Skuggsjá premiere first track and release details of debut album

Season Of Mist presents:

IVAR BJØRNSON & EINAR SELVIK’S SKUGGSJÁ, the thrilling and tempestuous collaboration between ENSLAVED and WARDRUNA are now releasing the first song taken form their forthcoming debut full-length 'Skuggsjá', which has been slated for worldwide release on March 11th. 

Regarding "Vitkispá", Ivar Bjørnson comments on behalf of the band: "It was sure not easy to pick one song to premiere; we are extremely proud of them all. We chose 'Vitkispá', because this song represents the sound, the atmosphere, and energy on the entire album very well. It flows and ebbs, with Einar's signature vocals and my wall-to-wall guitars. 'Vitkispá' is the only song on the album sung in archaic Norse tongue, and deals with the cyclical nature of Norse mythology and existence; ebbing and flowing like nature and life itself. Check it out, you will not be disappointed!"

IVAR BJØRNSON & EINAR SELVIK’S SKUGGSJÁ are furthermore revealing the artwork and tracklist of 'Skuggsjá', which can both be viewed below. The cover has been designed by the renowned Romanian artist Costin Chioreanu.

When renowned musicians such as ENSLAVED guitarist / composer Ivar Bjørnson and Einar Selvik – the mastermind behind WARDRUNA, which gained attention far beyond the world of music for their contributions to the score of the acclaimed 'Vikings' TV-series – join forces, the outcome is far too easily dismissed in advance as a "super project". 

Yet with SKUGGSJÁ the two Norwegians have clearly not only successfully combined their musical handwriting, but the sum of the duo's craft is more than its already outstanding parts. Both are adding sonic expressions to the other's sound that are enhancing their excellent songwriting into something new. Harsh metal guitars seem to effortlessly connect with ancient instruments and the emerging intricate patterns are reminiscent of the intertwined, whirling and deeply fascinating Viking age animal styles translated into songs. The result is a richly evocative sonic tapestry for the mind to wander on and create images of a long gone past without any misplaced nostalgia.

'Skuggsjá' was originally conceived as a commissioned musical work written by Ivar Bjørnson and Einar Selvik. The arrangement was performed by ENSLAVED and WARDRUNA as a concert piece in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian constitution at the Eidsivablot festival in Eidsvoll, Norway on September 13th, 2014.

The growing desire to present SKUGGSJÁ to a broader audience has ultimately led Bjørnson and Selvik to record their work in its entirety. The word "Skuggsjá" translates into "mirror" or "reflection" in the Norse tongue. 

By highlighting ideas, traditions and instruments of their Norse past, SKUGGSJÁ speak of the history of Norway and reflect relevant aspects from the past into our present day. Using metal instrumentation as well as some of Scandinavia's oldest instruments and poetry in Norse and Norwegian, 'Skuggsjá' represents a fusion between past and present, both lyrically and musically.

Line-up

Ivar Bjørnson: vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards

Einar Selvik: vocals, taglharpa, Kravik-lyre, goat-horn, birch-bark lure, bone-flute, percussion, electronics 

Contributing musicians

Grutle Kjellson: vocals

Lindy-Fay Hella: vocals

Eilif Gundersen: birch bark lure

Olav L. Mjelva: Harding fiddle

Cato Bekkevold: drums

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