ALBUM REVIEW: Wurdiz – Sowulo
Critically-acclaimed Nordic dark folk artist SOWULO has found their niche in recent years, alongside heavyweight contemporaries in WARDRUNA and HEILUNG. SOWULO harks back to proto-Germanic times, where the gods were still people within living memory and the language, belief systems and rituals that we know today were in their infancy, using traditional instruments to create rich, expansive and immersive soundscapes that take you back into a fascinating yet murky past. Wurdiz is a proto-Germanic word that translates as ‘Destiny’; the album’s title and the songs within deal with the delicate dance between fate and free will – two concepts that have been at the forefront of human spirituality since time immemorial. Guided by the threads of fate, SOWULO takes you on a journey of spiritual acceptance and personal discovery through intensely cinematic songs.
Bringing together older traditional instruments with modern instruments and production makes Wurdiz the most expansive SOWULO album to date. Melodic and powerful songwriting helps founder Faber Horbach express his animistic spiritual path through his music, whilst simultaneously making animistic ideas accessible and less enigmatic for his audience. Whilst the proto-Germanic language is how he voices this, and has done since SOWULO’s inception, there is a distinct familiarity with the words he uses even if we do not fully understand them in the modern age. The cycle of nature is very much at the forefront of what SOWULO does, and Wurdiz carries on this tradition.
With this in mind, and the cinematic focus of the album, you get the sense that the essence of the natural world is distilled into an elixir to be consumed by your imagination to conjure up scenes of primal ritual and spiritual awakening under the Aurora Borealis. Even with the more positive aspects of these concepts in mind, there is a darkness to Wurdiz. The album’s creation relied on the outcome of what fate had decided for it, meaning that there is a looming presence in the corner of the metaphorical room. This presence makes us aware that although we are part of nature, it can still be hostile and unforgiving, just like fate.
Outside of the conceptual aspects, however, the music sometimes comes across as restricted, as it is intensely focused on a singular interpretation of fate and destiny. Whilst the objective of the album is clear and concise, the ideas feel over-explored, leading to a lack of contrast throughout the album. The bass drone fails to differ from song to song which unfortunately detracts from the more interesting melodies that SOWULO has created. Alongside similar rhythmic patterns, immersion can be strained in some quieter areas. In many ways the album is more meditative than folky, asking the listener to reflect on their relationship with their fate and how it impacts their lives. By all means it is an intriguing and interesting concept, but one with many facets and perspectives. Trying to condense that into 12 songs with all its differences and nuances is a mean feat for anyone, and SOWULO have had a good crack at it, yet it just feels like something is missing.
With a vast array of things to unpack in this album, it is best to outline the highlights. Wyrd Webba opens the album in an ethereal manner before bringing in a symphonic collection of voices, throat singing and drumming. Here the scene for Wurdiz is set. Æt Wega Gelætan has a WARDRUNA-esque vocal approach with sections of throat singing sandwiched between celestial male and female harmonies. Eaxlgestealla slows the pace, with a more mournful vocal tone alongside ominous string melodies. Ceorfan opens up the second, more action-packed half of the album with rousing rhythm and melody and urgent sounding string sections. Album closer Wæcnian is an optimistic sounding ballad, signifying the end of your self-identifying journey as you hold hands and work with your fate.
Wurdiz is an album that will resonate with some but not so much with others. Throughout the album there are attempts to interconnect the songs through similar rhythms and melodies, whilst aligning it with the overarching animistic concept. Yet on several occasions it leaves you feeling flat with musical déjà vu.
Rating: 6/10
Wurdiz is set for release on September 9th via By Norse Music.
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