Seid (Sweden): “Ulv”

​Once again, I need to write this article to update you about Seid, one of the most interesting bands of the Swedish scene in recent years. Yes, because after the EP Neocrome released in October 2018, the Stockholm band has already returned with a new full-length, the third of their career, called Ulv after the first-born of the group’s mastermind Seiðr. Ulv marks a significant step forward in the development of the band's soundscape, and, as a matter of fact, it encompasses a lot of ideas, styles, and approaches; therefore, defining Seid a black metal band is an understatement because their music is melodic, atmospheric, epic, folk, and much more at the same time. On the one hand, the band pays tribute to the Swedish tradition, on the other hand, this tradition is transformed into something new and personal. Furthermore, the album surprises continually and keeps the listener's interest alive thanks to variation, which makes the songs individual and different from one another; additionally, micro-variations within the individual songs contribute to this sense of both transformation and solid structure. For example, while tracks like “Monolith” and “Spider in the Web of Urd” have a relatively traditional structure, “A Gift for the Wanderer” almost crosses over into jazz with an unexpected bass solo, and “Ulv” and “Visa från Wotanmyra” are practically folk songs. The themes are, as always, mythology and occultism, around which the whole concept of the band Seid revolves. In conclusion, Ulv is an album to be discovered and listened to; highly recommended.
 
Notes:
Ulv will be released on August 1 2019 through Urtoid Void; pre-order of physical copies available through the Bandcamp player below.
 
Personal:
Seiðr: guitars, vocals
Arant: drums
Alex: bass
 
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com