Wardruna

{{Infobox musical artist

| background = group_or_band

| name = Wardruna

| image = Wardruna @ Roadburn 2015 03.jpg

| caption = Wardruna performing in 2015

| landscape = yes

| origin = Bergen, Norway

| genre = {{hlist|Nordic folk|ambient|dark folk}}

| years_active = 2003–present

| label = {{hlist|Indie Recordings|By Norse Music|Columbia Records {{small|(since 2019)}}}}

| spinoffs =

| spinoff_of = Gorgoroth

| website = {{url|wardruna.com}}

| current_members =

Einar Selvik
Lindy-Fay Hella
Arne Sandvoll
HC Dalgaard
Eilif Gundersen
John Stenersen

| past_members =

Gaahl
Jørgen Nyrønning

}}

Wardruna is a Norwegian music group formed in 2003 by Einar Selvik along with Gaahl and Lindy-Fay Hella.{{Cite news|url=http://louderthanwar.com/wardruna-an-interview-with-brilliant-norwegian-band-with-viking-roots-music-who-play-london-in-oct/|title=Wardruna - An In Depth Interview With Brilliant Norwegian Band With Viking Roots Music|date=23 August 2013|work=Louder Than War|access-date=2 August 2017}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wardruna.com/about/|title= About Wardruna|website=Wardruna.com|access-date=15 October 2016}}

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".{{cite web|url=http://www.wardruna.com/about/darkcity.html|title=Interview: Wardruna – Secrets of the Runes|website=wardruna.com|access-date=19 March 2021}}

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.Metal: The Definitive Guide by Garry Sharpe-Young (Jawbone Press, 2007){{cite web|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/33855/gorgoroth-black-mass-krakow-2004/|title=Gorgoroth: Black Mass Krakow 2004|website=DVD Talk|access-date=4 November 2018}} Selvik had also recorded with other projects including Det Hedenske Folk, Bak de Syv Fjell, Jotunspor, Sahg, Dead to this World, Skuggsjá, and Faun.{{cite web|url=https://noizr.com/news/world/video-faun-and-einar-selvik-perform-odin/:1533/|title=Video: Faun and Einar Selvik perform "Odin" — Noizr|first=Noizr, Site by|last=Annexare.com|website=Noizr.com|access-date=4 November 2018}} Gaahl also recorded with Trelldom, Gaahlskagg, and God Seed.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalblast.net/interviews/unleashing-satan-an-evening-with-gaahl/|title=Unleashing Satan: An Evening with Gaahl|date=25 November 2013|website=Metalblast.net|access-date=4 November 2018}}

The group's debut album, Runaljod – Gap Var Ginnunga, 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalkaoz.com/metal-news/12453-wardrunas-music-in-vikings-tv-series.html|title=WARDRUNA's Music In 'Vikings' TV Series|website=Metalkaoz.com}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/wardruna-music-featured-in-history-channel-series-vikings/|title=WARDRUNA Music Featured In HISTORY CHANNEL Series 'Vikings'|date=7 March 2013|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=2 August 2017|language=en-US}} He later appeared as an actor on the show.{{cite web|url=http://www.ghostcultmag.com/einar-kvitrafn-selvik-wardruna-appearing-on-history-channels-vikings/|title=Einar Kvitrafn Selvik (Wardruna) Appearing On History Channel's Vikings|work=Ghost Cult Magazine|date=15 February 2015 }} In 2015, Gaahl left Wardruna on amicable terms.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=112521|title=Gaahl No Longer Performing Live With Wardruna|website=Metalundergorund.com}}

Wardruna's third album, Runaljod – Ragnarok, 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.[http://www.thelocal.no/20161101/norwegian-band-rides-vikings-success-to-top-of-billboard-chart Norwegian band rides 'Vikings' success to top of Billboard chart], TheLocal.no

In August 2017, Wardruna headlined the 20th alternative music, folk music, and experimental music festival Mėnuo Juodaragis in Dūburys Lake, Lithuania.{{cite news|url=https://en.delfi.lt/lithuania/freetime/20th-fable-of-menuo-juodaragis-tells-of-god-of-thunder-and-wardruna.d?id=74584120|title=20th fable of Mėnuo Juodaragis tells of God of Thunder and Wardruna|date=8 May 2017|publisher=Delfi|agency=BNS EN|access-date=23 January 2018}} In early 2018, they embarked on their first tour of North America.{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/wardruna-announce-north-american-tour-singer-releasing-solo-ep/|title=Wardruna announce North American tour; singer releasing solo EP|website=Brooklynvegan.com|access-date=4 November 2018}}

The band's fourth album, the acoustic Skald, was released on 23 November 2018.{{cite web|url=http://bynorse.com/wardruna-new-album-skald-now-available-for-pre-orders/|title=Wardruna New Album 'Skald' Now Available for Pre-Orders! – By Norse|website=Bynorse.com|access-date=4 November 2018}}

In October 2019, Wardruna announced they had signed to major labels Sony Music/Columbia Records.{{Cite web|url=https://totalrock.com/wardruna-sign-to-sony-music-columbia-and-announce-tour-dates-for-2020/|title=Wardruna Sign To Sony Music/Columbia And Announce Tour Dates For 2020 • TotalRock|date=5 October 2019|website=TotalRock|language=en-GB|access-date=28 January 2020}} The band released their fifth studio album in January 2021, named Kvitravn, which means "white raven".{{Cite web|url=http://www.wardruna.com/news/|title=Wardruna.com – News|website=www.wardruna.com}} This was followed by the live album Kvitravn – First Flight of the White Raven in early 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://folknrock.com/news/wardruna-to-unleash-live-album-kvitravn-first-flight-of-the-white-raven|title=Wardruna to Unleash Live Album 'Kvitravn – First Flight of the White Raven'|website=www.folknrock.com}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/search?page=3&query=artist:%28Wardruna%29+date:%5B2022-01-01+TO+2022-12-31%5D|title=Wardruna 2022 setlists|website=www.setlist.fm}}

The band launched their 2024/2025 world tour at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, US.{{Cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/wardruna/2024/red-rocks-amphitheatre-morrison-co-43a92faf.html|title=Wardruna Red Rocks Setlist|website=setlist.fm}} In September 2024, they announced their upcoming sixth studio album, titled Birna, set to be released on 25 January 2025.{{cite web|title=Norse folk shamen Wardruna announce new album Birna with single Himinndotter |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/wardruna-announce-birna-album-release-himinndotter-single-2024 |website=loudersound.com |date=20 September 2024 |access-date=5 November 2024}}

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".Jonathan Selzer (2016): [https://www.loudersound.com/features/norse-code-how-wardrunas-runic-trilogy-transformed-norways-musical-landscape Norse code: how Wardruna's runic trilogy transformed Norway's musical landscape] 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."{{Cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/reviews/album-review-wardruna-kvitravn/|title=Album review: Wardruna – Kvitravn|website=Kerrang!}}

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''{{cite web|url=http://www.wardruna.com/news/index.html|title=Wardruna.com - News and Updates|website=www.wardruna.com|access-date=22 March 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=107772|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606063920/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=107772|url-status=dead|title=Blabbermouth.net - WARDRUNA Signs With INDIE RECORDINGS - Oct. 27, 2008|archivedate=6 June 2011}}
Jørgen Nyrønning