Reykjavík Grapevine - 07.10.2011, Side 22

22
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 16 — 2011
A New Force In Icelandic
Heavy Metal
Music | Metal
Bankastræti
Læ
kja
rg
at
a
Austurstræti
HafnarstrætiAð
al
st
ræ
ti
Geirsgata
Harpa
Tryggvagata
G
ar
ða
st
ræ
ti
Find us at Tryggvagata 11, 101 Reykjavík
EXPERIENCE
THE FORCE
OF NATURE
Our two excellent films on eruptions
in Iceland start on the hour every hour.
The films are shown in english
except at 09:00 and 21:00 when
they are in german.
Volcano House also has an excellent
café, Icelandic design shop and booking
service for travels within Iceland.
Opening hours: 8:30 - 23:00
www.volcanohouse.is
Skálmöld have established them-
selves at the forefront of Icelandic
Heavy Metal with their debut album
and a slew of well-attended, impec-
cably executed concerts. I first saw
them in action when I attended the
release show for their debut album
‘Baldur,’ and I was properly blown
away.
I am not a heavy metal fan, but I have re-
spect for all kinds of music. I had heard
Skálmöld’s debut album, and liked what
I heard. I was not sure what expect
from the concert, however; would their
live show live up to expectations set by
‘Baldur’? I left that show convinced
that Skálmöld had a great future ahead
of them, and that they are most likely
the best heavy metal band Iceland has
borne as of yet.
The band had only played a hand-
ful of dates before their release show
at Tjarnarbíó earlier this year. They per-
formed ‘Baldur’ in its entirety, from start
to finish, with narration, a slide show
and films adding to the experience.
They performed like the professionals
they are, never missing a beat and even
adding an extra guitar lick here and
there.
The house was packed with rock
fans, old and young. I was so blown
away that I decided to call them up that
following morning to learn more about
the band.
I got in touch with guitarist Þráinn
Árni Baldvinsson, who told me their
story so far.
HEAVY METAL DREAMS
Skálmöld was formed in the autumn of
2009. The members come from various
local groups (Ampop, Hraun, Klamedia
X, Trassar, Innvortis and Ljótu hálfvi-
tarnir, to name a few), some of them
dance bands, some pop, some ambient
and some punk bands—but no heavy
metal ones.
Bibbi, Snæbjörn Ragnarsson, bass
player, singer and lyricist, put the band
together. “Bibbi was the one who set it
all in motion. Calling people, and as-
sembling his dream band,” Þráinn told
me over the phone.
It is interesting that none of them
come from the capital city. Bibbi and his
brother, guitarist, multi instrumentalist
and singer Baldur, hail from Húsavík,
the whale and penis-museum watching
town in the north, along with singer and
guitarist Björgvin Sigurðsson. Þráinn
Árni Baldvinsson, guitarist and singer,
and Gunnar Ben, keyboardist and sing-
er, are farm boys from the north, and Jón
Geir Jóhannsson, who plays the drums
and sings, comes from Ísafjörður, on the
northwest corner of Iceland. Skálmöld’s
members also engage in music teach-
ing and choir conducting, and they still
play in other bands too. They are a busy
lot.
Rumour has it that the band and the
album ‘Baldur’ began life as a folk rock
project. Indeed, one senses strong folk
influences on the album. “Yes, this was
going to be a folk-band, you would have
liked our Fairport Convention influenc-
es,” Þráinn tells me. “That said, we were
going to play rock but with flutes and
various folky instruments accompany-
ing the guitars. Our guitarist Baldur was
to play the flutes and other instruments
more than his guitar. However, it soon
evolved into metal, with three guitars!”
He continues: “The last one to join
was choir conductor Gunnar Ben, who
is the only one who does not have a
history in heavy metal. He was very en-
thusiastic though, and he soon made
all the extra sounds we needed, giving
Baldur room to shine on his guitar in-
stead of playing flutes!”
