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Kvitravn is the fifth studio album by the Norwegian Nordic folk band Wardruna, released on 22 January 2021.

This article uses bare URLs, which are uninformative and vulnerable to link rot. (September 2022)

Kvitravn
Studio album by Wardruna
Released	22 January 2021
Genre	Nordic folk, world, ambient, dark folk
Length	65:00
Wardruna chronology
Skald (2018) Kvitravn (2021)

Lead singer Einar Selvik outlines the band's impression of their album on their website thus:

"The album musically continues where the Runaljod trilogy left off, yet it marks a distinct evolution in our sound.The album features a broad selection of both traditional and historical instruments such as Kravik-lyre, Trossingen-lyre, Taglharpa, Sotharpa, Langeleik, Crwth, Goat-horn, Lur, Bronze-lur, flute, Moraharpa and the record also features guest appearances by a small group of prominent traditional singers, spearheaded by Kirsten Bråten Berg, one of the most important custodians of Norwegian traditional song.Throughout eleven songs, Kvitravn discusses Northern sorcery, spirit-animals, shadows, nature and animism, the wisdom and meanings of certain myths, various Norse spiritual concepts, and the relation between sage and songs.[1]

Reception

Robert Hoftun Gjestad of Aftenposten wrote that Kvitravn has a fascinating soundscape but the songs sometimes become too monotonous.[2] Financial Times wrote that the instruments and natural sounds "create a sense of huge elemental drama with heroic human actors" and described the songs as "stirring, solemn affairs, driven forward by hammered drums and chanted choral vocals".[3] Nöjesguiden's Christoffer Bertzell said he was fascinated by Wardruna's exploration of musical roots, writing that Kvitravn is more "driven, dynamic and ritualistic" than the band's previous Runaljod trilogy, and has a greater "vocal focus" thanks to the guest vocalist Kirsten Bråten Berg.[4]

Track listing

1. "Synkverv" – 4:50
2. "Kvitravn" – 6:17
3. "Skugge" – 6:38
4. "Grá" – 3:33
5. "Fylgjutal" – 7:05
6. "Munin" – 5:26
7. "Kvit hjort" – 5:41
8. "Viseveiding" – 4:48
9. "Ni" – 4:28
10. "Vindavlarljod" – 6:39
11. "Andvevarljod" – 10:16

Personnel

• Kvitrafn – vocals, drums, percussion, electronics, instruments
• Lindy Fay Hella – vocals

Charts

Chart (2021)	Peak position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[5]	1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[6]	32
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[7]	61
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[8]	26
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[9]	19
French Albums (SNEP)[10]	65
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11]	2
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[12]	11
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[13]	2
UK Albums (OCC)[14]	50

References

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