Gåte - Sigil (2026)
There is a lot to like here. Gåte manage to mix Norwegian folk, metal, electronics and more ritualistic material without making the album feel like a collection of genre exercises. The traditional instruments are not just decoration either. They are really part of the writing, and that gives Sigil a much stronger identity than a lot of folk-metal albums.
Gunnhild Sundli is probably the main reason it works so well for me. Her voice has enough character to hold together some quite different ideas, from the heavier material to the more atmospheric and almost ceremonial moments. The album can move from something like “Oskorsreia”, which is much more direct and metallic, to “Jostedalsrypa”, which ends the record in a much quieter and more fragile way, and it still feels coherent.
“Oskorsreia” is my favourite track. It has the strongest balance between the folk identity of Gåte and the heavier side of the album. The guitars have more bite, the rhythm has more urgency, and the whole track feels like it actually moves somewhere instead of just creating atmosphere. It is probably the moment where all the different sides of Sigil come together most naturally for me.
I also like that the album is compact. At under 40 minutes, there is very little time for the formula to become tiring, and there is enough variation to keep the pacing strong. “Mi Jord” is another highlight, mainly because of the vocal performance, while “Sannsiger” works well because of its more ritual and slightly electronic character.
The reason I stop at 72 is mainly the songwriting. I think the sound, the identity and the performances are stronger than the actual songs in a few places. Some tracks are really interesting while they are playing but leave less behind once they are finished. “Nokon” is probably the clearest example: good atmosphere, good ideas, but it feels a little underdeveloped compared with the best material here.
So this is clearly more than just a good folk-metal album for me. It has personality, atmosphere and enough unusual details to stand out. But I am still missing one or two songs that really hit at the level where I would want to push it into the mid-70s. 72 feels right: very strong, distinctive, but not quite a major personal reference.
72/100
❤️ Favourite track: “Oskorsreia”
Then “Sannsiger” and “Mi Jord”
+ The folk, metal and electronic elements really feel integrated
+ Gunnhild Sundli gives the whole album a very strong identity
+ “Oskorsreia” gives the album the heavier, more direct impact it needs
– The songwriting is not always as strong as the sound and arrangements
– A few tracks feel more like strong ideas than fully developed songs
– Missing one or two undeniable highlights to justify going higher
Genre: Folk Metal
Country: Norway
Final Verdict: 72% (Very Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 34th / 715
Highlight: Oskorsreia (added to my 2026 best of)
Made me think of:
Myrkur
Heilung
Wardruna
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#FolkMetal #Gåte #Norway
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