Norwegian avantgarde metallers BORKNAGAR have finalized mixing duties for their upcoming studio album with Jens Bogren at acclaimed Fascination Street Studios (OPETH, PARADISE LOST, KATATONIA, etc.) in Sweden and have now checked in to announce that the long awaited new effort will be titled, Urd, and is to be released on March 26th in Europe, and March 27th in North America via Century Media Records.

Borknagar mastermind Øystein G. Brun has checked in with the following message: “Well, our new album, Urd, was finished in mid-December and all in all we spent about 6 months to record, produce and mix it. In the “Bork-World” this isn’t really long, but I can assure you that we have never before invested so much time, energy and effort into one single production. It has been a tough, yet inspiring ride. Since June 2011 I have constantly been working with this album, recording, editing and so forth - day and night. The same goes for my comrades, never before have we made an album where everybody in the band has been so heavily involved and dedicated as this time around. Urd is surely the peak of our musical journey so far and we are extremely proud to have made this giant of an album! It’s massive, it’s emotional, it’s fast, it’s slow, it’s epic, and it’s progressive… all the ingredients that we have crafted our musical world on! And not to mention the “golden threesome” on vocals (Vintersorg, Mr. Vortex and Lazare) really shines on this album… Do I need to say more?!”

Furthermore he explains the album title within the band’s historical context as follows: “Our previous album was called Universal, and where should we go after an album title with such a magnitude? Well, we decided to head back home to earth. We really wanted to get back to the core of the band, where it all started - the admiration and pondering about nature and mankind’s place therein. Urd is the name of one of the norns that according to northern mythology stands under Yggdrasill and weaves the lifeline of mankind. Urd is representing the past, while Verdande is representing the present and Skuld is representing the future. You might very well say that this is an ancient expression of what we today know as DNA. And I have always been very fascinated by the fact that parts and bits of our DNA actually derive from the very beginning of time. All living creatures are somewhat connected to the very first organic cell. That is some of the story behind the album title…”

Borknagar lineup:

Øystein G. Brun – Clean & Electric Guitars (CRONIAN, ex-MOLESTED)

Vintersorg – Grim Vocals, Clean Vocals & Choirs (VINTERSORG, FISSION)

Lars A. Nedland – Keys, Clean Vocals & Choirs (SOLEFALD, ex-CARPATHIAN FORST)

Jens F. Ryland – Lead Guitars (ICS VORTEX)

ICS Vortex – Bass, Clean Vocals & Choirs (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, ARCTURUS, ICS Vortex)

Drums and percussion on Urd were performed by David Kinkade (SOULFLY, ex-MALEVOLENT CREATION).

Borknagar live 2012:

April

4-7 - Oslo, Norway – Inferno Festival

13-14 - Lichtenfels, Germany – Ragnarök Festival

More dates will be announced soon.

More details and information about the upcoming Borknagar release will be issued soon.

(photo by Asgeir Mickelson, photo-design by Marcelo Vasco)