Country: Iceland
Genre: Black Metal
Release: 2026
For fans of: Sinmara, Misþyrming, Svartidauði, Draugsól, Úlfúð
Review | Metal Territory
Forsmán return with Brenndar Rústir & Fuðrandi Fjörur, an album that presents a more theatrical, more grandiose and more “burning” version of Icelandic black metal. The band, with members from Draugsól, Úlfúð and Múr, leaves behind the more melancholic, ethereal side of the past and appears here with a fuller, denser and more aggressive sound.
“Drottinn fyrirgefur allt” opens the record with an almost “arena black metal” energy, full of movement, noise and inflated melodies. The pinch harmonic around 2:02 adds an unexpected, almost heavy metal touch that shows Forsmán aren’t afraid to step outside the narrow bounds of the genre.
“Svartir Svanir” continues with a disso‑sweet push, full of keyboards and twisted melodies that show the band has now doubled its voice. More intensity, more action, less introspection.
With M.S. (Angrenost, ex‑Svartidauði) on drums and D.G. (Misþyrming) on production, Forsmán now have a sound bigger, sturdier and more ambitious than ever. The production is among the most “polished” we’ve heard from Icelandic black metal in recent years, which will divide more traditional listeners, but it fits the band’s new identity perfectly.
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“Andvana” is one of the tracks that demand attention. Dense, full of layers, with a dramatic aura that recalls the country’s old school, but with a more modern execution.
In the middle of the record, tracks like “Valdníðsla” and “Kynjamyndir” move along shorter, more dissonant paths. They aren’t the clearest tracks on the album, but for those already “initiated” into the style, they offer the dramatic, dragon‑breath character that recalls the era of Dönsum í logans ljóma.
“Lof mér líf þitt að taka” is one of the strongest moments of the record, with a melodic line that stays in your head and a tension that builds steadily to the end.
“Hræ hins almáttuga” brings an unexpected mix: around 1:45 a groove appears that recalls early Mastodon meeting Immortal. The track’s development is continuous, with changes that keep the interest to the end.
“Barmafylltar fjöldagrafir” closes the record with a heavier, more imposing mood, like an Icelandic version of heavy metal grandeur. It isn’t the most complex track, but the band’s overall momentum makes it work perfectly as a finale.
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Forsmán don’t seem to be struggling with the underground — they seem to have already moved to the next level. Brenndar Rústir & Fuðrandi Fjörur is a record full of rage, theatricality and dense production. It may not be “lightning in a bottle”, but it’s an album that every fan of Icelandic black metal will find interesting, strong and completely convincing.
Tracklist:
- Drottinn fyrirgefur allt
- Svartir svanir
- Andvana
- Valdníðsla
- Kynjamyndir
- Lof mér líf þitt að taka
- Hræ hins almáttuga
