More melodic and catchy than traditional black metal, but heavier than death metal, Vreid have successfully blended elements from different genres. Though they are often considered to be one of the leading “black n’ roll” bands, they aren’t very fond of the label. It seems too restrictive, too limited to really convey the magnitude and complexity of what the band creates.

As if to demonstrate their versatility, Vreid will soon release Wild North West, an audiovisual experience. Both an album and a film, it shows that Vreid are not planning to just sit on their laurels anytime soon, and are always on the lookout for new opportunities to expand their reach.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with Jarle “Hváll” Kvalle, the founder and bassist of Vreid, and on whose life the film is (partly and loosely) based. From Vreid‘s origins with Windir, to the role that Norway has played in shaping their music, Hváll and I had a very interesting conversation. You can watch it in the video below:

For pre-sales of Wild North West, visit the Season of Mist website.