Skuggsjá – A Piece For Mind & Mirror

[schema type=”review” name=”Skuggsjá – A Piece For Mind & Mirror” description=”Label: Season of Mist” author=”Basak Günel” pubdate=”11-03-2016″ ]

It’s not so often that we get to experience the birth of magical music projects. If someone told you that Ivar Bjørnson (ENSLAVED) and Einar Selvik (WARDRUNA) were to create a project called Skuggsjá, you would be like “No way! That would be a dream come true!”. Well, the dream of nordic/viking (metal) fans has indeed come true! The debut album “A Piece For Mind & Mirror” is out this month!

Skuggsjá – which translates to ‘mirror’ or ‘reflection’ in the Norse language-  has an interesting story. The project was initiated as a concert piece for the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian constitution and premiered in September 2014 at the Eidsivablot festival. The project got more popular as they played as one of the headliners in the 20th edition of Roadburn Festival in 2015.

From the first song “Ull Kjem”, I got the impression that I would be listening to a ‘Nordic folk’ record but I was wrong! As the record progresses, we experience the perfect harmony of different genres and different bundles of emotions; from dark ambient/nordic folk to even black metal (“Makta Og Vanæra (I All Tid)” and “Skuggeslåtten”! In this sense, I felt the ‘presence’ and the ‘character’ of both of the legendary musicians in each song; they did a great job in blending their ideas and creating those musical extremes – from clean/harsh vocals to soothing/dark atmosphere created in the record -.

One aspect I really liked about the record is the music being from-the-heart and traditional. You can actually feel that the musicians dedicated their souls into the music; the instruments are natural (just like in Wardruna for example) and the vocals will speak to your soul and will take you to the Norwegian landscapes.

“A Piece For Mind & Mirror” is a masterpiece. I can guarantee you that there’s a bit of everything for the fans of the ambient/folk side as well as the viking/black metal side of the music.Records like these need to be appreciated!

Line-up:
Ivar Bjørnson –  vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards
Einar Selvik –  vocals, taglharpa, Kravik-lyre, goat-horn, birch-bark lure, bone-flute, percussion, electronics

Contributing musicians:
Grutle Kjellson –  vocals
Lindy-Fay Hella –  vocals
Eilif Gundersen – birch bark lure
Olav L. Mjelva –  Harding fiddle
Cato Bekkevold –  drums

Tracklist: 01. Ull Kjem 02. Skuggsjá 03. Makta Og Vanæra (I All Tid) 04. Tore Hund 05. Rop Frå Røynda – Mælt Frå Minne 06. Skuggeslåtten 07. Kvervandi 08. Vitkispá 09. Bøn Om Ending – Bøn Om Byrjing 10. Ull Gjekk

Links:
Skuggsja Official
Skuggsja Facebook