Album Review: Frozen Ocean – Askdrömmar (Apocalyptic Witchcraft)

Askdrömmar is the latest full-length album from Frozen Ocean, the long-running project of Vaarwel that has, for more than two decades, explored the outer edges of cold black metal and textured ambience. Released on February 13th, 2026 via Apocalyptic Witchcraft, Askdrömmar draws its thematic core from the hidden, oppressive life of the modern city, framing urban spaces as living, predatory entities lurking just beyond perception. Influenced by the writing of John Ajvide Lindqvist and the depressive black metal legacy of Lifelover, the album unfolds entirely in Swedish, using language as texture as much as meaning. Built around layered melodies, bleak vocal performances, and a carefully developed sense of atmosphere, Askdrömmar establishes a shadowed urban environment in which themes of isolation, dread, and subconscious unease are explored.

Frozen Ocean is a one man project with everything including vocals, guitars, bass, e-bow, keys, lyrics and music coming from the creativity of Vaarwel.

Askdrömmar gets underway with Mångata and it’s a great introduction to the album, but also to Frozen Ocean if you’re not overly familiar with them. The intro draws you in quickly, combining a very catchy beat, a little electronic work, and a growing guitar and bass line. The programmed drums actually sound pretty authentic and add another layer before the guitar melody tops everything off nicely. Vocals come in with a traditional black metal style—raw, guttural, but with power and depth. It’s a dark song, but also very inviting and delivers a bucketload of atmosphere. The atmospheric thread continues throughout the album into Bortkastade dödsrunor.

Twinlking piano melodies lead us in hypnotically before the guitars and drums take over, delivering a melancholic edge. The vocals arrive, roared and growled, really upping the heaviness while the riffs keep your head nodding and the lead guitar melody reaches into your soul. It’s very well put together, feeling like a full band performing together, offering plenty in terms of feeling and creativity. The slow sections really drive that home as the deep melody and gentle tapping drums draw you into this gothic world.

Andas i neonregn ramps the pace and energy up, offering a raucous track with heavy riffs and drums, aggressive vocals, but even with the added pace, the atmosphere stays strong. The guitar-driven melodies wrap around you and keep you fully engaged. I love this song. The instrumental section with keys and backing, separating the faster and darker parts, is a touch of black magic.

Gristimmar starts with a spoken passage or clip—though presumably in Swedish, I have no idea what’s being said. When it fades into the song and the electronic effects appear, I was a little unsure, but as the guitars and drums join, it all clicks. The song moves from spoken word and electronica into a solid black metal track, heavy guitars and vocals, with melodic highlights appearing here and there. The effect reappears occasionally, and the magical guitar solo fully washes away any uncertainty from the start.

Jag sover keeps you firmly lost in the city labyrinth, delivering a rocking beat, melancholic melody, and harsh vocals. The pace is strong and will have you nodding along and tapping your feet, while twinkling keys add another layer of depth and mystery. Everything here helps push the album forward with purpose, sounding cohesive while still allowing each track to maintain a clear identity.

I lyktornas sken opens with a disconcerting, dangerous feel, as multiple layers of guitars, keys, and drums compete for your attention in a clever way. The slightly off-beat programmed drums work really well, and the hypnotic keys quickly take hold, offering mystery and enchantment through a bed of depressive atmosphere. The driving guitars, bass lines, and vocals all work wonderfully together in a heavily layered song that reveals more with each listen.

Köttkvarn begins with a spoken passage before transforming into a dark and moody track where despair hangs heavy in the air. The deep tones penetrate and linger, while the lead guitars shine through, sounding less like hope and more like screams of desperation. The music leads here, with the vocals used to deliver emphatic statements that feel almost poetic, despite their harsh, gravelly delivery.

Nearing the end of the journey through Askdrömmar, Långt lopp genom mörkret breaks up what has been a run of similarly paced tracks with a gloriously unhinged mix of electronica, drums, and guitars. It’s fast, energetic, and driven by a rocking riff, harsh vocals, and a catchy drum beat. One of the album’s most in-your-face moments, it packs a solid punch in just over three minutes, with choruses that feel more like instrumental sections where the synth and metal elements collide before snapping back into aggressive, guitar-led verses.

Frozen Ocean bring Askdrömmar to a close with Brunkebergstunneln, pulling together all the sounds and styles explored across the album into a strong, dark, yet beautiful finale. Keys and guitars, electronica and drums, vocals and bass lines all combine to deliver an emphatic and impactful closer that feels like being led back out of the city and into your own reality once more.

Askdrömmar is an album built on atmosphere and immersion, pulling the listener deep into its bleak, urban dreamscape and holding them there until the final moments. Frozen Ocean balance cold black metal aggression with layered melodies, electronic textures, and controlled shifts in pace, creating a cohesive journey that never feels repetitive. Each track contributes to the wider environment, strengthening the album’s sense of identity and purpose. As a result, Askdrömmar stands as a focused, emotionally resonant release that showcases Frozen Ocean at their most confident and fully realised, making it one of the project’s most compelling and complete statements to date.

Askdrömmar sports superb artwork courtesy of Mosaeye Art so preorder or pre-add Frozen Ocean’s Askdrömmar with your preferred provider or order a physical copy (CD Digipak/Cassette) from Apocalyptic Witchcraft at this Link Tree.

Track List:

01 – Mangata

02 – Bortkastade dodsrunor

03 – Andas in neonregn

04 – Gristimmar

05 – Jag sover

06 – I lyktornas sken

07 – Kottkvarn

08 – Langt lopp genom morkret

09 – Brunkebergstunneln

Frozen Ocean Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | YouTube | Apocalyptic Witchcraft