Wardruna – Runes of Yggdrasil and Hertan

If you’re familiar with black metal music, chances are you have come across the Norwegian band Wardruna. Although its members come from Gorgoroth’s black metal lineup, their music has little in common with what might be classified as metal.

Rune music has long been part of their lives and serves as an important link between nature, history, and their spiritual identities.

Yggdrasil

Viking mythology depicts Yggdrasil as a massive tree that connects time and space, housing the Ten Realms that make up our universes, as well as potentially an infinite number of universes within itself – making Yggdrasil an impending multiverse in itself. Protecting it would save all realities – ours included.

Wardruna has enjoyed rapid popularity growth. They’ve had songs featured on popular TV series Vikings and performed at both Norway’s Viking Ship Museum and Faerieworlds Festival; yet Selvik sees his band as more than just another newfolk music project.

He believes that rune music, created through modern paganism and animism – which embraces all living beings as having value and spiritual essence – fulfills a fundamental human need to feel connected with nature, culture and something bigger than themselves. Through their music they hope to foster this sense of community connection and spiritual expression in people. In doing this he creates his music.

Hertan

Norwegian group Wardruna stunned audiences during their creative break by unveiling Hertan, a single and music video exploring the concept of heart as a metaphorical rudder guiding emotions, decisions, and genuine desires. This latest addition to their Runaljod trilogy builds upon themes explored on previous albums like Gap var Ginnunga and Yggdrasil.

Wardruna’s primary composer Einar Selvik has long imagined Wardruna as an ever-evolving dialogue with nature, an approach they have pursued through acoustic performances and musical contributions to TV shows like Vikings. Furthermore, their music has found new fans through inclusion in video games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

On ‘Hertan,’ the band takes an apocalyptic direction with Norns from Norse mythology playing an essential part in shaping humanity’s fate – an apt message considering climate change and nuclear proliferation are pressing concerns today.

Runaljod

Einar Selvik made headlines last year when he switched up the makeup in Gorgoroth for Wardruna, an exciting Norwegian band which offers powerful darkened folk aesthetics and three albums dedicated to representing all twenty-four runic symbols from Elder Futhark.

The group’s immersive nature is enhanced by their use of historic instruments like primitive deer-hide frame drums, kraviklyra, tagelharpe and goat horn. This provides them with a distinct sound from synth-based folk recordings typically created by metal bands.

With tracks such as ‘Gap Var Ginnunga, Yggdrasil, and Runaljod Ragnarok establishing an immersive atmosphere and thunderous percussion, incantatory vocals, hair-raising horns, and the simple sound of ice chipping evoking primordial renewal and regeneration; this album provides a vivid insight into Norse culture.

Birna

Birna is a Nord pawnbroker who runs Birna’s Oddments shop in Winterhold. She’s frustrated with how little business her store receives and his brother Ranmir’s habit of drinking away their earnings. When the Dragonborn first meets Birna she offers them the Coral Dragon Claw for 50 septims as she claims it can unlock riches in Yngol Barrow.

Birna, like the tree she is named after, epitomizes resilience. Her steadfast nature allows her to weather any storm with grace; yet can also make her seem overbearing when misunderstood. Birna is one of those friends you want by your side when times get tough; her balanced approach combines traditionally feminine and masculine characteristics for an elegant, compassionate presence; plus, her affinity with nature makes her an excellent partner for anyone with adventurous spirits!