Since 1994, Vintersorg, the man himself, Andreas Hedlund, has steered the band from its origins in the frostbitten north of Skellefteå into one of Scandinavia’s most distinctive metal projects, fusing black metal ferocity, Nordic folk textures, and progressive ambition. Early works like Till Fjälls and Ödemarkens Son captured the raw yet melodic spirit of pagan black metal. At the same time, later albums such as Cosmic Genesis and The Focusing Blur expanded into cosmic, philosophical, and experimental realms. Defined by soaring baritone vocals, piercing shrieks, rich harmonies, and a fearless pursuit of new sonic landscapes, Vintersorg remains both untamed and cerebral, a project deeply rooted in nature yet always reaching for the infinite.

The band has slowly evolved its sound across its prolific discography. Under Hammerheart Records, Vintersorg’s back again with their 11th album, Vattenkrafternas Spel. The sound of the album is slightly on the progressive rock side, while maintaining its characteristic folk sound. ‘Malströmbrus’ is one of the fastest songs on the album, featuring a more metal quality, along with ‘Kraftkällan’. Even when they have moved from the metal sound they used to have, the album remains true to Vintersorg’s use of folk themes. One thing about the use of folk themes is that it can very easily fall in the ‘gimmicky’ category, which has never been an issue for Vintersorg. The balance between clean voices and metal growling makes for an enjoyable album. Some black metal influences are present here and there, but the overall style is predominantly traditional rock/progressive rock.

Vattenkrafternas Spel is for fans of Windir, Borknagar, who are looking for a different direction in sound, people looking for a more serious folk band, and even people who might draw the line between progressive metal and rock, this is a good album to start exploring what Vintersorg has to offer.

Tracklisting
‘Efter Dis Kommer Dimma’, ‘Störtsjö’, ‘Malströmsbrus’, ‘Från Djupet Dunstar Tiden’, ‘Ur Älv Och Å’, ‘Kraftkällan’, ‘Regnskuggans Rike’, ‘Skyrök’, ‘Ödsliga Salar’

Release Date: September 26th, 2025
Hammerheart Records
Reviewed By: Angelica Ramirez
Review Score: 8