Lustuz Laþu Wōþuz Alu

Nordic and Viking culture is currently enjoying a resurgence, not least with the release of big-budget film, The Northman. Which brings us to this debut from Nebala, a solo project from songwriter Jonas Lorentzen who, in his other profession as actor stars in the aforementioned movie. Lorentzen is clearly passionate and sincere in his desire to conjure a ‘re-imagination of Nordic Folk.’ Collaborators here include composer Sebastian Gainsborough (Vessel, Manchester Collective) and Kjell Braaten (Wardruna), but also non-musical minds Mathias Nordvig (professor of pre-Christian religion) and philosopher Naina Gupta. Each of the nine songs focuses on a proto-Germanic word or concept (Nebala itself means ‘The Void’).

Opener ‘Alagabia’ lays down the template; atmospheric drones and hand-percussion, gently evolving, highly evocative melodies that rise and fall like the sea. This is first-rate composing, drawing favourable comparison to the stirring soundtracks of Vangelis. ‘Safijan’ dives into a subterranean world of ominous, reverential rumbling and pulsing drums. ‘Mannz Gamana’ fuses found sounds with skittering beats, glittering rhythms and sinister strings. If you could hear Odin turning the world, it might sound like this. With Lustuz Laþu Wōþuz Alu, Lorentzen has created something truly memorable.