Skogkatt by VINTERGRAV
Skogkatt was written shortly after the release of Elderwoods into late 2021. On December 8th, 2021, I received a phone call while away from home that one of my companions, my cat Spencer, had died abruptly of a heart attack. We don't know the power an animal has on our spirit and psyche until they're gone. My world had fallen to pieces and I genuinely felt like I had lost a family member, which I did.
After months of grieving and hardship, I had finally come to the conclusion to what the record should be about. It was Spencer.
Having already recorded this record, I employed a few great collaborators to help me make this record more meaningful. I reached out to one of my best friends, Sean, of Osi and the Jupiter, his cellist, Chris, and Raph from Musk Ox. Through a course of what I would imagine to be 3 months, I worked with these guys to create something unique and beautiful to honor Spencer's legacy.
Raph appears on the track 'Guided by Snowfall'. The track is #8 for the glaringly obvious reason as it's the day he was taken to Folkvangr. This track is important, very important, because it has the last official meow I have on recording from him. He interrupted a take I was working on when he walked towards the mic and blurted his call. Spencer died weeks after this was recorded. At the end of the track, you will hear a pretty obvious jump in volume to showcase what means the world to me. Raph captured emotion more than I could have ever imagined him to with this and I am eternally grateful.
Osi and the Jupiter appear on the single 'Set My Soul On Fire'. I figured if I'm going to feature Osi, I'm going to do it right and have the whole group be a part of this. Those guys did more than I could have ever asked for them with this. I still get goosebumps listening to the songs they worked with me on.
Chris appears on one more track, 'To Find Solace in the Trees'. This somewhat meditative track, because of Chris, takes me to a place of serenity where I imagine I'm alone in the forest with my thoughts. That should be a crazy scary thing, but I find it to be insanely peaceful. What Chris accomplished with his skill on the cello elevated this song to a place I couldn't have ever thought of on my own. I am surrounded by good people on this record.
Beyond that, the record is entirely written, performed, and recorded by VINTERGRAV.
The record has one final memorial factor in place. This record is due to be released on September 22nd, my birthday, through Folkvangr Records. I share this same birthday with one of my best friends who took his own life on March 22, 2010. Rest in Power, bud.
Skogkatt was chosen as a reference to Freyja and her Skogkatt guiding warriors to Folkvangr. The souls that help us fight another day have more value than we sometimes give them.
This record is a testament to loss, heartache, and growth through death. Through death, we are reborn.
x Skål x
Tracklist
Credits
All music written, performed, and recorded by VINTERGRAV
Vocal work written, performed, and recorded by Sean Deth and VINTERGRAV
Cello work written, performed, and recorded by Raphael Weinroth-Browne
Cello work written, performed, and recorded by Kakophonix
Artwork by Asep Yasin Abdulah
Mixed by VINTERGRAV
Mastered by Neil Schneider
