Seid – Hymns to the Norse

Band: Seid
Title: Hymns to the Norse
Date of release: October 18th, 2024
Country: Sweden
Label: Aeternitas Tenebrarum Musicae Fundamentum
Format reviewed: High-quality digital recording

The atmosphere of sea voyage carries all the way through Hymns to the Norse by Swedish Black Metal band Seid. The Viking themed album is a powerful immersive experience, engaging but also remarkably soothing in its steady flow.

The album begins with clean solo vocals, only accompanied by a simple drum and the atmospheric sound of wind is a brave statement that sets the tone for the whole album. The sung melody is based in the Norse folk music heritage and the vocalist is skilled but not overly polished, which fits the style of the album well. The clean song serves as a prologue, a brave statement and a foreboding of what is to come.

When the first riff starts it is surprisingly dissonant after the harmonious beginning. I was expecting a more melodic style of riffs, but they are safely grounded in Black Metal. Though surprising, the harsh turn is satisfying and draws me deeper into the voyage.

Through the album this flow between clean and folky melodic elements and unapologetically harsh and dissonant chords create a feeling of waves and weather, of natural changes between harmony and trouble, between ease and danger. It feels like the joy and thrill of adventure but also a hunch of unknown monsters lurking in the deep. Despite the complexity of the sound, this is an easy album to listen to. The frightening unknown never overpowers the anticipation of great discoveries.

The production is smooth and kind to the ear. The drums are so perfect I suspected they might be a machine, but the precision turned out to be sheer musician skill. Overall, the album displays a high level of skill in both vocals and instruments. Sampled elements are subtle enough to blend well into the mix and add to the oceanic atmosphere. Only in the endings of the songs do I lose my immersion when some kind of wabble effect echoes out leaving a chemical after taste.

If anything, Hymns to the Norse leans towards too smooth, too easy to digest. As it flows by, warm and bright, I find my mind wandering elsewhere. The music turns into a soothing, reliable background to whatever else I am doing. This does not have to be negative, though. To soothe and focus a scattered mind is an accomplishment in itself, if this is the effect the band is going for.

I recommend this album to any listener of atmospheric and melodic black metal. Even for listeners who prefer a raw style, the clean and sampled elements might be subtle enough not to ruin the feeling. The playful combinations of harmony and dissonance make it worth at least a spin. For listeners who enjoy polished and well produced black metal with a leaning towards strength and hope rather than chaos and destruction, this will be a hit for sure. 8/10 by Ask den Hängde

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8/10  To Greatness and Glory!
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