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Uppvakning Birnu: Ferð Byrjar
Wardruna’s Birna is an evocative, cinematic journey into the soul of nature, drawing listeners into a world where the very rhythm of life is dictated by the pulse of the earth. Einar Selvik’s latest work, the band’s sixth studio album, is dedicated to the she-bear, Birna, the guardian of the forest whose heartbeat once kept the rhythm of the land alive. Throughout Birna, Selvik and his ensemble craft an experience that is as much a spiritual journey as it is a musical one—an invitation to retreat into nature’s embrace, to feel the pulse of the earth as though it were your own.
The album begins by grounding the listener in nature’s deepest, most ancient rhythms. In Hertan, the atmosphere is raw, with a sparse, minimalist sound that evokes the deep woods, where silence speaks as loudly as the wind through the trees. The opening track sets the stage for the themes of the album—the retreat, the hibernation, and the yearning for a lost connection to the earth. The music here is meditative and introspective, a quiet call to listen to the pulse of life itself. It’s a tone that will carry through the album, weaving together the various moments and elements of the journey ahead.
Hjarta Bjǫrns: Kall Náttúrunnar
As the album progresses, we are drawn deeper into the woods, where the quiet of Hertan gradually gives way to the more immersive sounds of Birna and Ljos til Jord. These tracks embody the very essence of Birna’s spirit, the bear’s rhythm that beats through every living thing. The power of the bear’s heartbeat reverberates throughout, signaling a shift from stillness to action, from dormancy to awakening.
Dvaledraumar and Jord til Ljos, a seemingly two-song meditation, take the listener into the depths of hibernation, offering a contemplative moment of stillness where the listener can sink into the quiet rhythm of the bear’s pulse. The experience is unlike anything Wardruna has created before—hypnotic, soothing, and all-encompassing. These tracks invite you to enter the den, to share in the bear’s slumber, and in doing so, create a bond between animal and listener that feels both intimate and profound. It’s the heart of the album, a place where time seems to slow, and every sound is part of a larger, cosmic rhythm.
By the time we reach Hibjørnen, the simple, delicate single-stringed track with harmonized vocals awaken something primal in the listener. The stark beauty of the track, where a single string instrument carries the weight of the song, brings a moment of serenity before the forceful power of Skuggehesten bursts forth. Skuggehesten is the manifestation of the bear’s awakening—its powerful, intense energy rising as the layers of atmospheric folk sounds begin to build. The transition from the simplicity of Hibjørnen to the intricate, layered texture of Skuggehesten is masterful, creating a sense of both tension and release, and marking the album’s emotional peak.
Endurkomu í Skóg: Endurreisn Lífs
As we move toward the album’s conclusion, the final tracks—Tretale and Lyfjaberg—bring a sense of closure and renewal. Tretale is a beautiful, yet somber, reflection on the connection between humanity and the earth, with its haunting, minimalistic melodies drawing us back into the rhythms of nature. It’s a reflective piece, gently guiding the listener toward the album’s closing chapter.
In the final track, Lyfjaberg, a track that fans should know well by now, the message is clear: Birna, the bear, has returned to the forest, and with her, life flourishes once again. The lush, expansive sounds of this track carry a sense of resolution—an end to the slumber and the beginning of a new cycle. It’s the rebirth of the earth, the resurgence of nature’s heartbeat, echoing the album’s central theme: that from death and dormancy comes renewal, a constant cycle of life and rebirth.
The call of Birna resonates long after the album ends. It’s a reminder that we are part of the earth, bound by the same rhythms that govern the forest and the creatures within it. Through its stripped-back instrumentation, powerful vocals, and profound themes, Birna stands as one of Wardruna’s most immersive and emotionally stirring works to date. It is a testament to the enduring bond between humanity and the natural world—a bond that, like the heartbeat of the bear, must never fade.
VERDICT: 4.5/5
Ethereal Metal 
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