Kvitravn, the long-awaited fifth album by the Nordic folk legends from Wardruna is finally out.
Initially scheduled for June 5th 2020, the album’s release had to be postponed due to the closing of factories or reduction of their services all around the world, making it impossible for the band to unleash Kvitravn on the planned date. To compensate the fans, the band revealed several songs ahead of the actual release.
Featuring eleven tracks, the album is available on CD and vinyl via the label By Norse Music. Its title, Kvitravn, means “White Raven” and is a variant of the name adopted by vocalist and instrumentalist Einar Selvik since his days as the drummer of the black metal band Gorgoroth.
See also: Wardruna unveils new song: ‘Andvevarljod’
The lyrics of the songs address topics such as Nordic witchcraft, animal spirits, shadows, nature and animism, the wisdom and meanings of certain myths, various Nordic spiritual concepts, as well as the relationship between sage and songs.
Tracklist
1. Synkverv
2. Kvitravn
3. Skugge
4. Grá
5. Fylgjutal
6. Munin
7. Kvit hjort
8. Viseveiding
9. Ni
10. Vindavlarljod
11. Andvevarljod
See also: Wardruna releases the music video for ‘Grá’
As usual, Wardruna took several historical and traditional instruments to the studio. Among them, the Kravik lyre, the Trossingen lyre, taglharpa, sotharpa, langeleik, crwth, goat horn, lur, bronze lur, flute and moraharpa. The recording also featured a group of traditional Norwegian singers led by Kirsten Bråten Berg.
Einar made some comments concerning the release.
For me personally, this album represents a natural continuation and development of everything we have done so far. Through experience, reflection and hungry curiosity, we potentially continue to grow as humans, scholars and musicians and with this constant movement, our ability to dive deeper into our work also grows. More clearly than before, does this album and its songs address us as humans in our own time. And even though the songs convey ways and words originating from a distant past, they are still just as much ways and words for the “now”. They are ideas born out of the very grounds we still tread, which is also what gives them the ability to speak to- and resonate within us still. Let us listen carefully, and sow or reaffirm the idea or attitude that nature is something sacred.
Kvitravn is available from Wardruna’s web store.
Links
| Website | Facebook | Twitter |
| Instagram | YouTube | Vimeo |
| VK | Soundcloud | Spotify |
Playlists
| Complete Discography |
| Northern Echoes |
| Einar Selvik |
| Futhark |
