Faroese artist Eivør proves that music does not need crushing guitars or blast beats to deliver an emotional punch. On her new album, Tungl, haunting vocals, hypnotic rhythms and atmospheric soundscapes create something both delicate and immensely powerful. Daryl Soar discovers an album that takes its time but leaves a lasting impression.
Eivør – Tungl
Release Date: Out Now
Words: Daryl Soar
Tungl opens with synthesised drums from the ’90s, ethereal chords, and a folk vocal writing a cheque the average Metal listener had better be able to cash. It is a bold start.
By track two, Drekafljóð (Dragon Maiden), the crushing still has not begun. Good job the music is good. The tension drifts away, and the music flows. I am used to having my angst smashed out of me by blast beats and vocal fry. Eivør takes another route.
Trip-hop beats and hypnotic vocals over soft keyboard pads, with carefully crafted songs that develop naturally. Death Metal it is not.
There is something in the way the songs are put together that makes them Metal-adjacent without the need for massive guitars, emotive screams and breakneck speed. It is in the tonal makeup, the tension and release as the vocals move.
The words? Well, the words are not English, so all that is left is the emotion, unless you are lucky enough to speak Faroese. Unless you are listening to Healer, and then it is.
The album is a journey to be savoured. It never runs, but it will move you with the force of a glacier. In the words of Eivør, “Tungl explores the ever-changing cycles of life. Its songs move between moments of tenderness and heartache, love and loss, and the emotional tides that shape us. Like the moon that inspired its title, Tungl serves as a gentle guide through life’s darker passages, illuminating the beauty, resilience, and transformation found along the way.”
Healer stands out for me. It reaches a zenith of powerful emotion that drew me in more than the other tracks. When listening to slower-paced music, it is hard to find a cathartic outlet, but Healer hits the mark. Maybe it is the language, but I got this feeling from the song before I realised it was in English.
Tann tú saknar / The One You Long For ups the tempo and adds new depth to the composition. As the eighth song on the album, you might say it’s about time. I would say it is the perfect time.
Ending with Everyone But Me, Eivør’s vocals really shine. It is a slower, more melodic track, luckily in English, that sticks the landing. Then it’s time to start again.
Listen to Healer and get your chill back with the Nordic phenomenon Eivør. This album is a pleasant change of pace and worth your time. Add a little depth to your music collection with Tungl.
Eivør released Tungl LP on 16 October 2026 via Nuclear Blast Records. For more details, visit eivor.bfan.link/tungl. Eivør will be undertaking an extensive headline tour across North America later this year, and across Europe and the UK into 2027. Tour details and tickets are on eivor.com/shows.
