Wardruna is a Norwegian project around singer Einar Selvik (I wonder, when is something a band, and when is it a project?). Einar was the drummer for black metal band Gorgoroth until 2004, a year after Wardruna started. Wardruna plays traditional Nordic instruments.
Gap var ginnunga is the debut album, and the first of three albums dedicated to the runes of the elder futhark alphabet. The lyrics are in Norwegian, but also old Norse and proto Norse. Recordings took place between 2003 and 2008, quite a long time for recording.
So how did I find out about them? I’m pretty sure it was because of the line up of the Wave-Gotik-Treffen festival in Leipzig, but I also think I missed them there. To prepare for the festival, we go through most of the bands that are coming there, listening to each and ranking them. I liked them, but I had to choose another stage that year. I just bought the record instead. Then when I found out that they were performing live in Tilburg I went to see them there. I was very disappointed by the live performance. Maybe the band added some black metal to the mix, but it didn’t sound at all as atmospheric as they are on the record.
From the wiki page I found out that Wardruna co-composed the score for the second season of the Vikings series. The thing you find out writing this blog.