Vikings Chant

Released on January 18, 2018, Vikings Chant is the debut studio album by the French neofolk project SKÁLD. The album is a conceptual exploration of Norse mythology, with lyrics sung entirely in Old Norse, drawing inspiration from runic inscriptions, the Poetic Edda, and scaldic poetry. Musically, the project distinguishes itself within the pagan folk genre by prioritizing vocal-driven arrangements, utilizing a mix of male and female vocalists to create rich, layered harmonies that carry the narrative weight of the tracks. The instrumentation is strictly acoustic and traditional, shunning modern synthesizers in favor of frame drums, shamanic percussion, and historical bowed and plucked string instruments. The album's track listing includes notable mythological references such as 'Gleipnir', 'Yggdrasill', and 'Ó Valhalla', alongside a unique neofolk reimagining of Björk's 'Jóga', which closes the record. Vikings Chant established SKÁLD as a prominent force in the European neofolk scene, bridging the gap between historical preservation and cinematic, accessible folk music.