''Sóknardalr'' is the debut studio album by Norwegian

black metal Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with tr ...

band Windir. It was released in March 1997 through the Head Not Found

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Background

Sóknardalr is the old Norse name of Valfar's hometown Sogndal. The lyrics are written in the Sogndal dialect, and the song titles in

Nynorsk Nynorsk (; ) is one of the two official written standards of the Norwegian language, the other being Bokmål. From 12 May 1885, it became the state-sanctioned version of Ivar Aasen's standard Norwegian language (''Landsmål''), parallel to the Da ...

, the official written form of Sogndal municipality.

Musical style

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

described the album as " usinglayers upon layers of keyboards and guitars on an almost unprecedented scale (mid-period Bathory being the one obvious inspirational touchstone), culminating in sweeping, mini-symphonies", featuring "synthesizer melodies

hat A hat is a Headgear, head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorpor ...

would become signature Windir hallmarks."

Critical reception

wrote, "In an almost singular case study within the annals of Scandinavian black metal, where groups require several years and albums in which to experiment, develop and mature their sound, ''Sóknardalr'' saw Windir springing fully formed like Athena from the head of Zeus".

Track listing

Personnel

* Valfar - vocals, all instruments, producer, mixing, photography

Additional personnel

*Steingrim - drums *Steinarson - clean vocals *Krohg - mixing, logo, artwork *J. E. Bjork - mastering, graphic design

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soknardalr Windir albums 1997 albums