Kvitravn

Wardruna’s stirring fifth album sounds like it could be the dramatic soundtrack to a Viking movie – and with good reason; the Norwegian band’s founder member, singer and composer Einar Selvik contributed music to the TV series Vikings. Wardruna use rather esoteric instruments including the tagelharpa, kravik lyre and goat horn, along with occasional sound effects like thunder and wolves howling, in this collection of songs about white ravens, stags and spirit-weavers. This might all sound contrived but Wardruna perform with such conviction the effect is undeniably compelling.

Selvik has a background in black metal – he was previously the drummer in Gorgoroth – and insistent drums and potent vocals feature here, evidence that dark, pagan folk might, after all, be the more thoughtful cousin of satanic black metal. Wardruna describes the album as ‘a visual soundscape’ and, on tracks like ‘Fylgjutal’ and ‘Vindavlarljod’, it’s easy to imagine raiders setting sail across the North Sea in longships. If you’re facing a job interview or some other challenge Kvitravn could be just the thing to put you in an invincible frame of mind.