In Norse mythology, Ginnungagap is a primordial, magical void from which the world itself was created by Odin and his brothers. Tapping into this rich vein of lore, EVILON, the Melodic Folk/Death Metal group from Arvika, Sweden, has crafted their third full-length album, Ginnungagap, to be released on April 4, 2025 via Fetzner Death Records. The last we heard from EVILON was in 2023 with their Warrior’s Way album. Since that time, they’ve refreshed their lineup as well as their approach, experimenting with “vocals, lyrics, melodies and even the symphonic parts.”

While a few things may have changed about EVILON, what hasn’t changed in their devotion to Viking inspired lore, mythology, and sagas. With Ginnungagap we get tracks about Thor’s hammer, "Mjölnir"; "Huldra," the seductive forest spirit; Fenrir, the monstrous giant wolf; and "Nidhöggr," the dragon. We even get a song about EVILON’s brothers. Okay, so as it turns out Evilon does not feature in Norse mythology. I checked. I mean, it sounds like it could, but it doesn’t. It’s just a mythical sounding name. The song “Brothers of Evilon” is actually the first recorded track with the new EVILON lineup, which is kind of cool. Not folklore level cool, but a notable milestone at least.

Ginnungagap is a very even-keeled album. The production values are impressive, and each track is a formidable example of true Viking metal—heavy, melodic riffs; gruff vocals; thunderous bass; and pounding percussion. Thematically, there is an uplifting inflection which comes with a lot of Viking and Folk metal—not quite shanty but at least mug swaying.

Best tracks are hard to select, but I’ll give it a shot. First, “Far From Home” for its infectious riffage as well as its theme—“wherever we go, we make it our own.” As an expat living abroad for a significant part of my life, this song hits the mark. I also like the acoustic break. Second, “Unbreakable” which builds from mellow to melodic to crushing. Nice ramp up there. Third, “Memories of Yesterday” which has those experimental elements the band refers to in their promo material. I always appreciate innovation, and in this case, it pays off. Fourth, the aforementioned “Brothers of Evilon” is a straight-forward tune with a catchy melody and some interesting breaks of its own.

Altogether, EVILON has returned to the scene with a solid haul of Viking treasure. Fans of Viking and Folk are sure to enjoy as will followers of Melodic Death. Strongly recommended, this one. Skål to ya all.