Icelandic composer Gísli Gunnarsson shares his new single “Andlitin í Berginu” (The Faces in the Rock), a tribute to the spirits and stone formations lost in the volcanic upheaval near Grindavík. The track is the second glimpse of his upcoming album ‘Úr Öskunni’, out November 7 via By Norse Music.
Stream and pre-order the album here: https://bfan.link/andlitin-i-berginu
Written from the perspective of two beloved rock formations, the song mourns their collapse during earthquakes. Gísli, who was forced to evacuate his home in Grindavík due to the ongoing volcanic activity, describes the loss as deeply personal:
“Like a lot of Icelanders, I’ve always loved spotting trolls in the lava fields, seeing shapes in the rocks that feel like old spirits watching over the land. There were two on Þorbjörn, near Grindavík, that I was really attached to. I called them the king and the servant. They felt like guardians in a way. But during the earthquakes, they came down the mountain. It honestly felt like I’d lost something sacred. So I wrote “Andlitin í Berginu” from their perspective, like their final thoughts,their voices echoing through the rock.”
The track captures their imagined final moments—stoic witnesses to the shifting land, now fallen and silent.
‘Úr Öskunni’,which translates to “From the Ashes,” is a deeply personal work born out of destruction. The emotional weight of the evacuation, the loss of home, and the psychological toll of this period became the canvas of the new full-length.
To mark the release, Gísli will perform a free concert on November 8 in collaboration with Iceland Airwaves, held at the church in the evacuated town of Grindavík. Find more information about the show HERE.
Hailing from the atmospheric landscapes of Iceland, Gísli Gunnarsson is a visionary composer and multi-instrumentalist whose work blurs genre boundaries—merging cinematic modern classical with the raw intensity of post-rock, black metal, and shoegaze.
It was the volcanic eruptions in his hometown of Grindavík that left the deepest mark on his new album ‘Úr Öskunni’. The forced evacuation, the destruction of his home, and the psychological aftermath of months of earthquakes and instability became the canvas of the new full-length. Music, during this time, became more than expression—it became refuge.
Whether confronting grief or escaping it, Gísli Gunnarsson crafts sonic experiences that serve as a diary—never explicitly literal, but always deeply felt. This approach became central to his latest body of work, shaped by profound personal upheaval.
“Heima”, was written shortly after Gísli was forced to relocate to a remote summerhouse provided by the Red Cross.
“Isolation and trauma were starting to set in. The message and emotions behind the song are simply the grief and yearning for home,” he explains.
A quiet elegy to familiarity, “Heima” evokes the grief and disorientation of losing a lifelong anchor point—place, identity, and safety.
Offering a more hopeful tone, “Glókolla”, is named after a term of endearment for bright-haired children, it was inspired by the overwhelming support Gísli received from loved ones and the broader Icelandic community.
“My girlfriend at the time was the initial spark for this song. I had been calling her Glókolla because of her blonde hair—it’s a word we often use fondly. But it became something much bigger. Iceland really came together to support the people of Grindavík, and this song reflects that collective love.”
“Andlitin í Berginu” (The Faces in the Rock), dives deep into Icelandic folklore.
“Like many Icelanders, I see trolls in the lava fields. There were two trolls in particular on top of Þorbjörn, a mountain near Grindavík. I called them the King and the Servant. I grew up hiking there and loved them.”
Both formations collapsed during the earthquakes, a loss Gísli processed through music. The track imagines the world from their ancient gaze—stoic witnesses to the land’s shifting fury, now silenced.
With ‘Úr Öskunni’, Gísli also shifts his approach to music as a solo composer whereas he has previously become known for his collaborative works. In 2023, the artist released the collaborative album Mementos, a series of emotionally resonant musical snapshots that earned acclaim for their depth and intimacy. Featuring contributions from Georg Holm (Sigur Rós), Mat McNerney (Hexvessel, Grave Pleasures), and Laufey Soffía (Kælan Mikla), the album was named to Bandcamp’s New & Notable list.
Following Mementos, Gísli collaborated with one of his formative influences—Alcest. Their joint 2024 single, “Wings of Glass”, featured Neige and Winterhalter, paving the way for Gísli’s contributions to Alcest’s Les Chants de l’Aurore, where he provided choral vocals, arrangements, and production elements.
Whether collaborating with revered artists or composing in solitude amid volcanic trauma, Gísli Gunnarsson’s music is shaped by landscape, loss, and love—an evolving reflection of the forces, both natural and emotional, that continue to define him.
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