Skogskult Premiere “Pakten” Video; Debut LP Coming Later This Year
Posted in Bootleg Theater, Duuude, Tapes!, Visual Evidence on February 5th, 2025 by JJ KoczanAn exact date and the title remain elusive, but at some relevant point in the coming however long, Umeå, Sweden’s Skogskult will make their full-length debut through Bonebag Records. “Pakten,” as you can read under the video premiering below, is one of a trilogy of singles advancing the record, which was produced by Max Malmer, who also plays in narrative doomers Cavern Deep and runs the label. If you decide to take on the video, and I hope you do, you’ll find a first impression in spacious but raw tonality, Samuel Nordström’s standalone guitar echoing out with plenty of room for the bass to sneak in before the actual crash. They’re riffing soon enough, mid-paced, sludgy swing, Alexander Söderlund‘s drums ready when the breakout comes to Priest riffage and bassy chug from Albin Kroon.
The story grows more complex with the arrival of Simon Rosengrim‘s vocals. The standalone frontman has plenty of echo/reverb on his voice, but is nonetheless dry-throated in style, a singer pushing through above the tongue to get a kind of harsher, Lemmy-ish edge of roughness. It’s not quite a shout — he’s singing, but singing out. Backed with cleaner and at least in this case water-treated vocals by Kroon in the chorus, Rosengrim lends a punkish root to the biker chug of “Pakten” riff, hinting toward proto-metal, but residing in a niche that lets the band explore ideas around atmosphere and texture. The hook gives way to a solo, they bring it back around smoothly, and even as someone completely ignorant of the Swedish language (the title translates to ‘the pact’), the straightforward structure lands well.
Heads up on something cool that doesn’t sound like everybody else. Further heads up that this isn’t the first time Bonebag Records has me saying that. As the bands continue to progress and the label continues to develop on its own side, a reliable outlet is taking shape. That’s not a thing to ignore.
Enjoy the clip. PR wire info follows below. More on the record when I hear it.
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Skogskult, “Pakten” video premiere
Taking cues from classic doom bands like Sleep, Acid King, and Electric Wizard, as well as contemporary acts like Monolord and Telekinetic Yeti, Bonebag Records is thrilled to announce the signing of rising stars Skogskult, and the release of their debut later this year.
Formed in 2022 in the city of Umeå and featuring members of underground bands Från Mars, Scitalis, and Never Recover, the Swedish doom quartet herald the release of their debut with new single ‘Pakten’, with the official video premiering now.
Produced by Cavern Deep and Bonebag Record’s own Max Malmer, ‘Pakten’ is the first of three singles that delves deep into Nordic mythology and arcane mystery. Skinwalkers, Norse burial rituals, mysterious gatherings, like so many great, occult-obsessed rock bands it offers a fuzz-filled glimpse of darker days to come for Sweden’s rising subterranean stoners.
“I had the fortune of catching one of their first shows and signed them on the spot,” explains Malmer. “It was so great to see that there were young, local musicians getting into the stoner doom genre. Since discovering them we’ve produced an entire album together. Hopefully this new single will give everyone a sense of what they’re all about.”
Skogskult:
Samuel Nordström – Guitar
Albin Kroon – Bass
Simon Rosengrim – Vocals
Alexander Söderlund – Drums