Latvian pagan metallers Skyforger have released "Hound of God" the first single from their upcoming album "Teikas" (meaning 'Folktales'), set to be released in April 2025. This marks Skyforger’s first new studio album in a decade, and the band’s return to their signature blend of folk and pagan metal.
Inspired by real events from over 333 years ago in the Vidzeme region of Livonia (now Latvia), "Hound of God" tells the story of Thiess of Kaltenbrun, an 86-year-old peasant who claimed to have been a werewolf for many years. During a trial in 1691 involving the robbery of a church in the Zaube village, Thiess confessed to transforming into a wolf after drinking from a cursed mug. He claimed that werewolves would travel to the gates of Hell three times a year to reclaim stolen goods brought there by witches and wizards. Despite his insistence that he served as a "Hound of God" and not a servant of the Devil, Thiess was convicted of sorcery and sentenced to public flogging before disappearing without a trace.
Skyforger have also released a music video for "Hound of God", available now on YouTube.
Skyforger will celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2025 with a special launch party for "Teikas" on May 3 at Xiaomi Arena in Riga, Latvia. The two-hour set will feature new material from the album alongside fan favorites, with spectacular visuals and special guests to be announced soon. This will be Skyforger’s first show of the year in Latvia.
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