Heathen Music Recommendations
One of my favourite things about the Norse pagan community is the amazing music and art we create. Growing up around musicians and being involved in my local punk scene, music is a huge part of my life, and I incorporate it into my religious practices in as many ways as I can. When I first started following Norse paganism some six years ago my first goal was to find as much related music as I could.
I want to cover as many different genres here as I can, cause everyone’s got their own preferences, and I know not everyone out there is gonna dig the viking/death metal.
So, for any people new to Norse paganism, baby witches, or just people that are interested in some damn good music, I hope this helps you out!
Osi And The Jupiter - Folk group from Kent, Ohio. Osi And The Jupiter is different from most other norse pagan groups in the best way. Their music has a Appalachian element that melds beautifully with the natural and pagan themes that make up their discography. If you’re a fan of folk rock I reckon you’ll dig their song These Ancient Bones. Also to any devotees of Óðinn out there, the song Swamp Hymns will be right up your alley. For classical/instrumental fans, the song Baldur has some beautiful strings. (see bottom photo)
Gealdýr - Ambient/Folk artist, very peaceful music, lots of deity centric songs, my two favourites being Loki and Baldr. I would recommend the song Yggdrasil to anyone who’s looking for steady repetitive prayer like music.
Wardruna - I had tickets to see these guys last year! Covid-19 postponed the concert but I’m so stoked to eventually see them. Wardruna’s music is probably best described as Nordic folk music, ambient, or folk metal. The project’s frontman is Einar Selvik, former drummer for the band Gorgoroth, and alongside him is Gorgoroth’s ex vocalist Gaahl, and singer Lindy Fay Hella (and many others). Helvegen (The Way to Hel) is one of their most well known and popular songs alongside Solringen and Kvitravn. For me, Wardruna is a staple, their songs have incredibly powerful lyrics and vocals, and most with a steady beat that I find helpful for meditations. Their album Skald is one of my favourites alongside Runaljod-Yggdrasil, offering acoustic versions to a number of their songs. Vindavla (Skald) is a profoundly powerful three part song that I’d consider a wonderful example of galdr.
Einar Kvitrafn Selvik - Einar Selvik is hands down one of my favourite musicians, incredibly talented and an amazing voice. Outside of his work with Wardruna he’s released his own music, ranging from projects alongside Ivar Bjørnson (Their album Skuggsjá is incredible, the song Kvervandi features some great guitar), his own single Snake Pit Poetry, and compositions for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Get ready to see this guy involved in lots of musical groups, and frequently featured in songs.
Eivør - You really can’t box Eivør into a single genre, her music branches out through folk, rock, hip hop, jazz, and pop. A lot of songs are Faroese ballads, probably the most well known being Trøllabundin. She has an incredibly distinct, beautiful voice, and for any lovers of pop music, the song Stirdur Saknur (featuring the man the myth the legend Einar Selvik) and any other songs off of her album Segl are definitely for you.
Hindarfjäll - Swedish folk group, they just released a new album! I haven’t gotten the chance to listen to it all the way through yet but I really enjoyed the two singles that they’ve released. Give the song Alvatid a listen! It has some of the best harmonies I’ve heard.
Heilung - Heilung’s music has been a literal godsend, I use so many of their songs in my work as a heathen. They fall along the lines of experimental folk/folk metal, their songs range from aggressive chants to clamer meditations, and killer combinations of both. Heilung is for the shaman, for the berserker, the poet, and the witch. Their music is invigorating and empowering, it’s impossible to miss the amount of soul they put into their work. Lyrics are mostly Old Norse, Old English, and Old High German (sometimes a sick mix of two), and can be traced back directly to primary iron age sources. If you’re interested in the runes, the song In Maidjan has an excellent nine stanza Elder Futhark chant. (bottom photo credit to Ryan Muir)
Danheim - If you’re looking for Norse techno/ambient music then look no further my friend. Danheim has a dark sound and a strong beat, and uses a lot of traditional instruments while incorporating electronica.
Forndom - If you dig Danheim, Forndom will be another group to take a listen to. Dark ambient themes are the speciality here. The song Nio Nätters Led is a slow paced song with a mysterious sound to it, this is another great song for meditation.
Faun - Faun is a German darkwave pagan folk group that uses a wide variety of instruments and languages in their songs. Their selection of instruments is very holistic, including but not limited to Swedish nyckelharpa, hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, flutes, and celtic harp. With a strong emphasis on vocals, you can find songs with elements of German, English, Greek, Latin, and most Scandinavian languages. Walpurgisnacht has all the elements of a great folk song, accompanied by a pretty rad music video, perfect festival/celebration music. And another for the Óðinn devotees, the song Odin (featuring, you guessed it, Einar Selvik)
Wolcensmen - Dark Folk/Neo Folk, Medieval Folk. Most of their music verges more on the Old English side of things but songs like Sunne, Lorn and Loath, and Foreboden and Gainsaying are not lacking Norse themes or values.
The Sword - Heavy metal band from Austin Texas, lots of songs with strong Norse themes. A few Freyja/Goddess centric songs including Freya and Cloak of Feathers. Their album Age Of Winters rocks and the album art is beautiful. (highly recommend the song Iron Swan off that same album)
Skálmöld - Viking metal/folk metal band from Reykjavík, Iceland. Their album Vögguvísur Yggdrasils, goes through all of the nine realms of Norse cosmology, and a number of other song lyrics take directly after traditional Norse poetic meters such as and sléttubönd and fornyrðislag. All the band members are a part of Ásatrúarfélagið, Iceland’s religious organizations of heathenry. They’re still making music and just released a new single!
SKÁLD - Chants, chants, and chants. SKÁLD offers some really energizing and upbeat chants (go check out the songs Odinn and Ó Valhalla). They also do a killer cover of The Doors song Riders On The Storm.
To finish up I have to say that this list isn’t conclusive, and that there are so many more incredible artists out there. I’ll be putting up a playlist soon including these artists and many more for anyone interested in taking a listen, so stick around and I’ll keep you posted.
I also want to give thanks to all the pagan creators out there making such amazing art, you’re all incredibly talented and creative, and in my opinion, the backbone of this community. Art brings us together.
I’m always looking for new Norse/Germanic and Celtic pagan bands to add to my Spotify. If you have any more suggestions, please let me know!
Baldrs draumar is a frisian band that tries to keep ancient Frisian pagan culture (part of germanic paganism) alive. They have a couple of albums with grunts, and at least one album with more ballad like songs. They are one of my most favorite bands
