Description
Release Date Friday 6th March 2026
All pre-orders will be dispatched/made ready for collection on that day.
FIVE YEARS AFTER THEIR LAST ALBUM, VREID RETURN WITH “THE SKIES TURN BLACK”!
On March 6th, 2026, Vreid will release The Skies Turn Black, their first studio album in five years and a powerful
statement from one of Norway’s most enduring metal bands. The album marks a renewed creative chapter, shaped
through a challenging but ultimately transformative process in which the band reconnected with the essence of their
Sognametal roots while exploring new dimensions of their sound.
Throughout the album’s eleven tracks, Vreid merges fragments of their past with a revitalized artistic drive. The early
breakthrough came with From These Woods, written during a late-night session in a remote mountain cabin. The
song captured the emotional core of the album and helped steer the band back toward the heart of their identity.
The title track The Skies Turn Black also holds a central place on the album. Written by bassist and songwriter Jarle
Kvåle as a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne and the music that has shaped his life, the song carries a deeply personal
foundation. Kvåle’s experience attending Black Sabbath’s farewell concert in Birmingham, after previously helping to
organize the band’s final Norwegian shows along with Ozzy’s, left a profound mark and sparked the creative energy
that shaped the song’s weight and atmosphere.
The album also highlights Vreid’s cinematic side. Kraken was composed for a major upcoming film project and carries
a personal dimension, as the film’s producer was the band’s first music teacher and helped them record their earliest
demos more than thirty years ago. In contrast, Loving the Dead expands Vreid’s musical territory with a striking guest
performance from Agnete Kjølsrud of Djerv, adding intensity and emotional depth that pushes the track into new
terrain.
With hand-drawn artwork by Kim Holm and a powerful production shaped together with producer Anders
Nordengen, The Skies Turn Black stands as one of Vreid’s most focused and expressive works to date. It reflects
pride, resilience and a renewed creative fire that defines the next era of the band.
The Skies Turn Black will be released on March 6th 2026, with pre-orders opening on December 10th. The release
aligns with Vreid’s return to European stages as they join Hypocrisy, Abbath and Vomitory on a major tour in 2026.
Vreid remains one of Norway’s most resilient and forward-driven metal bands, shaped by history, strengthened by
adversity and still driven by an unshakable creative fire.
TRACK LIST
1. From These Woods
2. The Skies Turn Black
3. A Second Death
4. Kraken
5. Loving the Dead
6. Build & Destroy
7. Chaos
8. Flammen
9. Smile of Hate
10. Echoes of Life
11. The Earth Rumbles
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