Finnish progressive folk/black metal outfit JOTUNGRAV have released their debut single ‚Återfödd‘, the sole preview of their upcoming first album ‚Elegi‘, due August 20th 2026 via Inverse Records. The eight-minute track marks a bold departure from the band’s black metal roots, embracing folk metal, progressive melodic death metal, and waltz-influenced time signatures.Finnish progressive folk/black metal project JOTUNGRAV has unveiled ‚Återfödd‘, the first and only single from their highly anticipated debut album ‚Elegi‘, set for release on August 20th 2026 through Inverse Records. The track, whose title translates from Swedish as ‚reborn‘, represents a significant stylistic evolution for the band, stripping away black metal elements in favour of progressive melodic death metal and Finnish folk influences, complete with waltz-inspired time signatures rarely encountered in the metal sphere.
Spanning eight minutes, ‚Återfödd‘ showcases both uplifting, energetic melodies and sweeping majestic passages that the band themselves describe as surprisingly danceable. Drawing comparisons to WILDERUN, early ENSIFERUM, and FINSTERFORST, the track pays homage to the broader folk metal scene of the 2000s and 2010s while pushing JOTUNGRAV’s sound into new territory. Thematically, the song centres on the indomitable nature of the human spirit and its resilience in the face of an indifferent universe.
JOTUNGRAV is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Matias Stenman, who handles vocals, guitars, bass, melodica, banjo, harmonica, orchestrations, and composition. He is joined by drummer Matias Rokio, also of SARGASSUS, and Teemu Leskinen, who manages mixing, mastering, and contributes a guitar solo on album track ‚Segern‘. The debut album ‚Elegi‘ comprises four epic tracks, with individual runtimes stretching up to nearly fourteen minutes, promising a rich and dynamic listening experience rooted in Viking and pagan mythology with a philosophical focus on humanity.