VREID
THE SKIES TURN BLACK

FIVE YEARS AFTER THEIR LAST ALBUM, VREID RETURN WITH “THE SKIES TURN BLACK”!

On March 6th, 2026, Vreid will release The Skies Turn Black, their first studio album in five years and a powerful statement from one of Norway’s most enduring metal bands. The album marks a renewed creative chapter, shaped through a challenging but ultimately transformative process in which the band reconnected with the essence of their Sognametal roots while exploring new dimensions of their sound.

Throughout the album’s eleven tracks, Vreid merges fragments of their past with a revitalized artistic drive. The early breakthrough came with From These Woods, written during a late-night session in a remote mountain cabin. The song captured the emotional core of the album and helped steer the band back toward the heart of their identity.

The title track The Skies Turn Black also holds a central place on the album. Written by bassist and songwriter Jarle Kvåle as a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne and the music that has shaped his life, the song carries a deeply personal foundation. Kvåle’s experience attending Black Sabbath’s farewell concert in Birmingham, after previously helping to organize the band’s final Norwegian shows along with Ozzy’s, left a profound mark and sparked the creative energy that shaped the song’s weight and atmosphere.

The album also highlights Vreid’s cinematic side. Kraken was composed for a major upcoming film project and carries a personal dimension, as the film’s producer was the band’s first music teacher and helped them record their earliest demos more than thirty years ago. In contrast, Loving the Dead expands Vreid’s musical territory with a striking guest performance from Agnete Kjølsrud of Djerv, adding intensity and emotional depth that pushes the track into new terrain.

With hand-drawn artwork by Kim Holm and a powerful production shaped together with producer Anders Nordengen, The Skies Turn Black stands as one of Vreid’s most focused and expressive works to date. It reflects pride, resilience and a renewed creative fire that defines the next era of the band.

The Skies Turn Black will be released on March 6th 2026, with pre-orders opening on December 10th. The release aligns with Vreid’s return to European stages as they join Hypocrisy, Abbath and Vomitory on a major tour in 2026.

Vreid remains one of Norway’s most resilient and forward-driven metal bands, shaped by history, strengthened by adversity and still driven by an unshakable creative fire.