French dark‑folk collective Skáld have issued their new track "Dǫkksalir", unveiling/unleashing/revealing gentle, hypnotic melodies that drift almost like a lullaby — perfectly suited to the concept of enchanting yet unsettling sirens lurking in the shadows. The song is taken from the band's new record, Ørlǫg, which is due for release this Friday, 25 September.
Ørlǫg marks Skáld's first release via Napalm Records and summons ancient spirits as the ensemble invites listeners into times long past yet never forgotten.
Arriving just in time to bring their new music to stages across Europe and the United Kingdom, Skáld are set for a major autumn UK/EU arena tour supporting The Hu, kicking off on 29 September in Glasgow (tour dates below).
Skáld on "Dǫkksalir": "'Dokksalir' draws us into the dark depths of the sea; in the distance, the sirens' song calls to us, yet also terrifies us; mischievous spirits watch us and laugh at us; they already know we will be weak; the light no longer protects us; down below, eyes stare at you—perhaps it is you yourself watching yourself lose your way. Those siren voices are so beautiful".
As the Norns weave our future, Ørlǫg becomes a fascinating passageway into our pristine origins and the consequences of our choices. With ten new tracks acting as stepping stones, the album is an offering to listen, dwell, reflect — and discover something within yourself previously unknown. Skáld do not merely perform music; they awaken ancient ways.
A staple group within the neofolk realm, Skáld deliver a striking work of art with their latest body of work, respectfully drawing from their sources to keep old spirits alive and shape the enchanting world of Ørlǫg. The language may sound unfamiliar, yet the music reaches the soul.
Skáld on Ørlǫg: "Ørlǫg is the cosmic web that influences the world and every person. Part of our Ørlǫg is determined by our birth, our past actions, and our upbringing, but Ørlǫg is not set in stone; our daily choices are constantly shaping it. What we do now and what we have done in the past determines what will happen to us in the future; we cannot escape the consequences of our actions. This album makes us question our choices—both individual and collective—and the patterns we accept or reject. The Norns weave our destiny, but we can take control of certain things: travel, ride worlds, and grow. Each song on this album describes a situation, a place, a choice to be made. Let's take hold of our Ørlǫg". Link
* Skáld - Live 2026 (as special guest for The Hu on their Warrior Chant Tour):
29.09.26 UK - Glasgow / O2 Academy
01.10.26 UK - Bristol / Prospect Building
02.10.26 UK - Bournemouth / O2 Academy
03.10.26 UK - Newcastle / O2 City Hall
05.10.26 UK - Belfast / The Telegraph Building
06.10.26 IE - Dublin / 3Olympia Theatre
08.10.26 UK - Birmingham / O2 Academy Birmingham
09.10.26 UK - London / O2 Academy Brixton
10.10.26 UK - Manchester / O2 Apollo
11.10.26 UK - Norwich / UEA LCR
14.10.26 BE - Brussels / Ancienne Belgique
15.10.26 DE - Hamburg / Sporthalle
17.10.26 DE - Munich / Tonhalle
18.10.26 DE - Berlin / Columbiahalle
19.10.26 PL - Warsaw / Stodola
20.10.26 PL - Warsaw / Stodola
22.10.26 DE - Cologne / Palladium
23.10.26 NL - Utrecht / TivoliVredenburg
24.10.26 NL - Tilburg / 013
27.10.26 FR - Lyon / Le Radiant
28.10.26 FR - Paris / L'Olympia
30.10.26 CH - Zurich / X-TRA
31.10.26 LU - Esch-sur-Alzette / Rockhal
01.11.26 BE - Brussels / Ancienne Belgique
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"I like to call our music suicide pop, because our songs are pretty easy to listen to, but the topics are very negative and quite dark. It's pop, but negative pop." - Simone Salvatori
"I can call our show an emotional exhibitionism. If you want to drink beer and cry, please come to our show, haha." - Nokt Aeon
"It's a dark album. According to me, it's the darkest yet in our discography. It's also very suggestive, very introverted, less direct, and might be less friendly..." - Daniel Moilanen
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