Myrkur

Biography

Myrkur is a musical project led by Danish singer Amalie Bruun which combines folk rock and black metal. Initially, the real-life identity of the person behind the project was not disclosed but Bruun’s name has since been revealed. Myrkur has released four full-length studio albums to significant critical acclaim, as well as a live album and two EP. Her most recent album, Spine×Spine20 October 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 9 tracks1Bålfærd2:382Like Humans4:463Mothlike4:104My Blood Is Gold3:425Spine4:046Valkyriernes sang3:567Blazing Sky3:268Devil in the Detail4:239Menneskebarn2:39, was released on 20 October 2023 through Relapse Records.
The name of the project comes from an Icelandic (and Faroese) word meaning "darkness." The musical influences of Myrkur range from traditional Scandinavian folk to the black metal genre. New releases from Myrkur have tended towards embracing folk music traditions, with Bruun's 2020 album Folkesange×Folkesange20 March 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1Ella3:552Fager som en ros2:513Leaves of Yggdrasil4:004Ramund3:295Tor i Helheim7:106Svea3:267Harpens kraft3:198Gammelkäring3:299House Carpenter3:3810Reiar3:4611Gudernes vilje3:5712Vinter3:59 being overwhelming folk-inspired and lacking the black metal sound that characterized the artist's earlier releases. Folkesange contains narrative "story-songs" performed on instruments appropriate to the ancient pagan folk music that Bruun included within the album, alongside modern original compositions as well.

History

Bruun formed the project and signed to Relapse Records in 2014. On September 16 that same year, Myrkur debuted with a self-titled EP on which Bruun provided the vocals, played all guitars and bass and produced the album. Drums were performed by her friend Rex Myrnur. In June 2015, Myrkur announced the release of her debut full-length album, entitled M, which was released on 21 August 2015 via Relapse Records to critical acclaim. The album was produced by Kristoffer Rygg of Ulver, and featured Teloch of Mayhem and Nidingr on guitars, with Øyvind Myrvoll of Nidingr and Dodheimsgard on drums. In August 2016, she released a live album titled Mausoleum×Mausoleum19 August 2016 · Album · LiveSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 9 tracks1Vølvens spådom1:172Jeg er guden, I er tjenerne3:223Skøgen skulle dø3:204Byssan lull2:405Den lille piges død4:016Frosne vind1:517Onde børn4:008Song to Hall Up High2:559Dybt i skoven3:47, which was recorded at the Emanuel Vigeland Mausoleum in Oslo, Norway. The album featured acoustic and choral reinterpretations of her previously released material with the assistance of the Norwegian Girls Choir and Håvard Jørgensen, former guitarist in Ulver. Her second full-length album, Mareridt×Mareridt15 September 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1Mareridt3:242Måneblôt3:343The Serpent4:044Crown4:565Elleskudt4:226De tre piker3:127Funeral3:008Ulvinde4:249Gladiatrix2:5110Kætteren2:1111Børnehjem2:2212Death of Days3:32, was released on 15 September 2017. In 2018, the album won the non-fan voted "Album of the Year" award at Metal Hammer's Golden Gods Awards. Her album Folkesange×Folkesange20 March 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1Ella3:552Fager som en ros2:513Leaves of Yggdrasil4:004Ramund3:295Tor i Helheim7:106Svea3:267Harpens kraft3:198Gammelkäring3:299House Carpenter3:3810Reiar3:4611Gudernes vilje3:5712Vinter3:59 was released on 20 March 2020.

Members

Current
Amalie Bruun – vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, piano, organ, violin, nyckelharpa, percussion (2014–present)
Live members
Jaime Díaz Otero Núñez – drums (2018–present)
Maja Shining – bass/backing vocals/synth (2020–present)
Mikkel Haastrup – guitar (2023–present)
Former session/live musicians
Jeppe Skouv – bass (2016–)
Andreas Lynge – guitars (2016–)
Martin Haumann – drums (2017–)
Alejandro Romero Pérez – bass (2018–2019)
Edgar Merigó Trens – guitars (2018–2019)

Studio albums

M (2015)
Mareridt (2017)
Folkesange (2020)
Spine (2023)

Singles

"Nattens Barn" (2014)
"Skaði×Skaði24 November 2014 · Single · DemoSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Skaði (demo)4:54" (Demo) (2014)
"Onde Børn×Onde børnJune 2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Onde børn4:09" (2015)
"Den Lille Piges Død" (2015)
"Jeg er guden, I er tjenerne" (2016)
"Två Konungabarn×Två konungabarn23 May 2017 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1Två konungabarn3:36" (2017)
"Måneblôt" (2017)
"Ulvinde" (2017)
"Shadows of Silence×Shadows of Silence20 July 2017 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Shadows of Silence4:58" (2017)
"De tre piker" (2017)
"Juniper×Juniper14 November 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1Juniper3:38" (2018)
"Bonden og Kragen×Bonden og kragen5 December 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1Bonden og kragen2:33" (2018)
"Ella" (2020)
"Leaves of Yggdrasil×Leaves of Yggdrasil11 February 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Leaves of Yggdrasil4:00" (2020)
"Gudernes Vilje×Gudernes Vilje3 March 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Gudernes vilje3:57" (2020)
"Dronning Ellisiv×Dronning Ellisiv18 December 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1Dronning Ellisiv4:32" (2020)
"Rivers Blessed×Rivers Blessed19 October 2021 · Single · DemoSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1Rivers Blessed2:58" (Demo) (2021)
"Like Humans×Like Humans22 August 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1Like Humans4:46" (2023)
"Mothlike×Mothlike14 September 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks1Mothlike4:102Like Humans4:46" (2023)
"Valkyriernes Sang×Valkyriernes sang5 October 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 3 tracks1Valkyriernes sang3:562Mothlike4:103Like Humans4:46" (2023)
"Touch My Love And Die×Touch My Love and Die22 January 2026 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1Touch My Love and Die2:57" (2026)