Wardruna draws inspiration from legends to write its own.
Four years after their last story, the band led by Einar Selvik (vocals/instruments, ex-Gorgoroth) and Lindy-Fay Hella (vocals/flute) unveil their sixth album, Birna, in partnership with labels Columbia and Sony Music.
The band is accompanied live by numerous musicians, allowing them to play every instrument.
Having had the chance to preview the album during the Paris leg of Wardruna‘s latest tour, Birna isn’t really a discovery for me. I remember that the moment seemed to pass in an instant, almost dreamlike as the sound was so captivating, and I let myself be carried away again by the layers of keyboards, the folk instruments, but also and above all the vocals. Whether it’s the backing vocals or the contributions of Einar and Lindy, each bringing their own very different touch to the tracks, they are relatively well brought to the fore in the mix, giving them pride of place without encroaching on the intoxicating rhythms to which the musician has meticulously brought life. Although a few tracks had already been unveiled (Hertan, Himinndotter, Hibjørnen and, finally the eponymous composition Birna), it’s in the form of a single epic that they really come into their own, each one responding to and completing the atmosphere of the previous one while heralding the next. I was particularly taken by Ljos til Jord and Skuggehesten, the former for its vocal intensity, the latter for its rhythmic martial tones (which make perfect sense when you translate the track’s name: “The Shadow Horse”).
Whether or not you’re a fan of Nordic folk music, you can’t deny that Wardruna has a unique aura, combining tranquility, epic tones and, above all, visceral authenticity. Enjoy Birna as a single adventure.
85/100