Valkyrie’s Fire – Out Of Darkness

Valkyrie’s Fire
Out Of Darkness
Label: Eclipse Records
Out: 18. September 2026
Playingtime : 01:11:16

Almost two years have passed since the release of the EP ‘Ascension’. Now Valkyrie’s Fire, hailing from ‘Music City’ Nashville, are releasing their debut album ‘Out Of Darkness’. I cannot say whether keyboardist and cellist Salem Belladonna is a new member of the band. She wasn’t mentioned in the press release for the EP at the time but has evidently been on board since 2023. The band have also welcomed a well-known guest artist to the album with Amaranthe’s singer Mikael Sehlin. However, the focus remains on the voice of Bettie Floyd, which lies somewhere between lyric soprano and mezzo-soprano. She is supported by Adam Sanders.

The intro ‘In Spirit, In Shadow’ falls into the category of ‘you can listen to it, but you don’t have to’. Towards the end, at least, the musicians give a hint of what awaits the discerning listener on the album. On ‘Evermore’, however, the guitars really kick in and the drums drive the track forward relentlessly. The interplay between the vocal duo Bettie Floyd and Adam Sanders blends very well right from the start. The band then immortalises itself in the song title ‘Valkyire’s Fire’. The keyboards add plenty of bombast before the track reverts to high-speed mode, which also features a fast-paced orchestral arrangement. On ‘Cascade’, the tempo is slowed down slightly, allowing Bettie to demonstrate what a golden voice she has. But her vocal partner Adam also sounds extremely pleasing. ‘Burning Sky’ is graced by a true heavyweight of the scene – Amaranthe’s growler Mikael Sehlin. Naturally, there’s a slight Amaranthe influence to be heard, though it’s a bit less pop-oriented. After all, Bettie Floyd and Elize Ryd have different vocal styles. ‘Shattered’ then begins more quietly and with a strong sense of rhythm. For long stretches, we’re treated to a magnificent ballad. Bettie showcases her incredibly versatile voice, which spans a wide range of pitches. The cello also repeatedly comes to the fore alongside the epic orchestration. Joey Grimaldi delivers a strong guitar solo. The ballad ‘I See The Angels Fly’ also has a very calm feel to it. At first, the singer is accompanied only by the electric piano. Later, the strings come in. And Bettie soars up into the highest tone ranges, up to a high coloratura soprano. This is accompanied by a guitar solo in which the guitar at times seems to be singing. ‘Skylark’ puts an end to the contemplativeness, at least for the time being. The vocal duo is once again driven by the rhythm section. ‘Labyrinth’ starts with a slight Industrial edge. Although it becomes more melodic, Bettie’s vocals sound a little rougher in places. At the start of ‘Bone And Thorn’, you can hear footsteps, then the cello and acoustic guitar come in. The tempo is also considerably slower here. Another acoustic ballad. It’s not until halfway through the song that the guitar, bass and drums join in with full force. Although one might assume so at the start, ‘Dark Moon’ is not another ballad, but a mid-tempo anthem that occasionally features faster passages. ‘Nocturne’ begins with electric piano, cello and ethereal-sounding vocalises. Then the tempo picks up again. Bettie Floyd once again impresses with her clear soprano voice. “I Will Rise Again”, the longest track at almost ten minutes, brings the album to a close. After a quiet start with cello and plucked acoustic guitars, it becomes powerful and epic one last time. Thanks in part to its length, Valkyrie’s Fire have created a truly monumental epic here.

Compared to their 2024 EP ‘Ascension’, Valkyrie’s Fire have improved significantly. They have clearly demonstrated that Nashville produces more than just great Country music. Epic Symphonic Metal is also right at home there. Despite the album’s length of over an hour and ten minutes, listening to the tracks never gets boring, such is the variety in the songwriting and arrangements. Naturally, the music thrives on Bettie Floyd’s outstanding voice, which is superbly paired with that of her vocal partner, Adam Sanders. Both are beautifully showcased by the instrumentalists.

Valkyrie’s Fire – Burning Sky (feat. Mikael Sehlin of Amaranthe): https://youtu.be/VhEeWPDK52w?si=JT5fVKeMs2La9KPV

Lineup:

Bettie Floyd – Vocals
Adam Sanders – Vocals
Joey Grimaldi – Guitar
Ryan Metroka – Drums
Dave Hale – Bass
Salem Belladonna – Keys, Cello

Tracklist:

• In Spirit, In Shadow
• Evermore
• Valkyrie’s Fire
• Cascade
• Burning Sky (feat. Mikael Sehlin)
• Shattered
• I See The Angels Fly
• Skylark
• Labyrinth
• Bone And Thorn
• Dark Moon
• Nocturne
• I Will Rise Again