Wardruna
Skald

“Bitter pain grips my throat,

my tongue is sluggish, the scale of the song.

I can no longer from the depths of my heart

evoke my treasure of verses.”

Poetry, at the ancient Viking courts, was sung by the Skalds, the Art they took on the burden and honor of representing was based (but not only) on subjects from Scandinavian mythological tradition. They were also warriors when necessary, and at the same time learned and refined actors and singers. A clearly expected introduction, admittedly, but I didn't know how to introduce this new journey of our Einar Selvik, a former glory of the extreme Norse scene (also known as Kvitrafn) and subsequently a bold explorer of the deep roots of the ancient tradition of his lands with the project in question and with other renowned collaborations.

His Wardruna this time leave space only for their creator and mentor; this work, in fact, is solely voice and an ancient traditional string instrument (tagelharpe in Norwegian), a sort of small wooden harp you can also admire in the promotional photos. Here begins the difficult part, difficult but fascinating at the same time; I won't beat around the bush, and those who have read how I write above know that I usually don't like to do erudite reviews on technique and every single piece. As I wrote in the past, I believe music is impossible to “write” and even less to “describe.” What can be humbly attempted is to say what the emotional flow has made run inside and outside of us, and especially what remains after the voice and notes have stopped filling the spaces. Well, in this case, it is an authentic journey backwards, a true journey, though, not like in the excellent previous works (the trilogy on the Runes), a sort of true rite of connection with the ancestral past of the Bards, going back to the ancient tradition of the Greek aedi, singers who were considered close to the divine essence, often represented Homerically as blind, prophetic, and directly inspired by the Muses.

It begins with the ritual horn and the deep voice of the Skald immediately plunges into his work. Pieces like “Voluspa” will then make you feel the true essence of the Prophecy of the Seer exactly as the Vikings heard it, people who had no idea of an Odin screamed by the distorted vocals of Black Metal or the strings of an electric guitar! Here, Selvik also wants to present some tracks already in use by his Wardruna but always in this key, here you will find nothing but the rough musicality of his mother tongue, the bare arpeggio, and the inspiration of the Gods do the rest. The album moves on this slow and powerful breath, up to the apotheosis of the controversial “Sonatorrek,” almost sixteen minutes of only voice taken from the Saga of Egill, a poignant “lament” for the loss of children (of which I provide excerpts at the beginning and end of this report), a piece that tests those who truly love the Nordic Spirit more than viscerally with its associated traditions, ancient religion, and ancestral roots. More information on how this work was recorded “live in studio” can be found on the various dedicated sites and the official one.

In conclusion, this is an album for very few; here is the ancient soul of a people, here are the desire and pure passion to make a courageous album, an album-beyond that, in my opinion, will receive more than one criticism. Here you will not find the captivating rides from Viking TV series (to which Selvik has also contributed), you will not find Folk-Rock, Viking-Folk BM, or decadent electronic ambient, there is nothing slick or tantalizing even in the aesthetics of the album, here there is only a purer and genuinely timeless Folk. Here, if you wish, you will hear "only" the true distillation of the oral tradition from which the Culture of every people comes and has developed; personally, I cannot help but love this work madly, my winter has finally begun and Wardruna is what I eagerly awaited, I never had doubts that it would take me on extraordinary journeys, just as I have no doubts it is a masterpiece.

“I do not enjoy the company of others,

though many are not hostile to me.

I think of my son who has reached Odin

that good boy is reunited with the ancestors.”