Over the last five years there have been a lot of bands emerging in the Folk adjacent space in the metalsphere. WHISPERING VOID, hailing from western Norway, is one such band. On October 18 they release their debut album, "At the Sound of the Heart," via Prophecy Productions. Some people may be inclined to call them a ‘super group’ of sorts but I find the term a little cringeworthy, so we’ll stick with ‘project’ or ‘collective.’

WHISPERING VOID specializes in Folk-infused, Atmospheric sound. Granted, they are folk in the same way that Folk Horror is folk. We’re talking melodically Atmospheric and slightly sinister with soaring vocals underpinned by traditional instruments—e.g. bones and hides of once living animals plus acoustic flourishes of violins, cellos, etc. On one hand, your soul is put at peace and your mind at ease listening to their music; on the other, it stirs something arcane and primeval. Their music seems at once ritualistic and invocative—not evocative, but invocative. Like they have called forth something out of the fog.

Promo material explains that WHISPERING VOID comprises “the distinctive voices of WARDRUNA vocalist Lindy-Fay Hella and her male counterpart Kristian "Gaahl" Espedal spellbind the listener with an enormous range of techniques and sounds. Guitarist Ronny Stavestrand and ENSLAVED drummer Iver Sandøy combine ambient, psychedelic prog, and rock with notes of dark folk and metal on "At the Sound of the Heart" into something essentially Nordic but extending beyond already explored dimensions. The album also welcomes guest musicians Matias Monsen (cello) and Silje Solberg (Hardanger fiddle). The regular release includes seven tracks with a run time around 43 minutes; the deluxe version includes a bonus track, “Vines.”

The collective is at their best when they step into exploratory spaces—for instance there are movements in the title-track, "At the Sound of the Heart," that are simply fascinating. The cello and percussion, the layered choir-like vocals, the insistent almost-spoken word main vocals all conspire to create a unique and mesmerizing composition. Easily the best track on the album. “Lauvvind” (trans: leaf wind) is also intriguing. I love the bass on this as well as what I am guessing is the guzheng (Indian slide guitar). The remaining five tracks (six if you count the bonus) are extremely well done and lovely to the ear but I wouldn’t call them terribly distinctive amongst the sea of current Folk and Atmospheric bands.

All in all, WHISPERING VOID’s "At the Sound of the Heart" is a solid project album by a collective of accomplished artists. Certainly worth the purchase price and certainly a band you would want to see live. I wouldn’t say they do anything terribly innovative or break any kind of musical mold. It’s like they had something on their mind and then they came together and said it. Ultimately WHISPERING VOID comes across as an interesting side venture. Highly recommended for fans into Atmospheric and Folk-adjacent music. I’ll be curious to see if they stay together to produce other works.