From Bandcamp, “In the music of FORNDOM, the past breathes with a vitality that transcends time. “Moþir” is as complex as the deities it portrays, weaving together themes of fertility and loyalty, love and betrayal, light and shadow. It is an exploration of divine ambiguity, where the nurturing embrace of a mother can just as easily turn into the cold hand of inevitability. Here, Ludvig Swärd strips away the modern trappings of synthesizers, embracing a purely acoustic sound. The music feels as though it has been carved from the very earth, born from instruments fashioned by hand and played with reverence for the ancient.” The album has seven songs.

“Tunidor” is first, and it begins with some soft rain falling. Tense strings, drums, and vocals are added, and you get a keen sense of something ominous out there. I suddenly feel a chill in the air. “Urd” is another song that uses a tense set of drum beats, and the harmonized vocals give the song dark, folky feeling. They rise at tomes, pushing subtle melodies into the air, and give it time to soak in, because it is actually quite charming. “Moderstårar” is the longest on the album, and majestic french horn notes pierce the veil, followed by strings and light drumming. One thing that Ludvig is clearly able to do so far is hold the listener in suspense through much of the album.

“Disar” has a bit more meat to it, especially on the lower end. Heavy drums thud, and strings create a sinister sound. When the vocals come in, the tension lessens, and the harmonized vocals are solemn. You get the sense that there is so much more out there then what you can see. “Jord” has both sober and hardened tones, almost as if nature is trying to slowly take away the strength of a rock buried in the earth. The melody is simple, but so pleasing, and it is also thin enough to be carried away by a breeze. “Rán” is more of a primal sound. Drums beat, strings sing, and mist envelopes the listener.

“Den kärlek som vi gav” closes the album. Fingers snap, drums beat, and the vocals are somber again. It almost sounds to me as if they are crying out, but by the end, your tears are dry. Overall, I appreciate the minimalist approach to the music, because it allows the layers to be stripped off and the core is left for the listener to enjoy. The core here is both somber and prophetic, and it hints at a world we all know is coming, but we push it down deep inside to avoid the confrontation.