Wardruna – Kvitravn – First Flight of the White Raven

A year after the release of their previous studio effort, neofolk titans Wardruna are ready to present the world with their debut “virtual live experience” as an accompaniment and prelude to their upcoming live tour.

Listeners may initially be sceptical about a live album from such an act, as live concerts from artists of this genre typically rely on a heavy visual element; however, from the opening notes of title track “Kvitravn”, it is clear that Wardruna have created a live album that is just as immersive and enveloping as their studio releases. The main difference here is that the songs are slightly stripped back in comparison to the vast arrangements typical of the genre; yet that does not subtract at all from the atmosphere.

The atmosphere throughout the record, which was originally a live broadcast online during the height of the pandemic, remains consistently dark and encompassing throughout the whole piece – an achievement given its hour and fifteen minute runtime. Yet despite being classed as “dark folk”, it remains a surprisingly relaxing listening experience. There are of course crescendos and elements of dramatic flairs, but the soundscape develops to immerse the listener in a pre-medieval world, despite being atypical and slightly apart from traditional Scandinavian folk music. For founding Wardruna member and band leader Einar Selvik, this is part of the goal of Wardruna, of taking old forms, beliefs and creating something new with them. It is a live performance that takes elements of the past in order to create modern music that does not try to recreate the past, but instead pay respect to it.

Selvik is originally a drummer, though Kvitravn does not rely too heavily on percussive elements; with instruments ranging from the taglaharpa to the lur also taking an equal amount of dominance, that is when the group’s powerful vocalists are not leading the track. It is a far cry from Selvik’s previous work in black metal group Gorgoroth, though it can be accurately said that Selvik has found his calling with Wardruna. This is reflected in the album’s subtle nod to Selvik’s musical journey, given that Kvitravn, the white raven, was indeed his previous stage name.

As the live experience moves from newer songs back to Wardruna classics with the closing tracks of Fehu and Helvegen, listeners cannot help but be drawn back to Wardruna’s origins and rise to fame as one of the biggest Scandinavian modern folk bands in the world. Culminating in their providing the soundtrack to the TV series “Vikings”, Wardruna have become a force to be reckoned with in helping to shape the world of modern folk music. As a live album, Kvitravn is a triumph; a celebration of Scandinavian culture as well as a diverse and beautiful soundscape that takes the listener on a musical journey across Norway and beyond.