A Grove of Ashes and Aspens

Now Playing: Sowilo by Brothers of Metal

This is an album that has been a long time in the making. From the first single released summer of 2022 in The Other Son of Odin, this album is finally available to the public after two years of teasing. It once again features vocalist Ylva Eriksson as the primary clean vocalist. While I have heard (most of) the singles before this, most of the album is new material to me, and I have generally high expectations, considering their past material, as well as the singles.

The album name is a direct nod to a point in Norse mythology, that being the long, harsh winter that serves as a direct prelude to Ragnarok. The album art is also a direct nod to not only the namesake winter, with a notably frozen over globe, but also a nod to Sköll (One Who Mocks, or Treachery/Mockery) and Hati (One Who Hates, or Enemy), the wolves who chase the sun and moon respectively across the sky in Norse mythology.

The album itself is, as per Brothers of Metal tradition, inspired by various aspects of Norse mythology, including references to runes (Sowilo as the opening track), the animalistic rage of some classes of fighters (Berserkir), and some deities and their lineage (The Other Son of Odin).

Sowilo, the opening track, starts with a classic epic opening. It captures the epic feel of power metal, and delivers on the promises made by the singles.

Flight of the Ravens features a slightly darker opening tone, fitting with the lyrical theme concerning Odin’s ravens, Huginn (Thought) and Muninn (Will/Intention/Desire). It also does mention the mixed omen concerning crows and ravens, often being seen as omens of death, due to their common appearance on or near battlefields, but also being considered very wise creatures, due to the association of ravens and other corvids with deities of wisdom and intelligence. This song overall fits the darker sound promised when Berserkir was released.

Giantslayer also fits the overall darker sound promised in Berserkir, and starts with more balance between the three vocalists, with Ylva’s clean vocals soaring over the harsh vocals provided by the other two. The overall sound is also much more intriguing and a bit more heavy than the traditional power metal sound, while keeping with much of the traditional sound of power metal. I think this is a very solid song and I really like it.

Heart of Stone keeps the trend of heavy, dark power metal tracks going. It starts with the harsh vocals taking a much more prominent role, and Ylva’s clean vocals taking a back seat until the pre-chorus. The focus on the harsh vocals, combined with the darker tone, provides a fresh perspective on how heavy power metal can truly sound.

Rivers of Gold has a generally softer sound, with an acoustic sound in the verses. The entire song feels like something you’d hear in a tavern. Mead is a common theme in the lyrics, as well as a very light-hearted view on love in a chosen family, though not in so many words. The song has a light and bouncy feel and it is generally a very fun listen.

Blood Red Sky makes a tentative return to the heavy sound of earlier songs on the album, with an appropriately understated heroic sound. The song almost serves as a statement of the band’s intentions with the album and their sound going forward, keeping a lot of the more folk sound from the previous track and mixing it with the heavy power metal sound from earlier on the album.

Ratatosk keeps the heavy power metal sound going, while seeming to almost take a lead from bands such as Majestica and Twilight Force, sounding almost Christmas-y at the start. The song is about the mythical squirrel Ratatoskr (generally meaning “bore-tooth” or “drill-tooth”), the messenger up and down Yggdrasil, the world tree, between the eagles perched in the branches and Niðhöggr, the serpent who lives beneath one of the tree’s three roots. The song touches on his role as the one who delivers malicious messages and deceptions between the two forces. It has a generally mysterious sound, as is befitting of the squirrel.

Chasing Light also keeps the heavier sound going, though with a bit more of the traditional, lighter sound of power metal. This song is directly about the wolves Sköll and Hati, and their chase of the sun and moon respectively. The song has a more distinctly heroic sound, with more of the traditional power metal vibe than previous tracks on the album. It generally features Ylva’s voice more prominently as well, keeping with those higher vocals common in power metal. The song is somehow both upbeat and heavy, a mix that really shouldn’t work as well as it does here.

Heavy Metal Viking was the third single released for this album, and I have to say, when I first heard it, I was a little disappointed. It’s not a bad song by any means, I do like it. It just feels very different than the two previous singles. It takes more of the upbeat road, while seemingly leaving the heavier sound promised in previous songs behind. I do enjoy the song, but it was a bit of a surprise to get a much lighter song in light of Berserkir being the previous single.

The Other Son of Odin was the first single from this album, released in July of 2022. It keeps to the more upbeat power metal sound of their previous albums, while introducing a bit of the intensity that is found in the rest of the album. It tells the story of Viðarr, the son of Odin and Gríðr, who is foretold to avenge his father at Ragnarok by killing Fenrir, the wolven son of Loki. The general depiction of how this is done is by forcing the Wolf’s jaws open and a foot in the mouth, though this depiction could be a result of Christian influence on the myths.

Berserkir was the third single from the album, bringing with it the much heavier sound that has become quite familiar in much of the album before this. This song is about warriors who fought in a trance-like state of fury. Two of this kind of warrior are known, the bear warrior berserkir (the word most likely meaning “bear-shirt”), and the wolf warrior Ulfheðnar, attested in legends across Europe. The word itself is where we get the word “berserk” in English, as well. It’s overall a very fun song, and one I have been enjoying since its release in December of 2022.

Nanna’s Fate is the one single I didn’t listen to when it was released. It is a true metal ballad, with an acoustic start and a slow yet strong power to it. The comfort in the thought of seeing loved ones in the afterlife comes through with the overall song giving a nod to the common fate and the belief in afterlives. Truly a beautiful track. (I love metal ballads all day every day, I want more, please.)

Fimbulvinter. The title track. Leaning more on the symphonic power metal side, this song touches on the actual winter prelude to the end of days. As a song, this is a welcome return to the darker sound promised with Berserkir, and one that I love. It feels like getting stuck in a freezing winter that you’re not sure will ever end. (I live in Canada and I have ADHD. This is every winter.) This will likely be one of my winter anthems this year.

Overall, the singles here promised grand ideas, and the album absolutely delivered. The entire album was very well done, and I loved the entire thing. Heavy Metal Viking was the weakest track on the album, but it was still fun in its own way. Rivers of Gold and Berserkir are definitely my favourites on the album. Overall, 11/10, would listen again.