Wardruna

Wardruna, known to the Romanian public thanks to the Vikings series is a Norwegian neo/dark folk band that explores the depths and mysticism of traditional Nordic culture, reinterpreted in a conteporary style, with strong mysterious notes. 

Founded in 2003 by Einar Kvitrafn Selvik, the band has impressed neofolk fans with their hypnotic debut album, "gap var Ginnunga", the first part of the Runaljod trilogy, which sits under the sign of 24 runes. Each recording included on the three albums was done in nature, in places or during circumstances relevant for each of the 24 runes.  

Following the release of their first album, the band was focused on adapting the songs to live concerts. Their effort was not in vain, and they had several live shows, culminating with a live representation at the Norwegian Viking Ship Museum, in front of Gokstad, a 1,100 year old ship. 

 The second part of the trilogy, Yggdrasil, was brought to life thanks to the oldest traditional Nordic instruments and antique poetic rhythms, powered by lyrics written in the old Norwegian language or in dialects that preceded this language. The ancient sounds made by the traditional instruments are complemented my the musicality of the voices, of whispers or incantations, and the sounds of less-approached sources - trees, stones, water or lit torches. 

The last part of the trilogy - Runaljod – Ragnarok was released towards the end of 2016 and took the listener further in the initiatory journey started by the band on their debut. 

At the fourteenth edition of the ARTmania Festival, Wardruna will delight its fans with songs included on their latest album, Skald, released at the end of 2018. Skald promised a lot of surprises to the fans, taking them in a journey outside the usual rich sound dimension for which Wardruna became famous. The new, direct approach is as intense and will take us on new journeys, with mystical entanglements of poetry, voice, and ancient sounds of traditional instruments.