Wardruna announce new album ‘Kvitravn’

WARDRUNA have announced a new album!

Titled Kvitravn, the upcoming album from the Norwegian musical group is scheduled to be released in June this year, via Music For Nations.

The new album musically continues where the Runaljod trilogy left off, yet it marks a distinct evolution in WARDRUNA‘s unique sound. In a rich musical tapestry, the band use a broad selection of both traditional and historical instruments such as Kravik-lyre, Trossingen-lyre, Taglharpa, Sootharp, Langeleik, Crwth, Goat- horn, Lur, Bronze-lur, flute, Moraharpa, and the record also features guest appearances by a small group of prominent traditional singers, spearheaded by Kirsten Bråten Berg, one of the most important custodians of Norwegian traditional song. Throughout eleven songs, Kvitravn discusses Northern sorcery, spirit-animals, shadows, nature and animism, the wisdom and meanings of certain myths, various Norse spiritual concepts, and the relation between sage and songs.

Alongside the announcement of the new album, the band have released a new music video from the upcoming album; titled Grá. Speaking about the song and its accompanying music video, band mastermind Einar Selvik says, “Grá (Grey) is our song to the wolf. It seeks to address and acknowledge the cost and responsibility of being part of, and not above nature. Once again, we were given the opportunity to go to Finland and work with a beautiful and brave rescued wolf called Tihu and her caretakers. The video was directed by our friend Tuukka Koski and his fantastic team at Koski Syväri.”

Watch the official music video for Grá here: 

And that’s not all from the WARDRUNA camp. Throughout the rest of the year, the band will be touring across mainland Europe with a run of UK shows in June. Prolific cellist Jo Quail will support on the UK dates.

Tour dates are as follows: 

28 Mar – Oslo (NO) – Sentrum Scene
02 Apr – Kristiansand (NO) – Kilden Teater
03 Apr – Stavanger (NO) – Konserthus
04 Apr- Bergen (NO) – Grieghallen
30 Apr – Moscow (RU) – Crocus City Hall
01 May – St. Petersburg (RU) – Yubileyny Sports Palace
03 May – Poznan (PL) – Hala Ziemi
04 May – Krakow (PL) – ICE Congress Center
05 May – Bratislava (SK) – Refinery gallery
07 May – Belgrade (RS) – Sava Centar
08 May – Bucharest (RO) – Arena Romanele
04 Jun – Manchester (UK) – Albert Hall **
05 Jun – Dublin (IE) – Vicar St **
06 June – Birmingham (UK) – Symphony Hall **
07 June – Glasgow (UK) – Royal Concert Hall **
09 June – London (UK) – Royal Festival Hall **
10 June – Cambridge (UK) – Cambridge Corn Exchange **
11 June – Gelsenkirchen (DE) – Amphitheater
20 June – Clisson (FR) – Hellfest
15-18 July – Ostrava (CZ) – Colors of Ostrava Festival
01 Aug – Savonlinna (FI) – Savonlinna Opera Festival
12-16 Aug – Dinkelsbühl (DE) Summer Breeze Festival
12-16 Aug – Midgardsblot (NO) Midgardsblot Festival
05 Sept – Selb (DE) Festival Mediaval
21 Sep – Reykjavik (IS) – Harpa

**with Jo Quail in support

Kvitravn is set for release on June 5th via Music For Nations.

For more information on WARDRUNA like their official page on Facebook.