Norwegian metal band Vreid has released their new single, "Loving the Dead," featuring vocalist Agnete Kjølsrud from Djerv and actor Chris Pontius. The track is from their upcoming album The Skies Turn Black, due out on March 6 via Indie Recordings. A music video accompanies the release, filmed in an Oslo church.
Vreid, described as Norwegian metal pioneers, unveiled "Loving the Dead" on February 20, 2026. The single stems from a collaboration born from a chance meeting and shared interests in darker art and culture. It merges Vreid's raw, atmospheric sound with Kjølsrud's haunting vocals, co-written by her.
The lyrics explore a surreal inner world dominated by darkness and destructive self-talk, yet include a subtle presence of love. The band draws inspiration from David Lynch's universe, leaving room for listener interpretation. As Jarle Kvåle of Vreid explained, “We wanted to create something cinematic and unexpected. Not just a performance video, but a visual journey.”
Directed by Ulvar Gansum, the music video was shot inside a church in Oslo. It depicts Pontius's character moving from bar chaos into a ritualistic setting, influenced by Kjølsrud's siren-like figure and masked participants, ultimately embracing the darkness. Pontius, known for his role in Jackass, noted, “It didn’t feel strange at all. It felt natural.”
This release precedes The Skies Turn Black, Vreid's first album in five years. The band describes its creation as demanding, involving struggles with communication but resulting in 11 tracks produced by Anders Nordengen and featuring artwork by Kim Holm. The tracklist includes “From These Woods,” “The Skies Turn Black,” “A Second Death,” “Kraken,” “Loving the Dead,” “Build & Destroy,” “Chaos,” “Flammen,” “Smile Of Hate,” “Echoes Of Life,” and “The Earth Rumbles.”
Vreid plans a 2026 European tour alongside Hypocrisy, Abbath, and Vomitory to promote the album.
