Kvitravn (album)

Kvitravn
Studio album by
Released22 January 2021
GenreNordic folk, world, ambient, dark folk
Length65:00
Wardruna chronology
Skald
(2018)
Kvitravn
(2021)

Kvitravn is the fifth studio album by the Norwegian Nordic folk band Wardruna, released on 22 January 2021.

Lead singer Einar Selvik stated that the album "marks a distinct evolution in our sound", "features a broad selection of both traditional and historical instruments", and "discusses Northern sorcery, spirit-animals, shadows, nature and animism, the wisdom and meanings of certain myths, various Norse spiritual concepts, and the relation between sage and songs".[1]

Reception

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Robert Hoftun Gjestad of Aftenposten wrote that Kvitravn has a fascinating soundscape but the songs sometimes become too monotonous.[2] Financial Times wrote that the instruments and natural sounds "create a sense of huge elemental drama with heroic human actors" and described the songs as "stirring, solemn affairs, driven forward by hammered drums and chanted choral vocals".[3] Nöjesguiden's Christoffer Bertzell said he was fascinated by Wardruna's exploration of musical roots, writing that Kvitravn is more "driven, dynamic and ritualistic" than the band's previous Runaljod trilogy, and has a greater "vocal focus" thanks to the guest vocalist Kirsten Bråten Berg.[4]

Track listing

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  1. "Synkverv" – 4:50
  2. "Kvitravn" – 6:17
  3. "Skugge" – 6:38
  4. "Grá" – 3:33
  5. "Fylgjutal" – 7:05
  6. "Munin" – 5:26
  7. "Kvit hjort" – 5:41
  8. "Viseveiding" – 4:48
  9. "Ni" – 4:28
  10. "Vindavlarljod" – 6:39
  11. "Andvevarljod" – 10:16

Personnel

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Charts

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Chart (2021) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[5] 1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[6] 32
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[7] 61
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[8] 26
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[9] 19
French Albums (SNEP)[10] 65
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11] 2
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[12] 11
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] 2
UK Albums (OCC)[14] 50

References

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  1. ^ "Wardruna.com - About Wardruna". www.wardruna.com. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  2. ^ Hoftun Gjestad, Robert (22 January 2021). "Skuffende oppfølger fra Wardruna". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Wardruna: Kvitravn — a stirring, cinematic imagining of Norse culture". Financial Times. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  4. ^ Bertzell, Christoffer (13 February 2021). "Wardruna - Kvitravn". Nöjesguiden (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Wardruna – Kvitravn" (in German). Hung Medien.
  6. ^ "Ultratop.be – Wardruna – Kvitravn" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  7. ^ "Ultratop.be – Wardruna – Kvitravn" (in French). Hung Medien.
  8. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Wardruna – Kvitravn" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  9. ^ "Wardruna: Kvitravn" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  10. ^ "Lescharts.com – Wardruna – Kvitravn". Hung Medien.
  11. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Wardruna – Kvitravn" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
  12. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Wardruna – Kvitravn". Hung Medien.
  13. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Wardruna – Kvitravn". Hung Medien.
  14. ^ "Wardruna | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.