Sowulo’s upcoming album Niht brings images of ragged cliffs and forgotten ways. It’s a unique mix of Nordic, Viking, World, and Dark Folk music. It definitely seemed strange to listen to the album via phone and Bluetooth — I think this sort of thing would be better live and at night by a fire. Being from the Netherlands, they surprisingly don’t sing in Dutch but Anglo-Saxon, fitting for the older times Sowulo’s music evokes. Mōnaþblōd was a standout track to me that combined traditional elements you’d expect in this genre, but with an interesting electronic vocal element doing an “uh uh uh” sound that worked surprisingly well for a band that otherwise seems to be all acoustic. At times songs dip into odd time signatures like 7/4, but when they do, it’s not a jagged rhythm that throws you off — it adds to the mystique of the moment.

Another standout for me was Miċele Steorran and its beautiful female vocals, which I didn’t even notice until I had a few listens through Niht. And then there’s my favorite track: Carnyx — featuring the strangest instrument I’ve ever heard. It’s definitely a horn of some kind, but once it starts playing higher notes it takes on an otherworldly element — sounding neither human nor quite instrumental. The track borders a line between being a song and just blowing on a horn, but it’s played in a way that gave me goosebumps and brought up imagery of a lone person sounding it across a fjord or field. After digging in a bit, I found out the Carnyx was used around 200 BC to 200 AD by the Celts as a war horn meant to intimidate enemies. And it still works. Ultimately, Niht is an album to put on and let it take you somewhere. It’s not so much about individual songs as it is about the imagery evoked by warrior-like vocals, hand drums, horns, strings, and ancient energies. It’s perfect for anything mystical: playing Magic: The Gathering, pulling tarot cards, or just tapping into that ancient spirit that hides behind our modern lives. Once fully released, Niht will find a cozy home on my “ambient” playlist.