Wardruna: The Runaljod Trilogy

Few artists have captured my imagination like Wardruna.

Hailing from Bergen, Norway, Wardruna is a musical project based on Nordic Spiritualism and the ancient Elder Futhark (the oldest runic alphabet that was used by the Germanic tribes between the second and eighth centuries). The band began in 2003 with Einar "Kvitrafn" Selvik (former drummer of black metal band Gorgoroth), Gaahl (former vocalist of Gorgoroth and God Seed) and Lindy Fay Hella. {Gaahl left in 2015}

Utilising traditional/ancient authentic instruments to create intense drones and atmospheres with intriguing melodies alongside heartbeat like drums and passionately sung vocals about Norse mythology, the band thrust you into the landscape of ancient Scandinavia. They have released three studio albums, forming the Runaljod Trilogy, the concept that Einar originally formed the band on. The albums are;

Runaljod – Gap Var Ginnunga (2009)

Runaljod - Yggdrasil (2013)

Runaljod - Ragnarok (2016)

For any Vikings fans out there, Wardruna's music has featured on the show. Wardruna's work with Trevor Morris is what gained the band worldwide notoriety and popularity. Due to their use of traditional nordic instruments the sounds are authentic and are a perfect fit in the Michael Hirst's TV universe of the Vikings. The band have also performed live at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway in front of the Oseberg Ship!

All these features combined have fired my imagination for the past two years. It was unlike any music I had heard before. I indulged in the eighties New Age/Folk artists of the eighties; Clannad, Capercaillie and Enya alongside the likes of Loreena McKennitt. As much as I loved the beauty in the Irish and Scottish Gaelic sound I was looking for something more visceral and dark. I found that with Wardruna. I got to unleash my inner Viking warrior whilst remaining in that mysterious spirit world that Clannad and Capercaillie had laid out for me.

With the lyrics being sung in Norwegian and Old Norse it gives the music a really spiritual feel. One of my favourite moments listening to Wardruna was in summer last year. I went up to visit my grandparents in Wales with the family. There is a small mountain in the Brecon Beacons called Pen y Fan which is 886m at the summit with neighbouring peak Corn Du standing at 873m, safe to say the air got quite thin upon my ascent. It is about a two hour drive from grandparents residence so I needed ample music to pass the time. I loaded my iPod up with the Lord Of The Rings, Game Of Thrones and Vikings soundtracks along with Wardruna, to soak up the atmosphere of the landscape around me. Anyway, we were approaching the valley below the mountains as the road twisted and turned I was listening to Wardruna as the hills grew taller. I had a weird, spiritual attack, it is hard to describe. It was like an ancient homecoming in a way, a sense of ancestral belonging you have to experience for yourself.

You could say that this was my imagination fully gripping my sense of reality, but the music gained a whole new meaning in that setting. The experience has still mesmerised me, just like the music still does. I blame it partially for lighting the touch paper on my love for Scandinavia, it's history and it's culture. I believe they are a band well worth listening to if you want to break the monotony of modern music and surround yourself in the sounds of the ancient world.

Favourite Song(s): Odal, NaudiR, Heimta Thurs

Favourite Album(s): Runaljod - Yggdrasil

All Photo and Album Artwork rights go to Wardruna, I do not own the rights.