Norwegian avantgarde metallers BORKNAGAR will release their new studio album, Urd, on the following dates via Century Media Records:

March

23 - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway
26 - UK, Benelux, France, Greece, Denmark, Portugal, Rest Of Europe
27 - Spain, Italy, North America
28 - Sweden, Finland, Hungary
30 - Australia, New Zealand

Mastermind Oystein G. Brun has checked in to comment about the advance reactions to the album, as well as the band status:

“Hey folks! Just wanted to give you all a brief status report from the Bork headquarter…

First off I would like to express our gratitude for all the amazing feedback we have got for the upcoming album. As earlier stated we’re all very satisfied and proud of the new album, but the fact that this album would unleash such a massive and positive feedback came a bit as a surprise for all of us. Urd recently won the “Album Of The Month” in Metal Hammer Germany, something we really didn’t really expect being the “unconventional” band we are. Also we won the “Album Of The Month” in Scream Magazine in Norway and it feels good to get that kind of recognition in our own territory. We have done numerous interviews the past weeks and what a joyful ride it is, the feedbacks are generally amazing and we can’t do anything but smile.

As you can see the album comes in different version; standard jewelcase CD, limited digipak with two extra tracks and a vinyl version in black, green and gold. Reportedly some of these limited items are soon out of stock, so if interested to have an exclusive edition of the album, make sure to place you order ASAP.

On another note we are currently working on a project that we will reveal soon, we are really excited about it and hopefully it will grant an additional and worthy dimension to our expression….

Due to the massive and positive feedback I would like to offer something back to all our fans: Fans can submit questions to the following mail address: mail.borknagar@gmail.com. The 20 first questions will be answered and launched on our sites. Please headline the mail with “Fan Question”. So if there is anything you are wondering about in relations to Borknagar that journalists and magazines haven’t been digging into - feel free to submit your question!”

The new album’s artwork was designed by Brazilian artist Marcelo Vasco and can be seen below:

Øystein G. Brun comments on the artwork as follows: “The cover and design for Urd is spot on when it comes to portraying the very core of the band. This time around we wanted an earthly expression through our cover and general design to support and empower the main themes on the album. You can almost smell and feel the texture of the old Norse wooden carvings - still there is a sophisticated and eclectic approach to the expression that entwines perfectly into the music. Marcelo Vasco enhanced our ideas into brilliance, he painted the face of the beast that is about to be unleashed..."

The tracklisting for the album is as follows:

'Epochalypse'

'Roots'

'The Beauty Of Dead Cities'

'The Earthling'

'The Plains Of Memories'

'Mount Regency'

'Frostrite'

'The Winter Eclipse'

'In A Deeper World'

Next to the standard CD, LP (in unlimited black 180 gr. vinyl, but also in limited colored pressings of green, grey or golden 180 gr. vinyl), a limited edition first pressing version of the album will be available in Europe as Digipak with the 2 bonus tracks 'Age Of Creation' (unreleased new album sessions’ track) and 'My Friend Of Misery' (Metallica cover).

Urd can be now pre-ordered in Europe from CM Distro in its different formats but also as bundle of the limited edition Digipak with an exclusive shirt:

- Ltd. Digipak CD (+ Bonus Tracks)
- Standard CD
- Black LP
- Ltd. Green LP
- Bundle version of Ltd. Digipak CD and T-Shirts

The album track, 'Roots', can be heard at this location.

Borknagar lineup:

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

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

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

Jens F. Ryland – Lead Guitars (ICS Vortex)

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

Baard Kolstad – Drums

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

More details and information about the album’s release will be issued soon.