Wardruna Runaljod – Yggdrasil

Sowing New Seeds, Strengthening Old Roots

Wardruna is a Norwegian musical constellation set out to explore and evoke the depths of Norse wisdom and spirituality. Musically Wardruna has its main focus on the cultic musical language found in the near-forgotten arts of galder, seidr and the daily acts of the cultic life, mixed with impulses from Norwegian / Nordic folk music and music from other indigenous cultures.

The upcoming album entitled ‘gap var Ginnunga’ will be the first in the planned Runaljod trilogy that will interpret the runes of the elder futhark. The subsequent albums will be entitled ‘Yggdrasil’ and ‘Ragnarok’. Each album will feature eight runes, but not in accordance with the order of the three aettirs (families), which is most commonly used. ‘gap var Ginnunga’ will feature the following runes:

HagalBjarkanThursJaraLaukrKaunaAlgirDagr

Recordings partly take place outdoors at locations relevant to the different runes. The instruments we use are mainly old and historical instruments, such as deer-hide frame drums and ceremonial drums, mouth harp, clove / hoof rattles from deer and goat, bone flute, goat and cow horns, Hardanger fiddle and bowed lyres. More unconventional inputs like trees, stones, water, fire etc. are also employed to enhance the nature of the rune being ‘portrayed’.

Keeping in mind that there will always be a certain room for disagreement and discussion when working with the runes, I would like to emphasize that in my songs it is not necessarily a goal for me to approach the respective rune from every conceivable angle, nor to cover all of the different aspects of it. Rather, the focus is on the core of each rune and the qualities that serve the whole concept and purpose of Wardruna best: sowing and nurturing new seeds and strengthening old roots!

– Kvitrafn, 2007

A lot has happened since the release of our debut album in 2009. We have been lucky enough to be able to perform at some really special places and interesting festivals. A concert with Wardruna is in my view two-way communication, and meeting our audience has been both overwhelming and very inspiring for us.

Judging from the amount of comments and questions we get at our shows or by e-mail it seems clear to me that it is due time for more Wardruna music.

It has taken me quite a while to find the necessary calmness and time needed in order to create the way I do. Last year in November, I began recording for ‘Runaljod – Yggdrasil’, which will be the second part of the ‘Runaljod’ trilogy. The creative process has been time-consuming and demanding, but I am very happy to say that I am now in the final stages of recording ‘Yggdrasil’. Like our previous album, it is partly recorded outdoors and in places or situations relevant to the given song. Although the instruments are more or less the same as on ‘gap var Ginnunga’, the nature of the set of runes featured on ‘Yggdrasil’ have naturally made it a very different album. It is also worth noting that this time I’ve been working more closely with Lindy and Gaahl during the creative process. We are all very satisfied with the result so far, and we are looking forward to presenting this new piece of old-rooted culture!

Together with Indie Recordings we are aiming for a spring release (March/April) both in Europe and in the US.

Einar Kvitrafn Selvik

1. Rotlaust tre fell
2. Fehu
3. NaudiR
4. EhwaR
5. AnsuR
6. IwaR
7. IngwaR
8. Gibu
9. Solringen
10. Sowelu
11. Helvegen

Total running time: 66:14