Norwegian band Avrak will release their self-titled debut album on 9 October through Peaceville. The record, reviewed by Martyn Coppack at Echoes and Dust on 22 September, is the new project of Ted Skjellum (Nocturno Culto of Darkthrone) alongside guitarist Anders Hegna (Nød, El Kayenne, Svidd Grevling), with Terje Kråbøl (Gjendød, Sarke, Faustcoven) on drums and Steinar Gundersen (Khold, Sarke, Satyricon) joining on bass for live performances.

Coppack's review places Avrak squarely in the classic heavy metal and doom rock tradition — 'less reinventing the wheel than giving it a remarkably shiny new coat'. The nine tracks, recorded at Mølla Studio by Knut Magne Valle in February 2026, range from the galloping opener 'Forever Mountain' through the Dio-esque epic 'Unborn' and the progressive synth-laden 'Long May The Lums Reek' to the closing diptych of 'The Rift' and atmospheric epilogue 'Hav'. Coppack notes the band's evident seriousness and love for the form, calling it 'a great album for those yearning something a bit more old school amongst the countless extreme genres that exist today'.

An official lyric video for 'Unborn' is available on the Peaceville Records YouTube channel. Pre-orders are open for CD, vinyl and digital formats.