Wardruna Release New Song & Lyric Video For "Skugge" (Shadow) New Album Out This Friday!
With the release of Wardruna's new album Kvitravn approaching on this Friday, January 22, the group has shared the song “Skugge” (“Shadow”) from this anticipated release, tracing an eerie sonic journey voicing a dialogue between man and shadow. The brooding introduction of "Skugge" recalls the subtle majesty of fan-favourite "Helvegen," as Wardruna's idiosyncratic synthesis of hypnotic percussion and delicate vocal interplay comes to the forefront.
Each track on Kvitravn is ingrained with meaning that delves deep into the philosophical, the esoteric, the Nordic myths and how old traditions define human nature and nature itself. "Skugge'' feels particularly personal for it shifts the focus inwards, and as Einar Selvik remarks; "it is a song about shadows, echoes and the balance between seeking answers and wisdom internally and externally." The accompanying lyric video allows the listener to journey deep into Wardruna's world and offers space for reflection and contemplation, should you submit to it...
Streaming On All Platforms here
wardruna.lnk.to/Skugge
Lyric video by Ragnarok Film:
Ole Fredrik Wannebo (producer and director)
Toni Kotka (photographer and editor)
Sverre Brandtzæg (production assistant)
The JORVIK Viking Festival (the largest Viking festival in Europe) have just announced Wardruna founder Einar Selvik as their headliner for a special live-streamed event taking place as part of That JORVIK Viking Thing online festival, hosted from 15-20 February 2021 by York’s JORVIK Viking Centre. Einar will talk about his music, demonstrate instruments and play some of his most recent music as part of the event being streamed live from Norway on Saturday 20 February 2021, 7.30pm CET
Tickets for the live streamed event can now be booked online at jorvikthing.com and jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk
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“Wardruna perform with such conviction the effect is undeniably compelling." **** SONGLINES
“Immersive fifth LP take Norse history and old folk instruments (goat-horn, Kravik lyre) into new spheres across raw, deeply resonant songs. Packs a surprising emotional punch.” -*** MOJO
“Wardruna are something else...closer to the musicians across the globe who return to past traditions to bring new meaning to the contemporary.” - **** NEW INTERNATIONALIST
"Haunting, powerful and deeply immersive, it is an unmitigated triumph and a career high for Wardruna." - 9/10 METAL HAMMER
“Marvel at the interplay between voice and traditional percussion in Kvitravn (‘White Raven’) and Skugge (‘Shadow’) or the slow eerie creep of Kvit Hjort (‘White Stag’)...give into the music and be transported to another, otherworldly place, borne on the backs and wings of beasts, and spirited into the sky.” - PROG
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The forthcoming and fifth album from Wardruna, Kvitravn, will be released on January 22, 2021.
Kvitravn musically continues where the Runaljod trilogy left off, yet it marks a distinct evolution in Wardruna's unique sound. In a rich musical tapestry, Wardruna use a broad selection of both traditional and historical instruments such as Kravik-lyre, Trossingen-lyre, Taglharpa, Sootharp, Langeleik, Crwth, Goat- horn, Lur, Bronze-lur, flute, Moraharpa, and the record also features guest appearances by a small group of prominent traditional singers, spearheaded by Kirsten Bråten Berg, one of the most important custodians of Norwegian traditional song. Throughout eleven songs, Kvitravn discusses Northern sorcery, spirit-animals, shadows, nature and animism, the wisdom and meanings of certain myths, various Norse spiritual concepts, and the relation between sage and songs.
CD Jewelcase with slipcase and 28-pages booklet
Black 2x12" 180 gr. LP, gatefold, 28-pages booklet
Pre orders available now
nervegas.com.au/wardruna
ABOUT WARDRUNA
The Norwegian music constellation Wardruna are renowned for their innovative and genre-creating renditions of older Nordic traditions. Composer Einar Selvik initiated the group in the early 2000s. Since the debut album in 2009, Wardruna have had vast worldwide success, transcending music genres, cultures and languages. The group has previously charted in both Germany and the UK and topped the North American Billboard World-music chart for several consecutive weeks. The group's massive musical contributions to History Channel's TV series VIKINGS has exposed their music to a broad audience worldwide. Wardruna merges the academic with the pop cultural and their thorough and serious approach has made them one of today’s foremost communicators of Norse culture.
Wardruna have carved a rich, polyphonic and dramatic musical landscape that honours the ancient past without gimmick, whilst simultaneously illuminating meaningful expressions of Norse tradition through intrinsically detailed contemporary composition. Beyond genre, theirs is a sound that must be truly experienced.
• Top international scholars on Old Norse studies today use Einar's work to exemplify how music might have been executed in earlier times in Scandinavia.
• Einar Selvik has lectured about his work with historical music in Universities such as Oxford, Denver, Reykjavik, and Bergen.
• Wardruna has over 60 placements of music in the History Channel's hit TV series VIKINGS, in addition to substantial work on the actual music score of the show. Einar Selvik has starred and performed on the show on two occasions (in season 3 & 4).
• Together with Enslaved, Wardruna was in 2014 commissioned by the Norwegian government to write and perform a music-piece for the 200-year anniversary of the Norwegian constitution.
• First concert was held in front of the near 1500 year old Gokstad Viking ship in Oslo and Wardruna is the only band ever to be allowed to hold an amplified concert at the Viking ship museum.
• Performed sold out shows worldwide, including major festival headline appearances (Red Rock Amphitheatre, Castle Fest, Hellfest, Summer Breeze, Roadburn, Echoes & Merveilles, Rock oz Arenes, Rock the Coast and many more)
• Independently self-released 3 albums
• Billboard World Music No 1. in the US and Canada
