The new album of the Norwegian folk metal band Wardruna was released on January 24, 2025 via Sony Music and By Norse Music. “Birna” is the sixth album of the band. The composer, lyricist, mixing and recording engineer, and producer is Einar Selvik. The first song “Hertan” leads us into one fantastic world. The title of the song means “Heart” and the music represents the beating of the heart, the flowing of the streams and the emotions and the directions of the taken decisions. The second song “Birna” is a dialog between a man and a bear who want to change their skins for one night. The word “Birna” means “she-bear” in Old Norsk. The album focuses on the life cycle of the she-bear. As the band writes on their website, “Birna – the she-bear in Old Norse – is a work of art dedicated to the warden of the forest, nature’s caretaker, and her battles here on earth. Slowly driven out of her habitat by modern day societies, she has entered a stage of permanent hibernation. As a result, the forest is gradually dying, longing for its pulse and heart – its shepherd. Birna calls for her return.”

The trembling percussions, the epic choruses, the bone flutes, Kravik-lyre, Talharpa, Lur, Mora-harp and the mysterious lyrics create a magical trans-like athmosphere. Оnce again Wardruna has proved that they are the grandfathers of the Norwegian folk-metal.

Here is the “Himinndotter”‘s video: