Review by Iron Mike
- https://volsungasaga.bandcamp.com/
- Release date: 10/4/2025
- Mixed and Mastered by Will Maravelas at 14:59 Studios
- Tags: metal folk metal minnesota pagan metal viking metal Minnesota
Setup
With the sheer volume of metal bands dropping new material these days, it’s really hard to stand out. Some bands resort of crazy gimmicks, some try to “blend in” with others in their sub-genre, all in the hopes of growing an audience for their art. VolsungaSaga isn’t like either of those examples. They mix elements of several sub-genres together to get a sound that’s uniquely theirs and in doing so, have dug their own niche in the modern metal world.
Norns Craft drops on 10/4/25 and marks their 3rd release. If you’re already a fan of theirs, this album brings more of what you love. For those who came in late, this is a great place to jump on the Minnesota Viking Metal bandwagon.
Fresh Meat
Foretold By Fate opens this album and wastes no time setting the tone. Heavy hitting intro riffs give way to the more melodic folk/viking metal style these guys embrace. Matt Parkin’s growling vocals make it easy to imagine an angry berserker is about to cleave your skull in 2 with his ax – which happens to be a Gibson flying V. The song plays back and forth between rising aggression and thoughtful melody before hammering to a halt at just over the 5-minute mark.
The second track, Ratatoskr, picks up right where the opener left off, hammering melodies over some interesting use of blast beats by drummer Linus Kanjus.
No VolsungaSaga album is complete without a killer, thoughtful guitar song (see Opna & Endir from Jotunns Upon Midgard) and Avergloam continues this tradition. Jake Bergstrom’s guitar skills and songwriting abilities really shine in these tracks.
The last song on this release, Odin Owns Ye All, is a bit of a departure from the rest. If you’re wondering why: it’s a cover of a song they love (see Einherjer). If you listen to the original, then this version, it’s clear to see they mixed elements of what makes VolsungaSaga, well, VolsungaSaga and made it their own. The track also sprinkles in some riffs that are pleasantly reminiscent of the earliest days of Slayer (think Show No Mercy or Haunting the Chapel era) which play really well with the aggression of VolsungaSaga’s style.
The Kill
If what you’re after is a band that delivers the same-old, same-old this is not the disc for you. If you’re looking for something different, off the beaten modern metal path, then look no further than VolsungaSaga. In a day and age where it’s very hard to stand out, musically, these guys do. Excellent musicianship, from Joe Chehoski’s bass, to Matt & Jake’s guitar work, to Linus’s drums and Matt’s vocals.
For those who live for the negatives: This release feels like it’s over right after it starts. Coming in at just under 30 minutes it feels like it stops on a cliffhanger but there’s no “next episode” in sight. Thankfully, they have 2 other releases to load into your playlist of choice.
Final Thoughts
While VolsungaSaga’s style may not be for everyone, anyone who knows they love metal should give this a listen or 5. The songs work very well, the recording and production are top notch. And, the cover itself is very, very cool.