Swedish power metal titans Brothers Of Metal have returned with their latest album, Fimbulvinter. After a four-year break since their acclaimed Emblas Saga, the eight-piece band has released a collection of 13 new tracks that merge their signature Norse mythology themes with hard-hitting, genre-defying soundscapes. Fans who’ve been eagerly awaiting their next move will not be disappointed, as the album is both a nod to their roots and bold, new explorations.

“We’ve evolved as songwriters,” vocalist Mats Nilsson explains. “Our core sound is there, but the songs on Fimbulvinter have more depth and width than before. We’ve ventured into new territories and explored new stories, while still delivering the anthems our fans love.” The album blends elements of epic power metal with gritty guitar riffs, thunderous drums, and a vocal power that echoes straight from Valhalla.

Since their debut with Prophecy of Ragnarök in 2017, Brothers Of Metal have amassed a sizable following thanks to their blend of catchy, battle-ready anthems and their striking visual presentation, complete with martial outfits and nods to the Norse gods. Their growing reputation continued with Emblas Saga in 2020, and now Fimbulvinter is poised to further solidify their status as one of the biggest power metal bands on the planet.

The album’s singles thusfar have set the tone for this new era. The first, “Heavy Metal Viking,” which dropped in June, introduced a surprisingly southern rock vibe. Nilsson remarks, “‘Heavy Metal Viking’ has an '80s southern hard rock feel, which is far from what you’d expect from us.” This track was followed by “Nanna’s Fate,” a lyric video released in August, and the album’s title track “Fimbulvinter."

The rest of the album isn’t shy about diving into the mythological, with tracks like “Berserkir,” “Flight of the Ravens,” and “Ratatosk,” all evoking vivid imagery of Nordic legends. But Brothers Of Metal also push their creative boundaries with songs like “Rivers of Gold,” a self-described Viking party ballad, and the experimental edge found throughout Fimbulvinter. Most of the tracks were crafted by guitarist Dawid Grahn, vocalist Ylva Eriksson, and drummer Johan Johansson, with additional contributions from the rest of the band and their new live guitarist, Christian Larsson.

And what exactly is a Fimbulvinter? Nilsson explains, “It’s ‘the great winter’ in Norse mythology - a winter that is colder and darker than all others, lasting three years. It’s one of the first signs that Ragnarök is coming.”