Skogskvad

Released in 2006, Skogskvad is the debut full-length from the Norwegian duo Galar, consisting of M. Kristiansen and S.B. Johnsen. The album immediately distinguished itself within the crowded folk/black metal scene through its unconventional instrumentation, specifically the prominent use of the bassoon as a lead melodic voice. This woodwind focus, combined with piano and string arrangements, aligns the album with neoclassical and chamber folk traditions as much as it does with the second wave of black metal. Lyrically, the album explores themes of Norse mythology and the profound influence of the Norwegian landscape, with titles like 'Ragnarok' and 'Hugin og Munin' signaling its thematic roots. Critics noted the album for its ability to blend the harshness of black metal with a sophisticated, almost academic approach to arrangement, marking Galar as a project of high technical and compositional ambition.