Jackass icon Chris Pontius enters a dark, surreal metal universe in the cinematic music video for “Loving the Dead,” the new collaborative single from Vreid and Djerv, out February 20.
Some collaborations feel inevitable only in hindsight. A chance meeting, a shared fascination with the darker corners of art and culture, and a willingness to push beyond expectations have converged in Loving the Dead, resulting in a collaboration that stands out as one of the most unexpected metal releases of the year.
A shared descent
Directed by Ulvar Gansum and filmed inside a church in Oslo, Loving the Dead blurs the line between music video and psychological short film. The song serves as the final single ahead of Vreid’s upcoming album The Skies Turn Black, merging the band’s raw, atmospheric sound with the haunting intensity of Djerv’s Agnete Kjølsrud.
Rather than a traditional guest appearance, the collaboration feels like a shared descent into the same shadowy landscape.
Inside the song
Co-Written and with vocals performed by Kjølsrud, Loving the Dead invites interpretation rather than explanation. The lyrics move through a surreal inner world where darkness and destructive self-talk dominate, touching on the moment where resistance gives way to survival instinct. Even so, there is a quiet counterweight running through the song. Love is still present, just harder to see.
Inspired in part by Vreid and Djerv’s shared fascination with David Lynch’s universe, the song is designed to leave space for the listener to create their own meaning.
A cinematic transformation
The music video follows Pontius’ character as he drifts from the chaos of a bar into a ritual-like world, drawn forward by Kjølsrud’s almost siren-like presence. Surrounded by masked figures, he is slowly transformed, eventually embracing the darkness and becoming part of it himself.
“We wanted to create something cinematic and unexpected,” says Vreid’s Jarle Kvåle. “Not just a performance video, but a visual journey.”
Pontius’ presence adds an unusual but natural crossover. Known globally for chaotic humor, he brings vulnerability and discomfort to the role, creating a striking contrast to both his public persona and the ritualistic setting.
“It didn’t feel strange at all,” Pontius says about his performance. “It felt natural.”
Blending atmosphere, heaviness and cinematic storytelling, Loving the Dead stands as the final single before Vreid’s upcoming album The Skies Turn Black.
The single and music video are out now.
