Unveiling a dramatic new glimpse into “Braiding The Stories”

“Another brilliant vision for the sanctity of our beloved genre and a work of mystifying proportions.” – Metalbite

Norwegian Grammy-winning Metal outfit GAAHLS WYRD present “And The Now,” the third single from their highly anticipated sophomore album “Braiding The Stories”, due out via Season of Mist.

“And The Now” captures the essence of GAAHLS WYRD’s latest musical evolution — a dramatic, twisted, and cinematic exploration of sound and emotion. Blending introspective atmospheres with unbridled dissonance, the track showcases the band’s expanded aesthetic, moving beyond the confines of traditional Black Metal to inhabit a dreamlike realm GAAHLS refers to as the “White Lodge.”

Anchored by Kristian “Gaahl” Espedal’s dynamic vocal performances and Ole “Lust Kilman” Walaunet’s stunning guitar work, “And The Now” channels the energy of ‘80s and ‘90s Gothic Rock without sacrificing the esoteric intensity that defines GAAHLS WYRD. The single’s layered composition mirrors the overarching theme of “Braiding The Stories” — the fluid transitions of dreams and subconscious emotion.

Recorded at Solslottet Studio in Bergen, Norway, and produced alongside Iver Sandøy (ENSLAVED, WARDRUNA), “And The Now” reinforces the band’s commitment to sonic experimentation and conceptual depth. Like the album it heralds, the track is cinematic, vivid, and audaciously unclassifiable.

“Braiding The Stories” is out June 6th, 2025 on Season of Mist.

 Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/gaahlswyrdbraidinggthestories

Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipak
12″ Vinyl Gatefold – Black
12″ Coloured Vinyl Gatefold – Crystal Clear & Black Marbled
12″ Coloured Vinyl Gatefold – Silver & Dark Green Marbled
12″ Special “Hair-Filled” Vinyl
Cassette
Various Merch

Line-up:
Kristian Espedal «Gaahl» – All Voices
Ole Walaunet «Lust Kilman» – All Guitars
Andreas Salbu «Nekroman» – Bass
Kevin Kvåle «Spektre» – Drums

Cover Art:
Øivind Myksvoll

Featuring vocalist Gaahl (aka Kristian Espedal), guitarist Lust Kilman (aka Ole Walaunet), drummer Spektre (aka Kevin Kvåle), and bassist Nekroman (aka Andreas Salbu), the group’s sophomore full-length elaborates conceptually on and widens the musical gaze of GAAHLS WYRD sonic aesthetic. To wit, they’ve artfully united introspective vistas and violent upheaval on singles “Braiding the Stories,” “Time And Timeless Timeline,” and “And The Now”. If  “The Humming Mountain” (2021) resided between spaces, “Braiding The Stories” is the lighthouse out of it.

“I call it the White Lodge,” Gaahl says, referring to Braiding The Stories’ differentia. “Maybe I’ll call it the Bright Lodge. I wanted to put focus on where I think Ole is most comfortable music-wise. There’s more things he’s connected to on this album than before. So, I jumped over the more Black Metal tracks, as I felt they didn’t belong to this process. For example, when we sat down in the studio, we wanted a specific energy. That energy is a ‘80s and ‘90s thing. Almost Gothic Rock, but it’s more about the sound than the style. It’s an aesthetic for sure. If I may, everyone should pay close attention to Ole’s fantastic solos. They’re pieces of music [inside the songs].”

“Braiding Τhe Stories” tracklist:

1. The Dream
2. Braiding the Stories
3. Voices in My Head
4. Time and Timeless Timeline
5. And the Now
6. Through the Veil
7. Visions and Time
8. Root the Will
9. Flowing Starlight