out now: Scald -- epic doom from Russia

Scald

Will of the Gods Is Great Power (reissue)

High Roller Records

23.07.2021

Both Metal Archives briefly and Wikipedia in more detail explain that a "skald" or "skáld" was the profession of the poets in the service of the Viking kings. Wikipedia says that the word itself means "poet," and that more than 55 hundred verses survived in 700 manuscripts in the forms of sagas. As for this Russian band, as the name itself says, they have in mind an epic form of doom featuring singing. The band was at first active 1993-1997, and this album was issued on cassette only in October of 1997 when their singer Agyl had already died in a railroad accident, according to Metal Archives. Nowadays they are active again with singer Felipe Plaza Kutzbach (Capilla Ardiente, Deströyer 666, Nifelheim, Procession and other entities). According to the band, they were inspired by Bathory's phase during the melodic years of the early 1990s. The record company says that this version of the album has been mastered for vinyl, in attempt to give the old recording a better sound. This version of the album is six songs (53:34 total). Devoted supporters of traditional doom with unique singing should at least give the album a listen because they may find that the strength of the songwriting and singing is too compelling to ignore. The music, as listeners may notice, does have similarities with Marcolin-era Candlemass both in the music and singing. For the "Viking" Bathory fans, Scald does not have a better production that the album Hammerheart, but the singing of Scald is more robust, deeper and projects substantially more than Bathory's somewhat thin/frail singing voice. Check it and see, Scald may prove to be one of those interesting gems from yesterday. https://www.hrrshop.de/SCALD-Will-of-the-Gods-is-Great-Power-LP-BLACK_1

[This is here for your information. The review is based on the version from High Roller Records.]

Will of the Gods is Great Power by SCALD (epic doom metal)