Icelandic sorcerous folk metal newcomers HRAFNABLÓT have released their debut single, “Svartigaldur,” alongside the band’s first official music video. The track serves as the opening chapter of their forthcoming debut album, Guðlaugar Saga, scheduled for release in fall 2026.
Built around a traditional Icelandic folk melody, “Svartigaldur” transforms the classic tune Að bíða þess sem búið er into a powerful folk metal anthem infused with black metal influences, driving rhythms, and soaring clean vocals. The song introduces a pivotal moment in the album’s overarching narrative, following modern-day protagonist Guðlaug after she is mistaken for a witch and bound to the mast of a Viking longship during her unexpected journey into Iceland’s settlement age.
The accompanying music video was directed and edited by bassist Þórgnýr Einar Albertsson, with creative direction from vocalist Hugrún Hanna Stefánsdóttir. Filmed across Iceland’s harsh winter landscapes, the production captures the band’s ritualistic aesthetic while showcasing locations including the windswept lighthouse at Selvogur and the forests of Þrastarskógur. According to the band, filming took place in temperatures reaching as low as -15°C.
Regarding the single, HRAFNABLÓT commented:
“Svartigaldur was the last song we wrote for the album, and it came together at lightning speed. We’re extremely proud to finally release it as we invite every listener on this journey through the Icelandic settlement age along with us.”
Guðlaugar Saga is conceived as a full narrative album chronicling Guðlaug’s adventure after being transported from the present day to Viking-era Iceland armed with nothing more than modern clothing and a taser. Throughout seven full-length songs and two spoken-word interludes, the record explores themes of fate, survival, identity, and whether its protagonist will return to her own time or embrace a new life in the past.
Musically, the album blends Icelandic folk traditions with Nordic folk metal, NWOBHM, gothic influences, and extreme metal, creating a sound that balances melody and aggression while drawing heavily from Icelandic mythology, folklore, Skaldic poetry, and historical magical traditions.
Formed in Reykjavík in 2024, HRAFNABLÓT have quickly established themselves on Iceland’s live circuit, performing at venues including Íslenski rokkbarinn, Lemmy, BIRD, and the Icelandic Sorcery Festival. Their performances combine theatrical storytelling, ritualistic presentation, and dynamic musicianship to create an immersive live experience rooted in Icelandic myth and landscape.