Scald

Scald is a Russian doom metal band formed in Yaroslavl in 1993 and active until 1997. It plays epic doom metal and is associated with Viking imagery, a visual style more often linked with black metal. The group’s line-up includes Maxim “Agyl” Adriandov on vocals, Harald on guitar, Karry on guitar, Velingor on bass and Ottar on drums.

Style and background

The band’s music centres on slow, heavy riffing, prominent guitar solos and clean, high-pitched vocals. It is described as strongly epic in tone, placing it within epic doom metal and traditional doom metal rather than faster metal styles. The Viking theme forms part of its identity and presentation.

Releases and legacy

Scald releases a demo titled North Winds in 1994 and its only full-length album, Will of the Gods is Great Power, in 1996. After Agyl dies in a train accident in 1997, the band disbands rather than continue with a replacement vocalist. Its debut album is later reissued, and the split release Agyl's Saga appears in 2003; the album is issued again in 2018. Despite its small profile, Scald remains a notable name for listeners of old-school epic doom metal.