði, or Upprisa with an intro that wouldn't be out of place on a power metal album, or the happy Valhöll.
The album ends with two extra songs on the Napalm Records release. The song Baldur is truly an epic of nearly eleven minutes containing all the fine elements you've come to love, and retelling the tale through the eyes of Baldur. It must have been quite a challenge for the band to add an extra song to a concept album like this one, but they've succeeded and have added a new highlight to the release. Kvaðning also returns but in a shorter version. This short version contains the great instrumental part in the middle but it lacks something. The longer version is better, the edit didn't have to be added.
To conclude: Baldur is a rollercoaster ride of an album: during more than an hour the band fascinates you with only interesting songs. The story you may not understand if you don't speak Icelandic, but the music takes you. The band members show themselves masters of their instruments and that can be heard in the long instrumental parts. I'm already looking forward to Skálmöld's next release!

Baldur Ragnarsson Guitars, Vocals
Björgvin Sigurðsson Vocals, Guitars
Gunnar Ben Keyboards, Oboe, Vocals
Jón Geir Jóhannsson Drums
Snæbjörn Ragnarsson Bass, Vocals
Þráinn Árni Baldvinsson Guitars, Vocals