Line #26 Music/Wardruna


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1_989.jpg]]
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3	Wardruna (meaning "The Guardian of Secrets" or "She Who Whispers" in Old Norse) is a UsefulNotes/{{Norw\|ay}}egian {{Ambient}} / [[FolkMusic Dark Folk]] / [[UsefulNotes/NeoPaganism Neo-Pagan]] folk music group formed in 2003 by Einar Selvik, Gaahl (of Music/{{Gorgoroth}} fame) and Lindy Fay Hella.
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5	They create musical renditions of Norse cultural and [[Myth/NorseMythology esoteric]] pre-Christian traditions with lyrics in the Old Norse language, making significant use of Nordic historical and traditional instruments including deer-hide frame drums, flutes, kraviklyra, tagelharpe, mouth harp, goat horn, and lur. They're essentially modern-day [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skald skalds]].
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7	Discography:
8	* ''Runaljod – Gap Var Ginnunga'' (2009)
9	* ''Runaljod – Yggdrasil'' (2013)
10	* ''Runaljod – Ragnarok'' (2016)
11	* ''Skald'' (2018)
12	* ''Kvitravn'' (2021)
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14	They haven't gone unnoticed among creators of modern fiction set in UsefulNotes/TheVikingAge, as they participated to the soundtracks of the likes of ''Series/{{Vikings}}'' and ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedValhalla''.
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16	!!Tropes in Wardruna songs:
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18	* DivineBirds: "Kvitravn" (from the eponymous album) is a call to invoke a white raven spirit (ravens are associated with Odin in Norse myths). It's also the {{Stage Name\|s}} Einar Selvik uses, and the motif is reprised in his songs for ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedValhalla''.
19	* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: ''Runaljod – Ragnarok'' means to convey the atmosphere following the Ragnarök, the end of the Norse gods and the world in an epic battle from which everything will be reborn. That latter "rebirth" aspect is given way more focus in it than the epic battles or destructions.
20	* EverythingIsAnInstrument: They frequently make use of non-traditional instruments and other sources of sound like trees, rocks, water, torches and even ''ice'' (in the song "Isa" from ''Runaljod – Ragnarok'' for the latter, if you ask).
21	* GoldFever: "Fehu" (which was used in the first season of ''Series/{{Vikings}}'' during a raiding scene) tells of the dangers of gold and wealth and how {{greed}} takes over the hearts of men.
22	* HealingSpring: The song "Lyfjaberg" ("Healing Mountain") is about a mountain where the injured (be it physically or in the mind) are healed (by the goddess Eir in Norse myths, though the song doesn't mention her). It doesn't necessarily involve water, but the music video features a lake and a man immersing himself in it.
23	* PrefersGoingBarefoot: Einar Selvik often walks barefoot in their music videos filmed in Norway's nature.
24	* ThematicSeries: Their first three albums form a thematic series around runes called ''Runaljod''.
25	* UncommonTime: "Fehu" (from ''Runaljod - Yggdrasil'') utilizes 5/4 meter throughout.
26	* TheWeirdSisters: "Andvevarljod" (from ''Kvitravn'') is about the Norns, female deities responsible for shaping human destinies.
27	* WorldTree: The album ''Runaljod - Yggdrasil'' is themed after the TropeCodifier, Yggdrasil.

Context Music / Wardruna