Vreid The Skies Turn Black
Consensus is still forming across 4 professional reviews. Vreid's The Skies Turn Black arrives as a widescreen reclaiming of purpose, marrying the band's heritage with a cinematic, genre-bending palette that critics call both revitalized and expansive. Across professional reviews, the consensus points to a record that leans into melodic black metal and gothic black 'n' roll f
The opener "From These Woods" is best for merging Windir-like melodies with fresh vocal and arpeggio dynamics.
Reviewers consistently highlight “From These Woods” as an epic, windswept opener and point to “Loving the Dead” as a show-stealer—an eight-minute centerpiece propelled by Agnete Kj
Best for listeners looking for genre fusion and cinematic sweep, starting with Loving the Dead and From These Woods.
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Full consensus notes
Vreid's The Skies Turn Black arrives as a widescreen reclaiming of purpose, marrying the band's heritage with a cinematic, genre-bending palette that critics call both revitalized and expansive. Across professional reviews, the consensus points to a record that leans into melodic black metal and gothic black 'n' roll fusion, where tracks like “From These Woods” and “Loving the Dead” emerge repeatedly as the album's most compelling moments.
Critics agree the album earned a largely positive reception, with a 73.75/100 consensus score across 4 professional reviews that praise the balance of heaviness and melody, the piano/key atmospheres, and an adventurous willingness to move beyond strict black metal norms. Reviewers consistently highlight “From These Woods” as an epic, windswept opener and point to “Loving the Dead” as a show-stealer—an eight-minute centerpiece propelled by Agnete Kjølsrud's guest contributions. Other standout mentions include the title track “The Skies Turn Black” and “Flammen”, both cited for their classic-metal hooks and melodic craft.
While several critics celebrate the album as a return to form and renewal after a period of stagnation, some notes of reservation appear: one reviewer found moments like “Echoes of Life” too old-timey to fit the record's forward momentum. Overall the critical consensus suggests The Skies Turn Black is worth attention from anyone searching for the best songs on the album, combining epic songwriting, gothic atmospheres, and a crisp production that frames Vreid's most cohesive work in years. Read on for detailed reviews and track-by-track observations.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Loving the Dead
3 mentions
"Kjølsrud’s contributions to the almost gothy “Loving the Dead” make it one of the best songs the band has ever penned."— Angry Metal Guy
A Second Death
1 mention
"A Second Death" repeats that trick, with gnarly, quasi-thrash riffing"— Blabbermouth
From These Woods
4 mentions
"The album begins on a strong note with “From These Woods,” which is one of the longer and more epic tracks."— Angry Metal Guy
The album begins on a strong note with “From These Woods,” which is one of the longer and more epic tracks.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
From These Woods
The Skies Turn Black
A Second Death
Kraken (From the Official Motion Picture Soundtrack "Kraken")
Loving the Dead
Build & Destroy
Chaos
Flammen
Smile of Hate
Echoes of Life
The Earth Rumbles
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 4 critics who reviewed this album
Bl
Critic's Take
VREID have never sounded more expansive than on The Skies Turn Black, where the band flagrantly refuses the blackened rulebook and revels in widescreen fury and sheen. The best songs on The Skies Turn Black are immediate - “From These Woods” opens with epic, windswept ferocity and feels like six minutes of triumphant heavy metal, while the title track “The Skies Turn Black” brings classic metal bluster and whip-smart hooks. Overall, the record balances primitive roots and broader textures so convincingly that these standout tracks underline why this is VREID's strongest work in years.
Key Points
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The opening “From These Woods” epitomizes the album's epic songwriting and cinematic sweep.
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The album's core strength is fusing black metal roots with widescreen, accessible metal arrangements and adventurous textures.
Themes
Critic's Take
Vreid stitch together past and present on The Skies Turn Black, where the best tracks - “From These Woods” and “Loving the Dead” - crystallize the album's strengths. The opener “From These Woods” channels older Windir melodies while fresh clean vocals and arpeggios lift it beyond nostalgia. “Loving the Dead” becomes a show-stealer, Agnete Kjølsrud's performance giving the gothic synth rock a disarming charm. Elsewhere the title track and “Flammen” underscore Vreid's knack for blending black metal ferocity with a melodic, veteran touch.
Key Points
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The opener "From These Woods" is best for merging Windir-like melodies with fresh vocal and arpeggio dynamics.
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The album's core strength is blending second-wave black metal heritage with gothic and black 'n' roll textures.
Themes
An
Critic's Take
In his characteristic blunt and enthusiastic tone, the reviewer argues that Vreid have delivered a revitalized record with The Skies Turn Black, and the best songs on The Skies Turn Black are clearly “Loving the Dead” and “From These Woods”. He praises “Loving the Dead” as an eight-minute epic dominated by Agnete Kjølsrud, calling it one of the best songs the band has ever penned, and credits “From These Woods” for opening the album with epic scope and jolting transitions. The writer also singles out “Smile of Hate” for its headbangable riff and piano passages, while criticizing “Echoes of Life” as too old-timey to fit the record.
Key Points
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“Loving the Dead” is best for its dominant guest vocals by Agnete Kjølsrud and its emotional eight-minute arc.
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The album’s core strengths are its piano/key atmospheres and a renewed return-to-form energy.
Themes
Critic's Take
Vreid arrive with The Skies Turn Black as a record of immense scope, both crushingly heavy and beautifully melodic, and the review’s tone is quietly impressed. The reviewer frames the album as a reinvigoration after stagnation, noting how opener “From These Woods” encapsulates that strange mix of familiarity and inventiveness. If readers search for the best tracks on The Skies Turn Black, the piece points them to “From These Woods” as the clearest example of Vreid’s regained voice. The writing keeps a measured, slightly dour register while still celebrating the band’s willingness to let wild ideas manifest.
Key Points
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The reviewer singles out “From These Woods” as the best track because it crystallizes the album’s heavy-melodic contrasts and Vreid’s renewed inventiveness.
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The album’s core strengths are its sweeping scope, melding crushing heaviness with unexpected melody and atmosphere drawn from the band’s landscape.