Wardruna

Biography

Wardruna is a Norwegian music group formed in 2003 by Einar Selvik along with Gaahl and Lindy-Fay Hella. They create musical renditions of Norse cultural and esoteric traditions and make significant use of Nordic historical and traditional instruments, including deer-hide frame drums, flutes, kraviklyra, mouth harp, goat horn, and lur. Non-traditional instruments, like the Finnish jouhikko, and other sources of sound like trees, rocks, water, and torches are also used.
The band have released six full-length albums, the first three based on Norse runes, the fourth based on the sayings of Odin from the Völuspá and other old Norse sources. The name Wardruna means "the guardian of secrets" or "she who whispers".

History

Wardruna was formed in 2003. Selvik and Gaahl were both previously members of Gorgoroth, appearing together on the album Twilight of the Idols and the live DVD Black Mass Krakow 2004. Selvik had also recorded with other projects including Det Hedenske Folk, Bak de Syv Fjell, Jotunspor, Sahg, Dead to this World, Skuggsjá, and Faun. Gaahl also recorded with Trelldom, Gaahlskagg, and God Seed.
The group's debut album, Runaljod – Gap Var Ginnunga×Runaljod – Gap var ginnunga19 January 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Ár var alda2:192Hagal7:403Bjarkan5:534Løyndomsriss3:155Heimta Thurs4:186Thurs1:167Jara5:028Laukr4:059Kauna2:3410Algir – Stien klarnar4:1711Algir – Tognatale5:3912Dagr5:38, was released on 19 January 2009 by Indie Recordings and followed by Runaljod – Yggdrasil on 15 March 2013.
In 2014, Selvik announced on the group's official Facebook page that they would take part in composing the score for season 2 of Vikings along with Trevor Morris. He later appeared as an actor on the show. In 2015, Gaahl left Wardruna on amicable terms.
Wardruna's third album, Runaljod – Ragnarok×Runaljod – Ragnarok21 October 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Tyr6:292UruR10:103Isa7:124MannaR – Drivande4:085MannaR – Liv5:126Raido4:457Pertho2:178Odal5:309Wunjo5:1810Runaljod7:34, was released on 21 October 2016. Thanks in part to the success of Vikings, the album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's World Albums chart.
In August 2017, Wardruna headlined the 20th alternative music, folk music, and experimental music festival Mėnuo Juodaragis in Dūburys Lake, Lithuania. In early 2018, they embarked on their first tour of North America.
The band's fourth album, the acoustic Skald×Skald23 November 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Vardlokk2:082Skald2:023Ein sat hon uti4:074Voluspá (Skaldic version)6:225Fehu (Skaldic version)3:296Vindavla5:357Ormagardskvedi3:118Gravbakkjen2:429Sonatorrek15:5310Helvegen (Skaldic version)4:37, was released on 23 November 2018.
In October 2019, Wardruna announced they had signed to major labels Sony Music/Columbia Records. The band released their fifth studio album in January 2021, named Kvitravn×Kvitravn22 January 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Synkverv4:512Kvitravn6:183Skugge6:384Grá3:325Fylgjutal7:056Munin5:267Kvit hjort5:418Viseveiding4:489Ni4:2910Vindavlarljod6:4011Andvevarljod10:16, which means "white raven". This was followed by the live album Kvitravn – First Flight of the White Raven in early 2022.
Wardruna's tours for 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The band returned to touring in 2022, with European and North American shows as well as a performance at Midgardsblot.
The band launched their 2024/2025 world tour at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, US. In January 2025, they released their sixth studio album, titled Birna×Birna24 January 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 2 discsDisc 1A1Hertan6:12A2Birna6:24A3Ljos til jord5:00B1Dvaledraumar13:24B2Jord til ljos5:40Disc 2C1Himinndotter5:36C2Hibjørnen3:01C3Skuggehesten3:43D1Tretale6:26D2Lyfjaberg8:47.

Reception

Jonathan Selzer of Metal Hammer magazine described Wardruna's music as "a conjunction of the earthy, the organic and the ethereal" with "runic-based rites inhabiting a frequency that once heard have always seemed just adjacent to everyday consciousness". Hannah May Kilroy of Kerrang! magazine wrote that "Wardruna may be at odds with the modern world, but, perhaps, they are exactly what the modern world needs."

Band members

Current

Einar "Kvitrafn" Selvik – vocals, all instruments, composer
Lindy-Fay Hella – vocals, flute
Arne Sandvoll – backing vocals, percussion
HC Dalgaard – backing vocals, percussion, drums
Eilif Gundersen – horns, flutes
John Stenersen – moraharpa
Past

Gaahl – vocals
Jørgen Nyrønning