Idaslet – ‘Nu Skrider Dagen Under’ (2023)
Rating: 9/10
Release: 1 December 2023
Label: Independent
Idaslet is a six-member Danish folk-metal band and Nu Skrider Dagen Under (“Now the Day Slips By”) is their debut full-length album. Their sound is power metal with harsh but understandable Danish vocals supported and folk-ified by some lovely accordion work. Some tracks feature a second vocalist– usually clean– and the best tracks have a chorus. We’re doing another Norse-themed album with mention of Valhalla and Baldur, and another track named “Ragnarok”. As an English-speaker, I found my ears perking up at the few words I recognized. This is another great album that shouldn’t be stopped by a language barrier.
I’m never going to get tired of hearing different takes on the Norse and their mythos, and it’s great hearing this sung in Danish. It just feels really fitting. The album nails the required variety in tracks. There are three or four tracks that start with a bouncy accordion or acoustic guitar, sing-song style before going off into the metal realms. The album begins with a wintery and short folk-song intro track but gets into the meat and potatoes with “Ære Oder Dodt”. I couldn’t find a suitable translation, but it’s a banger. Melo-death tones in the beginning and middle, brings out our first taste of the chorus, and introduces us to the vibe and variety of the album. “Spirets Tone” (Spirit’s Tone) does more with the chorus and is the quintessence of their sound. It’s easily my favorite track.
It sets off the pattern for the next few tracks: rhythm-led openings, choruses, throw-the-horns style metal near the end. “I Gården sagte” (“In the farm softly”) slows the pattern down and adds a lovely, memorable chorus. “Kæmpens Ni Spørgsmål” (The Giant’s Nine Questions) is another fun track that starts off like an old folk song and turns into a banger. “Balders død” (Baldur’s Death) and “Ragnarok” are both heart-wrenchingly sad. It shows off Idaslet’s versatility and wraps up the album nicely.
I had a lot of fun listening to this album. It’s bouncy and lively, folky, fun, and heartfelt. 2023’s been a great year for albums, and Idaslet’s debut doesn’t disappoint. Cheers!
Tracklist
- Efter solnedgang (Intro)
- Ære oder dodt
- Spirets tone
- Salens kor
- I gården sagte
- Afdøbt
- Kæmpens ni spørgsmål
- Balders død
- Ragnarok