ALBUM REVIEW: The Last Kingdom: Destiny Is All – Eivør

Warning: This review contains spoilers for Netflix‘s The Last Kingdom

The Last Kingdom and its central protagonist Uhtred of Bebbanburg (modern day Bamburgh) has captured the imaginations of millions of viewers across the world. In a country ravaged by the Vikings, Uhtred who was born Saxon, raised Dane, became the Sword of Wessex, helping King Ælfred defend his realm and begin to forge England as well as acting on his own ambitions. Accompanying the series is the beautiful soundtrack composed by Emmy-winning and BAFTA nominee John Lunn (Downton Abbey, Belgravia and Grantchester) in collaboration with mesmeric Faroese singer/songwriter EIVØR. The duo join forces once again accompanied by composer Danny Saul to create the hauntingly beautiful The Last Kingdom: Destiny Is All.

The collaboration between EIVØR, Saul and Lunn first began in 2015, and from the outset they wanted to do things differently. 2018’s The Last Kingdom (Original Television Soundtrack) demonstrates this perfectly, moving away from traditional orchestral instruments and exploring electronic instruments. Channelling the emotions of people living in a Viking-ravaged England in the 9th century, the trio managed to compellingly capture the highs and lows of Uhtred’s story and the defiance of Wessex. Now the illustrious trio have achieved this once again with the stunningly beautiful Destiny Is All.

The album places you right back into the world of The Last Kingdom – a story close to EIVØR’s heart as the singer has stated that growing up in the Faroe Islands she was fascinated by Vikings. The uniqueness of The Last Kingdom’s score lies in EIVØR’s beautiful chants and throat singing from her homeland. The chants are deeply rooted in Faroese culture and they capture brutal beauty of the small North Atlantic set of islands. The dramatic nature of Saul and Lunn’s analogue synths combined with the poignant layered vocal melodies in EIVØR’s distinctive tone, is utterly breathtaking. The experimentation with the kantele (a zither-like instrument that is used in traditional Finnish music) and double bass which Lunn ran through a series of distortion pedals to develop a ferocious sound adds to the drama, power and poignancy of the album in relation to Uhtred’s story.

One of the standout songs is opening track The Beloveds – a frenetic and awe-inspiring piece that captures the darker intensity of Destiny Is All. It features in a scene in season five when Viking Brida issues a call to war – a scene in which EIVØR and Saul make cameos. Sung in Faroese, the song has a powerful resonance that you can feel deep in your heart. The album as a whole is stunningly evocative and emotive; in many ways it transcends the TV series and vividly captures a folk and cultural magic that feels as though it has been handed down through the generations.

The album also features reimagined and rearranged versions of songs like The Last Kingdom – Slight Return. The show’s opening theme sends chills down your spine as EIVØR‘s powerful vocals echo through time. Blood Will Prevail is a hauntingly mournful yet soulful song; it feels like you are bearing witness to the loss of someone important to you, but it could also mean that nothing is gained without slaughter. You feel the mournful melody deep in your heart, and it physically moves you as well as emotionally. Death of Aethelflaed has a similar vibe but on a more intimate level, given how her and Uhtred’s characters are intertwined. The powerful Lady Of Mercia falls to an unexpected illness and it is one of the most heartbreaking moments of the show. Her song captures this so vividly it can draw a comparison to EINAR SELVIK’s Snake Pit Poetry, the song used for Ragnar’s death scene in Vikings.

Forever feels more dreamy and mystical; Saul and Lunn’s electronic experimentalism really shines through with digital sounds that sound like magical otherworld instruments. Shadow Queen taps into that underlying darkness that transcends the album. Slower and more ritualistic, you’re transported into the more spiritual side of the Anglo-Saxon and Viking world. Blues For Halig introduces some effective, although unusual, jazz experimentation to the album that adds an eerie ethereal vibe to the album. Banished is another mournful song that capitalises on the complex human emotions that the characters go through. Hymn 49 is a beautiful lament to those that are lost, tense and sorrowful the operatic vocals are reminiscent of religious songs. Until Valhalla leading into Lívstræðrir II finishes the album with luscious celestial soundscapes that close Uhtred’s journey in stunning, bittersweet beauty. He’s lost many along the way to achieve his dream.

EIVØR, Saul and Lunn have once again masterminded a score that transcends its inspirations and subject matter to get straight to the centre of your soul. Destiny Is All is hauntingly beautiful, a soundtrack that will leave an indelible mark on your heart as Uhtred rides into the Northumbrian sunset.

Rating: 9/10

The Last Kingdom: Destiny Is All is set for release on April 22nd via self-release.

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