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Photo by Ester Segarra

Norway’s SKUGGSJÁ, the new band led by Ivar Bjørnson (ENSLAVED) and Vikings’ (The History Channel) score composer Einar Selvik (WARDRUNA), are streaming their debut album, ‘A Piece for Mind & Mirror’. The album, accompanied by an exclusive interview with Ivar Bjørnson is available now at PopMatters.com

Regarding ‘A Piece for Mind & Mirror’, Einar “Kvitrafn” Selvik (WARDRUNA) comments:

“So here it is in its entirety! There are many things I could say about the album and its diverse material, but in the end I think it is best to let the music speak for itself. Writing these songs together with Ivar has truly been a highly inspirational and fruitful journey for me and I can only hope that it comes across and is notably reflected in the music also.”

Ivar Bjørnson adds: “Turning the live piece Skuggsjá into an album has been an amazing journey. I am privileged to have made it alongside Einar and the team that has helped us fulfil our common vision. I am immensely proud of the conceptual and musical story we have made. It has become something more than the sum of the pieces added together; that alone feels like an achievement. Cheers!””

‘A Piece for Mind & Mirror’ will be released by Season of Mist worldwide on March 11. Pre-orders are available here. SKUGGSJÁ are also streaming a video for their eponymous track from the new album. The video for “Skuggsja” is streaming now at The Heathen Harvest Periodical.

Track List:
1. Ull Kjem
2. Skuggsjá
3. Makta Og Vanæra (I All Tid)
4. Tore Hund
5. Rop Frå Røynda – Mælt Frå Minne
6. Skuggeslåtten
7. Kvervandi
8. Vitkispá
9. Bøn Om Ending – Bøn Om Byrjing
10. Ull Gjekk

SKUGGSJÁ was originally conceived as a commissioned musical work written by Bjørnson and Selvik. The arrangement was performed by ENSLAVED and WARDRUNA in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian constitution at the 2014 edition of Norway’s Eidsivablot festival.

The growing desire to present SKUGGSJÁ to a broader audience led Bjørnson and Selvik to headline Roadburn Festival 2015 and record a full album. Details regarding this debut release will be available soon.

Featuring a variety of Norway and Scandinavia’s oldest instruments, as well as poetry in Norse and Norwegian, SKUGGSJÁ tells the history of Norway and it’s people. SKUGGSJÁ is truly a fusion of Norway’s past and present both lyrically and musically.

SKUGGSJÁ’s official line-up is:
Ivar Bjørnson (ENSLAVED): vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards
Einar Selvik (WARDRUNA): vocals, taglharpa, Kravik-lyre, goat-horn, birch-bark lure, bone-flute, percussion, electronics

The album also features contributions from the following musicians:
Grutle Kjellson (ENSLAVED): vocals
Lindy-Fay Hella (WARDRUNA): vocals
Eilif Gundersen: birch bark lure
Olav L. Mjelva: Harding fiddle
Cato Bekkevold (ENSLAVED): drums