Style: progressive metal, folk metal, melodic death metal (mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Tesseract, Ihlo, Klone, Insomnium, Borknagar
Country: Denmark
Release date: 1 December 2025

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Creating and distributing music has never been simpler, and standing out has never been harder. With the works of millions of artists available in a few clicks, no matter how obscure, it may seem that every genre, sub-genre, and sub-genre of a sub-genre has been fully saturated if you poke around enough. Yet Skovblod’s sophomore LP, In the Valleys of Winter, delivers a combination of styles that, personally, I hadn’t stumbled upon before: modern and at times djenty progressive metal mixed with melodic, Scandinavian folk metal. Sure, the former has been in full swing for years, and the latter has been played out for just as long, but perhaps the two genres together can breathe new life into tired ears.

Hailing from Denmark, Skovblod are the project of guitarist Aksel Terkelsen, who has brought in Sebastian Beronius to take the lion’s share of vocal and lyrical duties on In the Valleys of Winter. With five meaty tracks and two shorter instrumental interludes, the record journeys through wintry melodies, angular riffs, and airy atmospheres. Although the compositions are guitar-centric, plenty of synth accents give the music depth, while an array of expressive clean and harsh vocals explore themes related to modern society’s relationship with nature.

Despite drawing upon two genres that are often maximalist in nature, In the Valleys of Winter is somewhat understated. Skovblod are content to let chunky, mid-paced riffs ride, giving the tracks a steady, trodding feel. Synth textures, melodic leads, and varied vocals build atop this stable sonic foundation, but rarely do the band break loose—an acoustic bridge is just as likely as a heavier one, and even the more emphatic moments are relatively restrained. The formula works well, but the band often stick to it a little too closely, particularly in opening tracks “Rite of Passage” and “The World.” Both are liable to ease the listener into a pleasant but inattentive lull.  

Fortunately, Skovblod add some spice later in the album. “Hope” features sections with a bit more rhythmic zest, even opening with blast beats that contrast the earlier songs nicely. Meanwhile, the album’s two longest tracks—“Perplexity” and “Journey’s End”—take adventurous turns throughout their runtimes, the former featuring the album’s proggiest riffs and a stunning bridge midway through, and the latter leaning most heavily into folky melodies. Indeed, the outro in “Journey’s End” showcases a near-perfect marriage of modern progressive and folk metal, as an off-kilter, djent-like riff jabs beneath a triumphant, triplet-driven melody. It’s when both genres are at full force that Skovblod are at their best. 

However, the majority of the songwriting is a tad muted. The prog could often be proggier, and the folk folkier, causing both to blend into a tepid prog-folk soup a little too frequently. To be sure, it’s a satisfying offering, but it’d be better served hot—with the styles blazing rather than simmering. The same can be said of the album’s other aspects. The production is clear and retains character, but it lacks the oomph to make the heavier parts hit harder and better contrast the softer sections. Similarly, although the vocals are well performed, they’re missing some body in their delivery—which could very well be a production issue—that’d provide a stronger sense of conviction. On the whole, well done as it is, In the Valleys of Winter all feels slightly flat. 

Still, Skovblod are an easy recommendation to prog fans with an affinity or nostalgia for the aughts’ folk metal acts. Even if not totally engaging, In the Valleys of Winter is always pleasant—with some compelling moments sprinkled throughout. The band is young and clearly capable, and as a sucker for both wonky riffs and sweet Scandinavian melodies, I’m eager to see if they can elevate their sound as they come into their own.

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Recommended tracks: Perplexity, Journey’s End
You may also like: Vintersorg, In the Woods…, Kallias, Eternal Storm, Countless Skies
Final verdict: 6/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram

Label: Independent

Skovblod is:
– Aksel Terkelsen (guitars, bass, programming)
– Sebastian Beronius (vocals)