The second single from “Av stoft” – the upcoming album of Swedish blackened metal duo Jordfäst – is an excerpt from “Abortologen”. “Av stoft” is due for release on all formats on October 28, 2022.
As with many acts on the Nordvis roster, the forces of nature play a significant role in Jordfäst’s thematic content. What sets them apart is the focus on her destructive qualities – in particular how they tend to humble mankind. Another focal point is that of humanity’s tendency to treat one another even worse than we do the natural world. All material is composed and arranged to bring immersion and depth to the tales enacted through the lyrics. This formula makes for a highly versatile and varied work, steeped with the desperate echoes from the grim past of bygone Scandinavia.
The band commented:
“Abortologen” combines melodies rooted in Scandinavian folk music and razor-sharp thorns of thrash metal – both elements blended into an eerie concoction of sorrow and brutality. Lyrically, the song bears some resemblance to a broadside ballad; it tells the tragic tale of a young girl who becomes pregnant after being raped by her priest. In order to protect his reputation as a man of God, he forces her to terminate the pregnancy by having a back-alley abortion. The preacher finances the procedure with his gold, but the girl pays with her life and the secret follows both mother and child into the grave.
Jordfäst – “Av stoft”
“Av stoft” – Swedish for ‘Of dust’ – continues where “Hädanefter” (2021) left off. With folky melodies and theatrical narratives woven into a solid backbone of black metal, Jordfäst delve further into the barren realms of Scandinavian hardship and melancholy. Epic and dreaming, “Av stoft” conjures up wistful soundscapes comparable to genre greats such as Skogen, Saiva, and Primordial.
The two songs, which have a combined playing time of 33 minutes, tell sobering tales of human struggles against societal norms and religious oppression; the fight for the right to determine one’s own fate. As tends to be the case in real life, these stories are stripped entirely of both heroes and happy endings. The harsh truths of the natural world are imbued in not only the album’s concept but also its musical core – the gloomy layers interspersed with searing melodies reflect a reality as unforgiving as the northern winter.
“Av stoft” was recorded at Studio Wheelmust, with the duo’s multi-instrumentalist Elis Edin Markskog at the helm. Mixed and mastered at The Overlook by William Blackmon. The album features a guest vocalist appearance by Joakim Svensson of fellow Nordvis band Skogen. Session drums by Joakim Unger. “Av stoft” will be released on all formats on October 28, 2022.
Both members of Jordfäst have roots that reach deep beneath the forests of Småland, Sweden. However, their branches reach all the way from the vast Scanian fields to the frost-covered mountains of Tromsø. The duo became part of the Nordvis community after reaching out in late 2020; having followed the label for over fifteen years, they were convinced that Nordvis would be the perfect fit for Jordfäst. After listening to their music and reading the lyrics, label manager Andreas Pettersson agreed.
As with many acts on the Nordvis roster, the forces of nature play a significant role in Jordfäst’s thematic content. What sets them apart is the focus on her destructive qualities – in particular how they tend to humble mankind. Another focal point is that of humanity’s tendency to treat one another even worse than we do the natural world. All material is composed and arranged to bring immersion and depth to the tales enacted through the lyrics. This formula makes for a highly versatile and varied work, steeped with the desperate echoes from the grim past of bygone Scandinavia.
The band commented:
With “Av stoft” we took a more timeless approach by implementing themes which have always been part of humanity’s history and shaped our society. Concepts pertaining to life and death; the right of the lone individual to either end or start one or the other as he sees fit, as well as the consequences that might follow. As on “Hädanefter”, the stories are told from several perspectives and depict everything from personal suffering to the relentless forces of nature – all of which are indifferent to our suffering and just biding their time to sweep us away, once and for all.
Tracklist:
1 – Abortologen (‘The abortionist’)
2 – Kom eld, kom regn (‘Come fire, come rain’)
Release date: October 28, 2022
Formats: CD, LP, Digital
Pre-sale link to publish alongside any news:
https://nordvis.com/jordfast-a-41
Scheduled single titles and release dates:
Single 1 – “Kom eld, kom regn Pt. 1”, September 16, 2022
Single 2 – “Abortologen Pt. 3”, September 30, 2022
Jordfäst:
Web: http://www.jordfast.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jordfastband
Bandcamp: https://jordfast.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jordfast_band