WARDRUNA‘s mesmerizing debut full-length, Runaljod – Gap Var Ginnunga, finally gets the reissue treatment in North America via Indie Recordings. Originally released in 2009, Runaljod – Gap Var Ginnunga serves as the first release in the band’s stunning Runaljod trilogy, a musical rendition of the twenty-four runes in what is often referred to as the “elder futhark.” Runaljod – Gap Var Ginnunga incorporates some of the oldest of Nordic instruments such as primitive deer hide frame drums, kraviklyra, tagelharpe, mouth harp, goat horn and lur, poetic metres and lyrics written in Norwegian, Old Norse and Proto-Norse tongue. Some of the recordings are captured outdoors or under circumstances of significance to each rune while other sources of sound like trees, rocks, water and torches are used. All of these elements are carefully woven into a rich musical landscape and complemented with whispering voices, melodic song and mighty choirs. AlthoughWARDRUNA‘s sound shares characteristics with music typically labeled as folk, world and/or ambient, none of these genres can accurately describe their unique style. It truly must be experienced. Music from Runaljod – Gap Var Ginnunga is featured in the soundtrack to both seasons of The History Channel’s Vikings series.
Runaljod – Gap Var Ginnunga Track Listing:
1. Ar var alda
2. Hagal
3. Bjarkan
4. Løyndomsriss
5. Heimta Thurs
6. Thurs
7. Jara
8. Laukr
9. Kauna
10. Algir – Stien klarnar
11. Algir – Tognatale
12. Dagr
WARDRUNA:
Kvitrafn: vocals, all instruments (except fiddle), songwriting
Lindy Fay Hella: vocals
Gaahl: vocals
WARDRUNA was founded by Einar Kvitrafn Selvik and in 2009 and enchanted listeners withRunaljod – Gap Var Ginnunga. In the ensuing years the group has spent a great deal of time adapting their music to a live format and establishing a live band, resulting in a handful of very special concerts, perhaps most notably when they performed in front of the majestic 1100-year-old Gokstad ship at the Viking Ship Museum in Norway. The second album in the Runaljod trilogy,Yggdrasil, was released in 2013. Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Selvik, together with vocalists Kristian Espedal (aka Gaahl) and Lindy-Fay Hella, managed to create a strikingly beautiful and intense continuation of what was started with their first album, but without falling into the trap of merely repeating themselves. The band is currently working on Ragnarok, the final release of the series.
Runaljod – Gap Var Ginnunga is available on CD, black double vinyl gatefold and
