Review by J.C. on March 6, 2026.

This is the first time I've heard of this Swedish melodic death metal band. I haven't heard much new material from Sweden in a long time, so before listening, my impression of Swedish melodic death metal was still based on the original Gothenburg Sound or slightly later bands like Still I Wither and Enterion, and the latter left a deep impression on me with their 2019 album, "Ad Inferos". But this new Norrsköld album surprised me.

The whole album is less than 30 minutes long; although it is a bit short, it avoids unnecessary lengthy sections, and the remainder is almost perfect. The lead singer's voice is excellent; most of the time, you will hear a piercing scream, like a sharp sword, but sometimes he switches to a deeper growl. Occasionally, here also exists a clear voice or a spoken word. The guitar work is fantastic, which is also what I appreciate, and I've always had a high opinion of bands with good guitarists. Although a Swedish band, the guitarist drew heavily from Finnish metal; some stunning electric guitar shred details sound like Children Of Bodom, and some rhythmically unique and tense riffs reminded me of Insomnium's performance in the song 'Change Of Heart,' which kind of riffs added ferocity to the music but also had a smooth melodic line. In some dark passages, the guitar becomes as cold as Norwegian black metal. In other moments when the electric guitar pauses, the Viking-metal-styled acoustic guitar interprets the tragic beauty. And there are also riffs that are more modern, with the taste of alternative metal, groove metal, and even metalcore, but they do not destroy the harmony of the music. There are almost no keyboards, but I like it, which shows that there is no need to cover up the lack of arrangement with additional embellishments. The drums are nothing special, but they get the job done. The bass adds weight to the music, which becomes noticeable in some passages where the electric guitar pauses.

There are many albums where the second track tends to be the best track of the entire album, and this album is no exception. The ordinary prelude at the beginning of 'Mourningstar' might make you question whether it lives up to its poetic title, but the smooth, beautiful melody and strong emotions that follow feel like a cleansing wave washing over you. The beautiful acoustic guitar in the back takes over the temporarily stopped electric guitar and plays the last motive before the electric guitar stops with a Harakiri-For-The-Sky-style soft acoustic guitar, and finally, a gorgeous melodic shred appears with Alexi Laiho's feeling. Also noteworthy is the song 'Regenesis,' which begins with a black metal passage, later followed by abundant, well-crafted melodies and many exquisite riffs. The only song with a Swedish title, 'Dødsdansen,' is an instrumental track, being short but filled with full paragraph changes and emotional ups and downs, and the melody is also the most beautiful of this album.

In short, this is a solid Swedish melodic death metal album. It does not have progressive or avant-garde innovations, but it builds on the strengths of its predecessors and delivers a well-crafted musical experience. I look forward to more great work from this band.

Rating: 8.9 out of 10