WARDRUNA Announces New Album, ‘Birna’

Wardruna 2024
Photo credit: Morten Munthe

WARDRUNA, the globally renowned purveyors of Norwegian-tinged post-rock-meets-folk, return with their sixth album, Birna, on Jan. 24 via Sony Music/By Norse Music. The 10-song collection offers another powerful exploration of, and contemplation on, the natural world, with visionary composer Einar Selvik searching for the voice of the bear.

A preview of the 2025 album arrives with today’s release of “Himinndotter” and its accompanying video. Filmed in Norway’s Rondane National Park, renowned for its rugged landscape and free-roaming reindeer, the dramatic landscape is the perfect backdrop for the Tuukka Koski-directed video.

’Himinndotter’ (Sky-daughter) is part of a six-song exploration of the bear on our upcoming album, Birna (She-bear),” Selvik shares. “The title plays on the globally common notion of the bears’ mythical origin as a celestial being. ‘Himinndotter’ also features a guest appearance from the Norwegian choir, Koret Artemis.”

The heartbeat of the dormant bear, around nine beats per minute, can be felt throughout Birna. This cyclical process, so embedded both in nature and the worldview of older cultures, drives Selvik’s every creative work. Birna nurtures the insight that has been at the core of Selvik’s philosophy from the beginning: sowing new seeds whilst strengthening old roots.

Birna was written and recorded over a three year period with music by Selvik and longtime collaborator/vocalist Linda-Fay Hella, and lyrics solely written by Selvik. Performers on the album, in addition to Hella and Selvik, include Eilif Gundersen (bukkehorn, lur, flute, backing vocals), HC Dalgaard (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Sondre Veland (percussion, backing vocals), John Stenersen (mora-harp) and Arne Sandvoll (percussion, backing vocals).

WARDRUNA will simultaneously release Live at the Acropolis on DVD/Blu-Ray. Featuring a September 2023 performance from the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the film includes the full show with additional interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.

Birna and Live at the Acropolis pre-orders are available now at this location with the new album available on limited-edition vinyl, CD and digitally.

Birna tracklisting:

1.    Hertan

2.    Birna

3.    Ljos til Jord

4.    Dvaledraumar

5.    Jord til Ljos

6.    Himinndotter

7.    Hibjørnen

8.    Skuggehesten

9.    Tretale

10.  Lyfjaberg

Wardruna Birna Cover Art
Birna cover, photo by Tuukka Koski with artwork by Øivind A. Myksvoll

WARDRUNA tour dates:

October 3 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre (with special guest, Chelsea Wolfe)

October 6 Mexico City, MX Auditorio BB SOLD OUT

October 9 Santiago, CL Teatro Caupolican

October 12 São Paulo, BR Terra SP

November 7 Milan, IT Teatro Degli Arcimboldi

November 8 Zurich, CH The Hall

November 9 Paris, FR Salle Pleyel (with special guest, Jo Quail) SOLD OUT

November 11 Hamburg, DE Laeiszhalle SOLD OUT

November 12 Berlin, DE Tempodrom

November 14 Lyon, FR Amphithéâtre 3000

November 15 Frankfurt am Main, DE Jahrhunderthalle

November 16 Nürnberg, DE Meistersingerhalle SOLD OUT

November 17 Vienna, AT Konzerthaus

November 20 Halle, DE Händelhalle

November 21 Prague, CZ Forum Karlin

November 23 Utrecht, NL Tivoli Vredenburg SOLD OUT

November 24 Utrecht, NL Tivoli Vredenburg SOLD OUT

November 26 Düsseldorf, DE Tonhalle SOLD OUT

January 23 Melbourne, AU Palais Theatre

January 25 Sydney, AU Enmore Theatre

January 27 Brisbane, AU Fortitude Music Hall

January 30 Auckland, NZ Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre

Special guest Jo Quail on March UK and IE dates

March 17 Liverpool, UK Philharmonic

March 18 Birmingham, UK Symphony Hall

March 19 London, UK Royal Albert Hall

March 21 Bristol, UK Beacon

March 22 York, UK Barbican

March 23 Dublin, IE Olympia Theatre

March 25 Glasgow, UK SEC Armadillo

April 26 Oslo, NO Operaen SOLD OUT

April 27 Oslo, NO Operaen SOLD OUT

April 29 Trondheim, NO Olavshallen

May 2 Kristiansand, NO Kilden

May 3 Stavanger, NO Konserthuset

May 4 Bergen, NO Grieghallen

June 7 Reykjavik, IS Harpa

July 30 to August 30 Rasnov, RO Rockstadt Extreme Fest