Norwegian folk metallers WARDRUNA, led by Kvitrafn (ex-GORGOROTH drummer) have issued the following update:

"The release date of Runaljod - Gap Var Ginnunga, is approaching (January 19th, Indie Recordings), so we have decided to add ‘Hagal’ to the music player both here and on MySpace .

You can also check out the cover artwork and complete track listing below. Some of the other songs from the album have already been played on various radio shows around in Europe and so far the feedback has been great!

We'll try to keep you posted about future radio broadcasts."

Runaljod - Gap Var Ginnunga will include the following runes (songs): 'Ár var alda', 'Hagal', 'Bjarkan', 'Løyndomsriss', 'Heimta Thurs', 'Thurs', 'Jara', 'Laukr', 'Kauna', 'Algir - Stien klarnar', 'Algir - Tognatale', 'Dagr'.

A recent press release from Indie Recordings reads:

The idea of Wardruna began to take shape in 2002 as a project where founder and main man Einar Kvitrafn Selvik (JOTUNSPOR, Gorgoroth, SAHG, etc.) could work with a musical expression and instrumentation very different from what his involvements in various metal bands would allow. Naturally, it also became a place where his passion for and practice of Norse paganism and runes could be combined with music.

In the spring of 2007 the project started to attract attention after it was featured on the soundtrack of the much publicized ‘True Norwegian Black Metal’ documentary about Gaahl (TRELLDOM, GORGOROTH, etc.) by Peter Beste and Vice Films. Despite no releases or live appearances, Wardruna has since then gathered a respectable and maybe surprisingly diverse following.

Now, after nearly six years in the making, the long awaited debut album of Wardruna is finally finished. It is the first album in the planned ‘Runaljod’ trilogy which will musically interpret the runes of the elder futhark. This highly visual music is hard to place into any specific genre, and there isn't really much to compare it with either. The style can perhaps be described as a curious blend of folk, world and ambient music, but without being limited by the sometimes restricted scope of these genres.

Runaljod - Gap Var Ginnunga has a very profound and unique sound that consist of a wide array of instruments, some of which are seldom used nowadays. A few examples: deer hide frame drums, mouth harp, goat horns, lur, Hardanger fiddle and tagelharpe (‘viking fiddle’). Sounds of more unorthodox ‘instruments’ like trees, stones and fire are also incorporated into the music, and it's all topped off with powerful vocal performances from no less than three vocalists.

The album was produced and engineered by Kvitrafn himself in his own, aptly named, Fimbulljóð studio. Many of the recording sessions were executed outdoors at carefully selected locations with instruments or natural sounds that are relevant to the different runes.

Working with Wardruna has proven to be extremely rewarding, and their friendly and professional attitude is an example for others to follow. It is an honour for Indie Recording to have this special act on our roster, bringing depth and meaning to our catalogue by putting in context the very origin of Black Metal.