Mørkgrim |Sǫgur Frá Norðfirði |Soulseller Records

Mørkgrim was founded in 1994 by Hrafngrímnir as a solo black metal project during the early years of the genre. After putting it aside and spending decades working in other musical fields, including production for major American hip-hop artists, he eventually revived the project. Drummer Nils “Dominator” Fjellström, known for his work with Dark Funeral, Aeon, Myrkskog and Nordjevel, joined in 2023. On the debut album, Hrafngrímnir handles vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards and programming, with Dominator on drums. Icelandic singer Saga B contributes lead vocals on "Freyja Kvað", while English guitarist Dev Gohil adds guitar work and co-writing on "Nordljós", as well as a shared solo on "Blóðsvǫrr".

"Sǫgur Frá Norðfirði", meaning "Tales From Nordfjord", is a nine-track concept album lasting around 38 minutes, combining raw early-era black metal with acoustic folk and Norse elements. The guitar work draws heavily from the Norwegian underground of the nineties, supported by Dominator's forceful drumming and an intentionally rough production that gives the material an old-school sound. Tracks such as "Ramnen Kvæd" and "Blóðsvǫrr" establish the black metal direction, while the female vocals on "Freyja Kvað" introduce a different musical dimension.

The acoustic arrangements add a folk element to the album's progression, reinforcing its connection with Norse traditions. The lyrics explore ancient gods, occult heathen practices and the relationship between humanity and nature. "Sǫgur Frá Norðfirði" is a personal return to traditional black metal, with its musical and lyrical content rooted firmly in the darker side of Norse heritage.

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