Reviews

Album Review: Eldrún - "Svarið"

Iceland’s brutally progressive act releases new album.

by The Metalverse

Updated January 05, 2025

Tracklist

Svartir söngvar (intro)
Engin leið heim
Dýrðin
Lifi nóttin
Svarið
Eymd þín venst
Silfur

Icelandic metal act Eldrún just unleashed their latest album "Svarið" on December 27th. The intro track “Svartir söngvar” welcomes listeners with ambient pads, distant piano, and an overall ominous sound before launching into building synths and powerful choirs that introduce a massive sound and build anticipation.

“Engin leið heim” starts off with a proggressive metal synchronized double bass drum and chugging riff, quickly establishing a brutal sound that takes influences from death metal. Intense scream-singing is layered between chunky guitar riffs and high instrumental leads, blending melody and brutality into a cohesive sound.

“Dýrðin” starts with gentler singing that reminds us of acts like Deftones as thrashing riffs and racing drums pick up the pace in the background. Showcasing a more melodic sound that verges more on the alternative metal side that the progressive death metal sound from 2nd track, Eldrún already starts showing off multiple levels to their sound. After a guitar buildup the song reintroduces progressive elements and distant orchestral tones. After a soaring guitar solo of epic proportions, Eldrún fades out the track.

“Lifi nóttin” brings the pacing right back with speeding guitar chugs, slamming drums, and booming bass lines. Dark chord progressions create an eerie sound as haunting vocals are emphasized. Expertly balancing contrast, Eldrún swaps between distorted guitar destruction and ambient clean guitar tones that transition seamlessly between a progressive and crushingly heavy sound.

“Svarið” bursts into action with a scream and bright chords before catapulting into a groovy classic metal riff with dramatic chugging. Launching between slow and fast tempos, Eldrún excellently keeps their music interesting and dynamic throughout—utilizing variation in just the right amounts. The album’s title track seems to mix blues/jazz influences in with guitar leads that further the bands deeply progressive roots. Clocking in at a little over 6 minutes, “Svarið” takes listeners on a powerful journey through the band’s atmospheric and intense soundscapes.

“Eymd þín venst” starts off with slower pacing and chunky riffage as the song slowly builds into an anthemic chorus which is possibly the catchiest of the whole album. Taking on a more traditional song structure with this one, Eldrún showcases a wide array different songs and does an excellent job of keeping your attention from track to track.

“Silfur” is the longest song of the album at 6:35, and it approaches listeners with a sonic adventure that starts with gentle piano before building with melodic guitar leads and softer vocals. In an explosion of energy, the band bursts into full metal destruction with speeding blast beats and tremolo guitar. With rapid changes in tempo between thrashing blast beats and slower sections, “Silfur” continues to stay wildly interesting. At the 3 minute mark, Eldrún bursts into fully-fledged death metal with ferocious screams and an intense breakdown before launching into an onslaught of speeding technical riffs. After a minute of straight brutality, the songs slows into clean guitar and singing before ending with a mix of singing and screaming over heavy instrumentals.

Eldrún masterfully blends progressive metal, death metal, and alternative genres into an exciting sound with top-quality production. Hailing from Iceland, Eldrún Is a band you don’t want to miss out on. You can stream “Svarið” out everywhere now!