This album has made me even more excited for Incineration Festival and seeing Vried.
As the band continues their 30-year career, the first studio album in 5 years sees the Norwegians evolve and push their sound forward, while regular nods to their previous sounds emerge as the album progresses.
It is also worth noting that there is a song that is a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who bassist and song writer Jarle Kvåle recognises helped to shape his life and having been at the final Black Sabbath show as well as organising the bands final shows in Norway, felt it important to pay respects and wrote the title track – ‘The Skies Turn Black.’
The 11 tracks tested the band’s direction and feel, but those tribulations have led to what is potentially the band’s most diverse album, whilst keeping their core very much together.
Opening with a serene and stripped-back sound, it isn’t long before things pick up and we head into scything guitars, pummelling drums and a vocal that rounds off that Black Metal sound; however, it contains a symphonic aspect that uplifts as the blackening sound tries to beat you.
That extra layer sees souring riffs and solos as the drums calm a tad and the vocal becomes more fitting with the sound. This is a pattern you will get used to as the sound flows between heavy and dark, and toward a more symphonic approach. It definitely works – but does keep you on your toes at times, especially when Agnete Kjølsrud from Djerv contributes to the vocal offering. To be honest, this caught me completely off guard, but it really works and adds a different dynamic.
Overall, this album has a bit of everything, heaviness to softness, fast to slower, but what is steady throughout is emotion and quality.
You will feel the intense pressure of some tracks and then get to have a good, deep breath and prepare to go again with some of those more symphonic sections.
In many ways, this album feels very cinematic, appreciating that ‘Kraken’ was written for the film of the same name; each track could be film-score worthy, and the album as a whole feels like a complete work.
The Skies Turn Black has a bit of everything and a lot of what you want to hear – continuing to show why Vried are one of the most diverse and pioneering bands.
The Skies Turn Black will be released on Friday, 6th March 2026, via Indie Records.
Review: Ed Ford
Track list
01. From These Woods
02. The Skies Turn Black
03. A Second Death
04. Kraken
05. Loving The Dead
06. Build & Destroy
07. Chaos
08. Flammen
09. Smile Of Hate
10. Echoes Of Life
11. The Earth Rumbles
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