Scald – Ancient Doom Metal

Many moons ago, a tiny yet mighty Doom Metal act from Russia gave us a 5.0/5.0 album that redefined what Epic Doom could sound like. Will of the Gods is a Great Power (I sense some Russian grammar in this title) is probably the best Viking Epic Doom album ever made. However, it had been overshadowed by 27 years of inactivity and the tragic demise of Scald‘s original vocalist. And now, here we are decades later, and out of nowhere, a miracle has happened! Ancient Doom Metal is out, and with all sorts of mixed feelings, I wonder: Can Scald touch the sky again? Are you ready? Because I’m not!

Crossing through dark waves and unforgiving cold, Ancient rises like the Skidbladner, piercing through adversity and pain. Clocking in at 50 minutes, Ancient is a journey to Viking times, but not your typical depictions. There’s great respect here for Scandinavian, Slavic, and even Finno-Uralic cultures. It’s a mix of mythologies and folklore from all over Northern and Eastern Europe, all presented with the most epic and resolute riffs you’ve felt in a while. You’ll want to stand up and strike a Black Metal pose as you’re swept away by this tsunami of well-crafted, no-nonsense Doom Metal. Time is unkind to us all, but Scald feels fresh, revitalized, as if nothing has happened in almost 30 years—a true testament to its resilience.

Perseverance is the word that defines this album. Scald has patiently worked its way back, and you can feel it in the music. The years of effort and careful thought shine through the melodic guitars (how can they have so many awesome guitar solos?), the clean drums, and the vocals that pay great tribute to old Candlemass. Ancient might be long, but it’s not pretentious. It conveys its message with simplicity and directness. It’s a love letter to this region of the world, its peoples, and its cultures. Finally, we have a Viking Metal album that’s not trying to become a meme. That’s refreshing!

Alright, this is all super flattering and moving, but are there things to be worried about? Well, perhaps my only real issue with Ancient is that it does get a bit too long, especially by the time you reach “The Enemy Among Us.” Don’t get me wrong—all the tracks are killing it, but you might get an epic overdose (if that’s even possible) with so much heroic drama going on. Also, don’t expect substantial variation between tracks. They all sound great, but they stick to a strong and reliable formula. If anything, this album answers the question: What would have happened if Will of the Gods had the budget and technology of today? I’m so happy we’ve found out!

Is this the comeback of the year? There are still a few months left and a lot can change, but as of right now, Scald has achieved something that seemed impossible: returning from the dead with an absolute banger! How many bands can return in shape after such a long slumber? Satan? Carcass maybe? It’s hard to say if this new release will surpass Will of the Gods, but it’s an honorable successor that could make its past members smile from Valhalla. Time will tell if it becomes another 5.0/5.0. But for this humble servant, the joy of listening to Scald once again cannot be washed away by the mighty sea.

Label: High Roller Records

Release date: 25 July, 2024

Website: https://www.facebook.com/scaldepicdoom

Country: Russia

Score: Eternal glory! or maybe something like 4.0-4.5/5.0!