Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

Norwegian melodic black metal veterans ISKALD have finally released “The Other Realm”, the first and only single from their highly anticipated sixth full-length album, “Curse of the Mind”, due out on September 25th, 2026 via Dusktone.

After two teasers offering fragmented glimpses into the record, “The Other Realm” opens the door to the album’s first chapter in full. Vast, cold and deeply atmospheric, the track combines ISKALD‘s characteristic melodic black metal with a more imposing and immersive approach, moving between driving passages and expansive sections where melody and atmosphere take centre stage. It is the first complete piece from “Curse of the Mind” and provides a decisive introduction to the psychological descent at the heart of the album.

Stream “The Other Realm” at THIS LOCATION.

Frontman Aage Krekling comments:

“With ‘The Other Realm’ we finally open the gate.
After two teasers that were meant as invocations – fragments from across the whole album – it felt right that the first complete song should be the beginning of the story itself. ‘The Other Realm’ is Chapter I, The Descent. It is that moment of realization when you understand you are already in Helheim. Not dead, but empty. The vastness, the cold, the isolation – that stark, Norse-inspired landscape is not fantasy for us, it is the shape taken by inner darkness.
Musically it contains everything ‘Curse of the Mind’ is about – fast and brutal yet melancholy and atmosphere with dynamic that breathes, built by this five-piece line-up for the first time. ‘The Other Realm’ It’s an opening assault that drags you straight into the new unknown – where blasting intensity collides with fragile, mournful melody. If the teasers were the doorway, this is the first step into the void. The rest should be experienced as one piece.”

Preorders:
https://dusktone.bandcamp.com/album/curse-of-the-mind
https://www.dusktone.org/

Following the acclaimed “Innhøstinga” (2018), the new album marks the beginning of a new chapter for the band after signing with Dusktone in early 2026. Available on colored LP, black LP, CD Box and CD, “Curse of the Mind” was recorded during the summer of 2025 at Strand Studio in Beiarn, mixed and mastered by Hallstein Sandvin, and features artwork by SG7 Graphics.

For over two decades, ISKALD have stood among the leading names in Norwegian melodic black metal. Now performing as a five-piece, the band expands its trademark northern sound with its most ambitious and immersive work to date.

Built as a conceptual journey, “Curse of the Mind” unfolds through four interconnected chapters linked by ritualistic invocations, exploring themes of psychological torment, inner conflict, fragile hope and ultimate sacrifice. Framed within a stark, Norse-inspired vision of Helheim, the story is mythological in setting but deeply psychological at its core. Helheim is not merely a place, it is the shape taken by inner darkness. The true battlefield is the mind itself.

The album unfolds in four movements, connected by four ritual Invocations:

I. The Other Realm – The Descent
Vast emptiness, fog and isolation.

II. Manifestation of Madness – The Prison
Doubt, fragmentation and psychological collapse.

III. A Burden of Hope – The Fragile Light
Strength found through accepting the darkness within.

IV. The Sacrifice – The Ritual
Before the throne of Hela, suffering becomes meaningful.

Tracklist:

1. Curse of the Mind – Invocation I
2. The Other Realm
3. Curse of the Mind – Invocation II
4. Manifestation of Madness
5. Curse of the Mind – Invocation III
6. A Burden of Hope
7. Curse of the Mind – Final Invocation
8. The Sacrifice

Upcoming ISKALD concerts:

Bodø/Sinus: 03.10.2026
Oslo/Vaterland: 24.10.2026
Trondheim/(TBA): 29.01.2027

Line-up:

Aage Krekling – Vocals
Simon Larsen – Guitars
Ben Hansen – Guitars
Isak Larsen – Drums
Tobias Aubert – Bass

ISKALD were formed in 2005 in Sortland, Northern Norway, by Simon Larsen and Aage Krekling, with the ambition of creating a distinctive form of melodic black metal deeply connected to the atmosphere of the Arctic north. After the self-released “Northern Twilight” EP, the band gained international attention with their debut album “Shades of Misery” (2007), establishing themselves as one of the most promising acts in the Norwegian scene.

Throughout their career, ISKALD have developed a sound where cold melodies, aggression and atmospheric depth coexist, drawing inspiration from nature, Norse heritage and existential themes. Their discography includes acclaimed albums such as “Revelations of Reckoning Day” (2008), “The Sun I Carried Alone” (2011), “Nedom og Nord” (2014) and “Innhøstinga” (2018), each marking a further evolution of their artistic vision.

Having performed at festivals including Inferno Festival, Midgardsblot, Hove Festival and by:Larm, and shared stages with major names in extreme metal, ISKALD now enter a new phase with Dusktone. The partnership leads to the release of “Curse of the Mind”, their sixth full-length album and first concept record, arriving in 2026.

https://iskaldofficial.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/iskaldofficial/
https://www.facebook.com/iskaldofficial