“Bibbi had the original idea in his
mind, the story, the lyrics and the text.
That was the framework and we all
contributed to the songs. The album
draws from the Sagas and from Nordic
Mythology, which puts it in a category
with metal bands from Norway and
Germany, along with Faeroe Islands. Týr
are sometimes called Viking Rock.”
2011: A BUSY YEAR
The band has signed a three record
deal with Austria’s Napalm Records.
‘Baldur’ was released worldwide on
July 27, to great acclaim, and Skálmöld
start promoting it at the Wacken Metal
Festival in August. The band is at the
time of writing on tour in Europe, with
a gruelling schedule of 24 consecu-
tive gigs. “It will hopefully promote the
album well. We’re touring as a part of
the Heidenfest tour, where Viking metal
bands from all over the world tour to-
gether. This will be something special!”
Þráinn told me shortly before they left.
The band is definitely building a
strong following of metal fans, and
even strange followers who have curi-
ous ears, like me! Their record deal will
see ‘Baldur’ distributed and promoted
through Europe, South and North
America and Japan. The worldwide re-
lease of Baldur was extended to include
a new bonus track, which is more than
ten minutes long.
“We went into the studio in the be-
ginning of April and recorded an extra
track for the world-wide release. Based
on that, the next record will not be any
softer!” Þráinn told me.
“We have to deliver our next album
in the beginning of next January. It’s
scheduled for release in May of 2012.
So we are busy composing new music,
when we’re not playing shows. We have
loads of ideas and all of us are compos-
ing—it is coming along well!”
The band has already received a
great response from “all over the world!
From Turkey to South America—people
seem to be like the Icelandic Viking
Metal! We’ve had great reviews from
some of the premier metal critics. The
Germans are extremely positive and like
the Icelandic lyrics, it seems to be some
kind of ‘Nonni und Manni’ craze there,
they only want it in Icelandic, not trans-
lated! We are very happy with that!”
Þráinn concluded: “The future... it is
bright. We don’t have any crazy dreams
about the next album, or any crazy
dreams about conquering the world,
but we are going to do our best and en-
joy it to the hilt. If we continue to be sin-
cere and honest, I think we‘ll do well.”
- HALLDóR INGI ANDRéSSON
Skálmöld take the stage
Skálmöld’s debut ‘Baldur’ is a concept
album, and follows the story of a Viking
by that name. The story starts shortly
before he loses his family, livestock, es-
tate and land in a savage attack on his
farm, and follows him through revenge
and death, and to Valhalla.
This is not a Saga, but a new story
based on the Sagas and Old Norse
mythologies. However, it might also be
construed as a modern story, as a great
many Icelanders have lost their fami-
lies, jobs, homes and savings—even the
minds and lives—since the total collapse
of Iceland in 2008 (even if few want to
admit it)!
There are ten tracks on the album.
They range from Icelandic “Rímur”
chanting, male choirs, children crying,
folk music, prog rock, death metal, bit
of punk, screaming rock ‘n’ roll vocals,
“bark” singing, full blast heavy metal
and lots of rock guitar.
‘Baldur’ is likely the best metal re-
cord made in Iceland. The band has
the experience, knowledge and wit to
make a special record that has a well-
crafted story, well formed lyrics, music
based on ideas from all kinds of genres.
Skálmöld also know how to make an in-
teresting record that gives the listener
a grin now and then, and a knowing
smile.
There are epic songs on the album
that are going to played for years to
come, like ‘Kvaðning’ (“A calling on”),
‘Valhöll’ (“Valhalla”), ‘Árás’ (“Attack”)
and ‘Dauði’ (“Death”).
- HALLDóR INGI ANDRéSSON
Skálmöld
Baldur
www.skalmold.is
The best Icelandic heavy metal
record I’ve heard.
Skálmöld are not playing Airwaves because they are busy conquering the
universe. This 'Viking metal' thing of theirs is apparently paying off pretty well!