Some of my Einar Selvik collection Wardruna, Skuggsja, Jotunspor, Bak De Syv Fjell and Gorgoroth

It’s not the biggest collection of Wardruna and his other bands. I don’t own every existing print of each vinyl there is or all merch I’m not that kind of collector (only for Funeral Mist). Sure I buy the albums on CD.

Of all musicians alive in the scene Einar Selvik aka. Kvitrafn is one that I got the most respect for besides Fenriz and Arioch/Mortuus.

First time I heard the Wardruna debut Gap Var Ginnunga (2009) in the winter of 2009 it was a magical experience. That album is still my favorite creation by Herr Selvik and it was like being transported back to the glory days of the 90’s.
The first album in the Runaljod Trilogy is pure Norse magic for the ages and the best album from Norway I can think off the top of my head in 20+ years since La Masquerade Infernale or Filosofem.

I feel like Gap Var Ginnunga was a continuation of some of the best Norwegian albums of all time. It doesn’t sound ANYTHING like Høstmørke; Nordavind; Fjelltronen; Hvis Lyset Tar Oss etc. but in spirit it’s the same as those albums. With passion and the right spirit for ones creation the music gets beyond 10 of 10 even if I don’t like to “number review” art.

With Wardruna he have released 2 more almost equally brilliant albums, 1 excellent in the Skuggsjá project, he played drums in Gorgoroth, Bak De Syv Fjell and in Jotunspor he also played keyboard, guitar and sang just to name some of his other work.

The pendant of Jörmungandr the Midgard serpent was designed by Einar Selvik and the book consists of all the lyrics to the albums in the “Runaljod trilogy” both in Norwegian and English. Got both at www.wardruna.com the pendant something like 1.5 years ago and the book 1 year ago don’t know if they still are available

I’ve seen Wardruna live a couple of times but never when Gaahl was still a member something I really regret today. If you want to see an amazing Wardruna performance with Gaahl check out the song Kauna live at Incubate 2009 further down this post.

Still without Gaahl the band is one of the best bands I ever seen live. Last year I went to Bergen to witness the world premiere of Ivar Bjørnson & Einar Selvik new Hugsjá live at Grieghallen. See 2 video clips from my YouTube channel that I filmed at the concert see further down in this post .

They will release the Hugsjá album on April 20th I pre-ordered the silver vinyl. The title track is available now on iTunes, Spotify etc. Get your copy over at http://aisamerch.de/bynorse/en/ and be prepared to be amazed.

TWO BRILLIANT ARCKANUM RECORDS

These two great vinyl boxes was released last year in 2016 for two of Arckanum's best records Antikosmos (2008) and ÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞ (2009).

My first encounter with the band was in the mid 90s with their debut album Fran Marder (1995) on the then brilliant Necropolis Records.

Ever since that I've been a fan of only member Shamaatae's one man band. In 1993 the band had a vocalist Sataros the brother of Shamaatae and guitarist Loke Svarteld they performed on the demos Rehearsal 1993 and Demo 1993.

Antikosmos was almost like a comeback album their first full length record since Kampen (1998) nearly 10 years ago. Even if they released four 7" EPs during that time.

One of them was as a split with Svartsyn (also on CD), another 7" with Contamino and The 11 Year Anniversary Album with rare & unreleased material. Most of those were released on Shamaatae's own Carnal Records.

Anyway Antikosmos and ÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞ was released just 11 months apart with guest session appearance by former Dissection guitarist Set Teitan on both albums. ÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞ is the better one of these two but you should get both in opinion if you want some very unique Swedish Black Metal.

These are almost like a Volume I & II even if the first one was recorded in Sunlight Studio and the other one in Stage One Studio. Both are some of the best Black Metal records of the 2000s.

Arckanum might not be for everyone but I urge anyone to give them a listen if you're unfamiliar with them. If you want to start with the debut Fran Marder or these 2000's releases either way you're in for one hell of a ride.

Kostogher (1997) and Kampen (1998) are also great records even if I think that Kampen is the weakest of the first five Arckanum full length studio albums.

A very unique band that should get more attention and in my book Arckanum are fucking amazing!!