Their self-titled debut album from 2023 helped White Tundra gain a foothold in the underground scene and introduced the band’s blend of riffs and folklore-inspired heaviness. Now they’re releasing the follow-up, and it sounds like a band that has put their time to good use.

With the arrival of lead guitarist Kjell Andres Nilsen in early 2024 and bassist Øyvind Persvik shortly afterwards, the band began to shape what would become Stories from the Dark. The recording took place in the summer of 2025 at AutumnSongs Recording Studio, with Rhys Marsh as producer.

The result is six tracks spanning 37 minutes, and they really hit the spot. Whilst their debut album marked a promising start, *Stories from the Dark* proves that White Tundra deliver on their promise. The sound is denser, the layers of fuzz linger longer, and the doom-laden passages pack a harder punch.

The points of reference are clear to anyone familiar with the genre. Think Truckfighters-style drive combined with Nordic darkness and something reminiscent of early Dozer in the heaviest passages. But White Tundra are not a pastiche band. Lyrically, the album picks up where the previous record left off, with themes of escaping society, the unknown around us and a touch of local folklore. This gives the music a distinct weight that lingers long after the final note has faded away.

The highlights are easy to pinpoint. ‘Healer’ serves as the opening track and marks a new chapter for the band. ‘Huset’ is compact and direct, with a groove that grabs you straight away. ‘Riderless Horse’ runs to over seven minutes and gives the band scope to build and break down without losing the listener. That’s where White Tundra really show what they’re made of.

The album reached number 20 on the Doom Charts for April 2026, and it’s well deserved. The Doom Charts bring together reviewers, bloggers and radio presenters from across the heavy metal underground, who vote for their favourites each month, with the results compiled into a single list. A top-20 placing in that company is no fluke.

Thematically, there’s a sense of cohesion here that shows the band is thinking big. The closing track, ‘White Tundra’, attempts to explain the very soul and history of the band, and describes the journey from inspiring desert rock to the white, storm-tossed tundra. It’s an ambitious finale that works.

*Stories from the Dark* is an album that grows on you with every listen. Highly recommended to anyone who likes fuzz with substance.