A step back in musical time
If you’ve ever wanted to hear the Nordic past summoned into the present, Wardruna is a band you don’t want to sleep on. Perhaps you’ve heard them already. Wardruna have released a trilogy of albums: Runaljod – gap var Ginnunga (2009), Runaljod – Yggdrasil (2013), and Runaljod – Ragnarok (2016). Their music has featured in the television series Vikings. And maybe you’ve listened to composer/multi-instrumentalist Einar Kvitrafn Selvik in Gorgoroth, Sahg, or one of the other metal bands he’s been involved with.
But unlike Gorgoroth or Sahg, Wardruna is not extreme metal. Musically, the group summons the past through the sound of old Nordic instruments and rhythm of old Nordic poetic metres. Wardruna harken back lyrically as well, combining Norwegian with Old Norse and Proto-Norse. The result is often haunting, sometimes mesmerizing.
If you’re lucky enough to have a ticket to one of a few Canadian and American tour dates, you’ll be able to experience Wardruna live as well. The band that once performed in front of the 1100-year-old Gokstad ship at the Viking Ship Museum in Norway just embarked on their first North American tour. Only the final show in Toronto has yet to sell out, and I expect it’s only a matter of time.
WARDRUNA on tour
01/02/2018 – The Filmore, Silver Spring, MD – SOLD OUT
03/02/2018 – Town Hall, New York, NY – SOLD OUT
04/02/2018 – Corona Theater, Montreal, QC – SOLD OUT
06/02/2018 – The Wilbur Theatre, Boston, MA – SOLD OUT
07/02/2018 – Corona Theater, Montreal, QC – SOLD OUT
08/02/2018 – Danforth Music Hall, Toronto, ON – TICKETS
If you’re in the Montreal area you can also take advantage of a free bonus event—a solo performance and talk by Einar Selvik at Concordia University a few hours before the full band takes the stage at the Corona Theater. After Selvik performs a solo set he will speak to the audience and participate in a live interview about Nordic culture and identity. (Facebook event page)
WARDRUNA is
Einar Selvik: Founder and main composer; sings and plays most of the instruments.
Lindy Fay Hella: Vocals.
Live members
Arne Sandvoll: vocals, percussion
Eilif Gundersen: Bukkehorn, Lur
H.C. Dalgaard: Drums, percussion
Jørgen Nyrønning: Harding-fiddle/violin
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