Tag Archives: nature

ALBUM REVIEW: Wardruna – Birna

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There is just so much to decipher when it comes to incorporating Norse-themed references into the creative process of a sonic craftsmanship; either it is in a mythological, esoteric, or cosmological sense– the discourses may vary from the dead warriors called Einherjar who Valkyries brought to Valhalla, the nine realms of Yggdrasil which started off as a primordial void called Ginnungagap, the great winter that preceded Ragnarok which is Fimbulvetr, to the trance-like state of the Berserkers which is called Berserkrgang.. I’m pretty sure many bands –especially the ones surrounding the Nordic Folk and Metal scene– have immensely covered the said topics enough already. But Wardruna is one of the precursors among the niche of Norse-themed music. It just appears to me that they have succeeded in making the very topics of ancient Norse cultural and esoteric traditions feel familiar towards those who are initially not deeply invested in the culture. Wardruna isn’t just some regular ordinary Norse-themed Folk collective; their musical trajectory is a testament of how profoundly well-versed they are when it comes to exploring their roots; the sorcery, the runes, the rites of passage, and the traditions.Continue reading →


INTERVIEW: Einar Selvik of Wardruna Discusses Their New Album “Birna”

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In this episode, Keefy is joined once again by Norse music legend Einar Selvik of Wardruna! They discussed the years-in-the-making new album “Birna” out soon via By Norse Music / Sony Music!  They chatted about the making of the album, the concept of nature and the “she-bear,” the long-standing contributions of Lindy-Fay Hella, performing at Red Rocks Amphitheater, and much more!   Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Panzerfaust – The Suns Of Perdition : Chapter III The Astral Drain  

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Canadian post-black metallers Panzerfaust return with their sixth album, and the third in The Suns Of Perdition series. Sharing their name with a German World War II anti-tank missile, and the classic 1995 lo-fi album from Norwegian second wavers Darkthrone, Panzerfaust having been carving away a niche following with their distinct sound and conceptual albums since 2005, this time styling the lyrical theme of  III: The Astral Drain (Eisenwald) on mankind’s collective descent into madness. Continue reading →


INTERVIEW: Daniel Beckman of Urferd on “Resan” – Norse Music, and More!

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Ghost Cult caught up with Daniel Beckman (Twilight Force, Ages) of Urferd! His solo ancient Norse music project just released its debut album “Resan” via Black Lodge Records. Daniel spoke about the genesis of this project, the long road from concept to the finished album, his composing and production styles, new music he is already working on, and much more!

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ALBUM REVIEW: Wolves In The Throne Room – Primordial Arcana

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Common wisdom would have you believe that most bands approaching their third decade, and / or seventh album, will have found either a comfortable groove, or a furrow that they like to plough, and that the desire to challenge themselves and their supporters, to expand or revitalise their sound, has probably been dissipated to some degree. The cycle begats the (album) cycle and the artist, conscious of the desired output, sates the audience even if they do make token refinements to keep their own creative beasts content. For while there may be tweaks and tinkerings, there are, deep-down, a forest path of a woodland much explored, not often adventures anew. 

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Holy Fawn – Death Spells

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I think Holy Fawn summed themselves up brilliantly with their band summary: “four creatures making loud, heavy, pretty noises”. Combining ambience, walls of distortion and ethereal vocals, Death Spells (Holy Roar) is the embodiment of these contrasting musical textures.Continue reading →


Fen – Winter

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Of all the grandchildren of heavy metal subgenres, one of the most precocious and still burgeoning is atmospheric black metal. As my colleague Richie HR noted in his recent new column for Ghost Cult, it seems that even the most mainstream bands are reaching for opportunities to expand their sonic palettes to include the more unconventional, and extreme styles. However, time and time again we return to the underground to seek greatness, from those who follow their own path, and eschew typical glory. One of those bands is Fen.Continue reading →


Wolves In The Throne Room: Live at Space Gallery, Portland Maine

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On a brisk fall evening we arrive at SPACE Gallery in down town Portland and await the avant-garde Black Metal explosion that was set to begin. Emma Parsons and my self make a home stage left where we can sit comfortably and still see the bands. All around the room are the banners that have been closed while all the other bands play as not to ruin the experience that Wolves In The Throne Room delivers.Continue reading →


Behind The Veil – Wolves In The Throne Room on Nature

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Since their inception, Wolves In The Throne Room has made black metal music concerned with the natural world. The band has in the past referred to this as a primal, spiritual aspect to your music. In Part II of Richie H-R’s interview with Aaron Weaver, we learn what this means to him and his brother Nathan:

 

“Our music deals with the unseen world – the world behind the veil. I think all music does to a degree, but we do so very explicitly. It’s on the top of our minds when we make music, and of course that realm doesn’t have the same concepts and ideas and tropes and limitations that the regular world, the everyday world, does.”

To what extent is this “unseen world” an allegory, and what to extent is it objective truth?

“Well, it’s both. We’re modern people. Of course we can’t deny the reality of the scientific method, and we can’t deny the reality of the laws of physics; this is how the world works, this is the lens we have to look through. But for us as individuals, we also see another reality. We also see a world of energies, entities and spirits that’s just beyond. Shift your consciousness a little bit and this whole other vista opens up, this whole expanse. Think about an experience like… a lot of people today are experimenting with Ayahuaska, the South-American psychedelic brew. When people have these experiences they encounter entities, spirits and forces that feel very much outside themselves and it creates a really powerful ontological question – are there entities, are there spirits out there that have their own existence, their own agenda, or are these things just projections of our own psyches, things that are inside of ourselves, and we’re just looking inside at aspects of our consciousness projected? The answer is both. Or, perhaps more accurately, it doesn’t matter. Trying to pin it down, trying to say it is this or it is that, that’s not a useful stance for me. The important thing to me is experience, whether it’s a musical experience or going out and having an experience in the forest, living life, just being with it and taking it for what it is, letting it take you where it will.”

 

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RICHIE H-R1212