Skogsalver is a Cinematic Dark Folk Project from Poland. On September 23rd, 2023, Skogsalver released their debut studio album, Svarens Tid (Time of Answers) 1, which offers an ethereal journey into the depths of Norse mythology. The music weaves together elements of cinematic scores, folk melodies, and a range of vocal techniques, creating a truly immersive experience.
Introduction:
Skogsalver, Svarens Tid: This review will evaluate every aspect of the album, from its intricate musical composition to its production. Our analysis will provide valuable insights to help you determine if this album is worth adding to your collection.
The First Three Sins of Svarens Tid
Let’s start by discussing the first three sins of Skogsalver and their Svarens Tid album.
The First Sin, The Strings/Keys: Electric instruments are omitted and replaced with various folk instruments and rich orchestration. The Second Sin, The Vocals: This involves chants, unexpected growls and choirs in Swedish. The Third Sin—The Percussions: This delves into the vast world of magic tank drums to create an enchanting and mystical atmosphere.
The Fourth Sin: Overall Discussion: Weaves together elements of cinematic scores, folk melodies…
As soon as the listener presses the play button, the serene and enchanting sounds of Svarens Tid fill the air, with a mystical atmosphere accompanied by ethereal chants. That takes the listener on an otherworldly, magical journey through the rich tapestry of Norse mythology/history.
The music seamlessly flows into the following piece, Fimbulvintern, and the remaining seven songs are woven together, creating an ethereal and cinematic experience that transports you to another world. In an ambitious undertaking, a group of musicians set out to explore the rich tapestry of Norse mythology/history through their latest project, Skogsalver.
This cinematic dark folk endeavour aimed to combine ethereal and mystical elements with dark folk and pagan themes, cinematic scores, and intricate vocal techniques. The result is a truly unforgettable, mesmerising and captivating experience that touches the soul and transports the listener to a world beyond imagination.
Svarens Tid is a fruit of art that should be enjoyed with an open mind. It is best to turn off modern devices and allow oneself to unwind while listening to this epic, peaceful, and blissful atmosphere emanating from one’s speakers. The production and sound are clear and polished, giving the listener a pristine auditory experience. Every note, tone, and mood can be heard distinctly within the music.
We were struck by the sheer brilliance of the instrumental score and compositions as we listened to the music. The album contains nine tracks, each portraying a wide range of emotions. It comprises calm and assertive songs with rich orchestration inspired by primal sounds; various moods, tones, tempos, and atmospheres are seamlessly intertwined to create an indescribable and beautiful soundscape that captures the listener’s attention from the first note.
The unique blend of instruments from different parts of the world and diverse musical genres, including the guiro, vibraslap, rainstick, and magic tank drums, adds an otherworldly quality to the music that we find captivating.
Furthermore, the artists have incorporated chants, unexpected growls and choirs in Swedish and sounds from nature, such as tree branches, bones, and deer antlers, into the score, which adds an organic and earthy element to the music. Combining these elements with the folk melodies and cinematic touches creates a truly mesmerising and enchanting experience that we cannot help but get lost in.
Fans of Hagalz’ Runedance Heilung and Wardruna will surely appreciate the haunting melodies and powerful rhythms that are present in this album.
The album comes to an end with the last song, Skogsalver. We want to give a shoutout to Skogsalver for letting us review their Svarens Tid album. Now, we’re going to wrap it up by talking about the final three sins and concluding the review.
You’re Listening to “Skogsalver”
PlayThe last Three Sins
Let’s discuss the last three sins, our thoughts on Skogsalver and their Svarens Tid album.
The Fifth Sin, The Memorabilia: Is that for us, as mentioned earlier, the piece combines various elements, including folk melodies and cinematic touches, to create a mesmerizing and enchanting experience. The music is a work of art; the entire release is a testament to that. It’s hard not to get lost in its beauty.
The Sixth Sin, The Artwork:
The artwork is remarkable and breathtakingly beautiful and epic
The Seventh Sin, Disrelish:
Nothing to disrelish within the musical spectrum of Skogsalver, and their album Svarens Tid.
This concludes the Skogsalver, Svarens Tid review.
Track-Listing:
- Svarens Tid
- Fimbulvintern
- Midgårdsormen
- Vanadis
- Berserker
- Huginn og Muninn
- Yggdrasil
- Spådom
- Skogsalver
Skogsalver is:
- Natalia Zduńska – compositions, all instruments, and ambiences
- Patrycja Wojkowska – drums, percussion, tank drums
- Jakub Janicki – all vocals
- The album’s music is a collection of songs that narrate the rich history and mythology of the Vikings. Each track takes you on a journey, painting a vivid picture of Viking life and culture. It was released on September 23, 2023, which coincides with the Autumn Equinox. ↩︎
