Photo credit: Romy Lena
French dark folk group, Skáld, have just released their latest single, “Dǫkksalir,” with an official lyric video. It is taken from the band’s upcoming full-length, Ørlǫg, out September 25. The album is Skáld’s first release for Napalm Records, arriving just ahead of a European and the UK arena tour, supporting The Hu. Catch the new video and more below.
Pre-order Ørlǫg here: https://napalmrecords.com/skald
Skáld about “Dǫkksalir”:
““Dokksalir” draws us into the dark depths of the sea; in the distance, the sirens’ song calls to us, yet also terrifies us; mischievous spirits watch us and laugh at us; they already know we will be weak; the light no longer protects us; down below, eyes stare at you—perhaps it is you yourself watching yourself lose your way. Those siren voices are so beautiful.”
As the Norns weave our future, this album is a fascinating passageway into our pristine origins and the consequences of our choices. Ten new songs as stepping stones, Ørlǫg is an offering to listen, to dwell, to reflect—and to find something within yourself previously unknown. Skáld don’t just play music, they awaken ancient ways. A staple band in the neofolk genre, Skáld deliver a striking work of art with their latest album, deferentially using their sources to keep old spirits alive and form the enchanting world of Ørlǫg. The language might sound unfamiliar, but the music still touches the soul.
Skáld about Ørlǫg:
“Ørlǫg is the cosmic web that influences the world and every person. Part of our Ørlǫg is determined by our birth, our past actions, and our upbringing, but Ørlǫg is not set in stone; our daily choices are constantly shaping it. What we do now and what we have done in the past determines what will happen to us in the future; we cannot escape the consequences of our actions. This album makes us question our choices—both individual and collective—and the patterns we accept or reject. The Norns weave our destiny, but we can take control of certain things: travel, ride worlds, and grow. Each song on this album describes a situation, a place, a choice to be made. Let’s take hold of our Ørlǫg.”
The atmospheric journey to claim direction starts within the dreamscapes of “Draumakona”, an expressive look at the female side of shamanic prophecy. The French band constructs their Nordic folk melodies to be particularly catchy, shifting powerfully between female lead singing and multilayered vocal arrangements to create an antiphony between individuum and community. Inspired by Skaldic poetry, Skáld use instruments fitting of the time: Ørlǫg is shaped by Nordic fiddles, different forms of harps and lyres, horns, kannels, and whistles, among others, as well as three lead vocalists to bring the arrangements to life. “Myrkviðr” picks up on the opening track’s persuasive energy, with male vocals taking the lead this time.
Further spreading their message is “Ratatoskr,” intonated by clattering sounds and throat singing, channeled into hauntingly repetitive chants of the eponymous squirrel’s name. “Útgarðr” contrasts the different voices compellingly by the passages being sung simultaneously with alternating focus and a goosebump-inducing climax—instantly opposed by “Ek skald rida” which makes use of similar techniques, but is the most tranquil track on the album. “Himinbjǫrg” reaches far out to the edge of Asgard, where Heimdall guards the rainbow bridge, Bifröst. Skáld lend him an assertive voice, so the song serves as an emphatic yet reassuring guide through our sometimes-clouded destiny. “Heiemo og Nykkjen”, a rendition of a traditional medieval folk ballad from what is now Norway, takes a more provident approach to both instrumentation and vocal delivery, while “Veit barnit” calls upon the knowledge of children and uses a child’s voice alongside their usual harmonies to reflect that. The grim finale, “Eldr ok iss,” Old Norse for “fire and ice,” again calls on contrasts as well as referencing part of the creation myth in which the primordial being Ymir emerged from Muspelheim—the realm of fire—colliding with icy Nilfheim in the beginning of times. Skáld build an appropriate arc of suspense with a formidably sinister atmosphere.
Ørlǫg tracklisting:
01 Draumakona
02 Myrkviðr
03 Ratatoskr
04 Dǫkksalir
05 Útgarðr
06 Ek skald rida
07 Himinbjǫrg
08 Heiemo og Nykkjen
09 Veit barnit
10 Eldr ok iss
Ørlǫg will be available in the following formats:
– 1LP Gatefold Whitelabel / Testpressing, incl. LP-Sized Booklet, Covercard (numbered), Certificate of Authenticity (numbered, dated) – Napalm ROW exclusive (strictly limited to 50 copies)
– 1LP Gatefold Splattered Milk Black Orange, incl. LP-Sized Booklet – Napalm Records exclusive (strictly limited to 300 copies)
– Bundle: 1LP Gatefold Translucent Yellow & Logo Shirt – Napalm Records exclusive
– Bundle: Digipack & Shirt – Napalm Records exclusive
– 1LP Gatefold Marbled Translucent Orange – Band Only Exclusive (strictly limited to 300 copies)
– 1LP Gatefold Clear Indie USA (strictly limited to 200 copies)
– 1LP Gatefold Translucent Yellow
– 1LP Gatefold Gold – France Exclusive (strictly limited to 500 copies)
– 1CD Digipack, incl. 6p Digipack
– Digital Album
Skáld live 2026
Warrior Chant Tour
As Special Guest for The Hu
September:
29 UK – Glasgow / O2 Academy
October:
01 UK – Bristol / Prospect Building
02 UK – Bournemouth / O2 Academy
03 UK – Newcastle / O2 City Hall
05 UK – Belfast / The Telegraph Building
06 IE – Dublin / 3Olympia Theatre
08 UK – Birmingham / O2 Academy Birmingham
09 UK – London / O2 Academy Brixton
10 UK – Manchester / O2 Apollo
11 UK – Norwich / UEA LCR
14 BE – Brussels / Ancienne Belgique
15 DE – Hamburg / Sporthalle
17 DE – Munich / Tonhalle
18 DE – Berlin / Columbiahalle
19 PL – Warsaw / Stodola
20 PL – Warsaw / Stodola
22 DE – Cologne / Palladium
23 NL – Utrecht / TivoliVredenburg
24 NL – Tilburg / 013
27 FR – Lyon / Le Radiant
28 FR – Paris / L’Olympia
30 CH – Zurich / X-TRA
31 LU – Esch-sur-Alzette / Rockhal
November:
01 BE – Brussels / Ancienne Belgique
Skáld are:
Christophe Voisin Boisvinet – Percussion, Nordic fiddles, harp, horn, vocals, programming
Marti Ilmar Uibo – Percussion, lyre, kannel, whistles, jaw harp, vocals
Steeve Petit – Percussion, vocals
Marie Potosniak – Fiddles, vocals
Guillaume Levy – Irish bouzouki, citole, gudok
Nathalie Lemoye-Voisin – Vocals
Ravn – Moraharpa
Michel Abraham – Vocals
Eyline Uibo – Vocals
Follow Skáld:
https://skaldmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/skaldvikings
https://www.instagram.com/skaldvikings
https://www.tiktok.com/@skaldvikings
https://label.napalmrecords.com/skald