HELFRÓ are coming back in from the cold with Tálgröf. The Icelandic duo’s second album is inspired by the myriad dark manifestations of the human mind. Through intense rhythmic passages, sick drummer Ragnar Sverrisson and axeman Simon Thorolfsson delve into the most depraved cavities of the human psyche, while melting their native black metal with traditional, fiery death metal and tortured lyrics.
Tálgröf comes out this Friday, December 1. But you can listen to all nine hell-raising tracks on HELFRÓ‘s new album today, thanks to Black Metal Promotion.
Listen: https://youtu.be/jChsDF_tm-0
“Tálgröf is a high octane, extremely entertaining album”, according to Metal Sucks, “…the future looks very bright for a band that spends a good portion of their year shrouded in complete darkness”.
Lead single Fláráð Fræði puts a fresh, icy-cold twist on the blackened-death metal that HELFRÓ carved out on their self-titled debut album, with tremolo riffs that rain down with all the fury of a hailstorm.
“Ildi Óhreins Anda” chugs along a melodic groove, though the song is more sinister than it lets on. The lyrics on Tálgröf are based on interviews, journals and features on mass murders. “Traðkandi Blómin í eigin Hjartagarði” is about how these killers would poison themselves with mind-altering substances and sleep deprivation in order to commit heinous crimes that go ahead our very nature, all while reveling in the glorious death metal shredding that Ragnar grew up going to see with his uncle.
HELFRÓ are still as cold and unforgiving as the winters in their home country. But ‘Tálgröf’ is prime to light a fire beneath Icelandic metal.
“…a barrage of killer riffs, crushing blast beats and even some melodies here and there”, writes Metal Injection. “…downright mesmerizing drumming by Ragnar Sverrisson, who puts on a freakin’ clinic on this record”.
Here’s what Ragnar has to say about his band’s new album:
“The gate has opened and unspeakable horrors are now loose! Immerse yourself in the darkest thought patterns of murder and death upon which Tálgröf was conceived. Let the majestic furiosity envelope your very being. Thank you all for joining us on this dark journey. Hail the duality of man.”
Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/helfro-talgrof
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/talgrofpresave
Icelandic black metal ensemble HELFRÓ are back with Tálgröf, an album that’s inspired by the dark manifestations of the human mind. The sickness of humankind is explored through intense rhythmic passages, fusing the extremities of traditional death metal together with sombre, introspective lyrical convictions.
The album’s third single, ‘Traðkandi Blómin í eigin Hjartagarði’ (meaning: “Trampling the Flowers in Your Own Heart’s Garden”), absolutely crushes with destructive blast beats, chugging death metal riffs and tremolo-picked melodies. It’s another Tálgröf track that explores the facets of humanity’s worst killers. The numbing of one’s emotions is placed at the forefront in its chilling lyricism.
“We explore the idea of consciously numbing yourself of any positive emotion in preparation of committing acts that go against the fundamental laws of humanism & your own very nature,” says vocalist Ragnar Sverrisson. “The persona is exposing themselves to violence and indifference, poisoning themselves with mind-altering substances while cutting off human contact and sleep depriving themselves.”
The sinister new single is a maelstrom that explodes into a crushing middle section before twisting around a glorious amalgamation of death metal riffing & black metal blasting.
Watch the visualizer for ‘Traðkandi Blómin í eigin Hjartagarði’:
https://youtu.be/VYm19rtNgRY
Tálgröf comes out December 1.
Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/helfro-talgrof
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/talgrofpresave
1. Jarteikn (3:30)
2. Fláráð Fræði (4:01) [WATCH VIDEO]
3. Fangelsaður í Tilvist að Eilífu (3:48)
4. Þögnin Ytra, Kyrrðin Innra (4:43)
5. Guðlegt Réttlæti (5:13)
6. Sindur (2:28)
7. Ildi Óhreins Anda (3:58)
8. Traðkandi Blómin í Eigin Hjartagarði (3:21)
9. Minning um Morðingja (4:23)
Total: 35:25
Formed amidst the haunting landscapes of Iceland, HELFRÓ is a formidable force in the world of blackened death metal. With their relentless aggression, atmospheric soundscapes, and compelling songwriting, they have carved their own path in the metal scene.
The journey of HELFRÓ began when guitarist and songwriter Ragnar Sverrisson sought to bring his musical visions to life, Drawing inspiration from the bleakness of Icelandic winters, the mysticism of nature, and the chaos of the human experience. HELFRÓ‘s debut album, aptly titled “Helfró“, was released in 2020, marking the band’s official entry into the world of extreme metal. With a relentless barrage of blast beats, crushing riffs, and haunting melodies, the album showcased their ability to seamlessly blend aggression and atmosphere.
Evolving with the advent of the sophomore album, Tálgröf, listeners can expect even more ferocity as HELFRÓ dives deeper into death metal territory while not straying to far from the signature ice-cold climactic tremolo riffing notable of their previous work. Characterized by its ferocity, the new album also carries introspective and thought-provoking themes, reflecting the band members’ willingness to explore the depths of the human experience. HELFRÓ is destined to leave an impact on the realm of extreme music, captivating audiences with their unique brand of Icelandic metal.
Follow Helfró