Exploring the Viking Age #1: Up close and personal with Einar Selvik 

Wardruna speaks to something ancient in the human spirit. Especially if you are from a Scandinavian, Germanic, or Celtic heritage. It’s like having a living breathing interpretation of our ancestors brought to life.

Nothing in life will be more of a memory than the first time I heard Einar sing Helvegen live. It's like all of my ancestor's stood with me at once.

Wardruna is what i play the most in my shop and from young to old, they all love Wardruna. Einar Selvik is a special person and must be protected at all costs.

Einar is such a cool person. I met him once. He made the soundtrack for Valhalla's DLC Dawn of Ragnarok as well. I worked on both Valhalla and DoR DLC and his music was helping me every day. Just placing a musician NPC in the world so every time I play I listen to his songs... It was great experience, and I hope I will have a chance to work with him again!

Fascinating how someone who creates such powerful music can have such a gentle, humble presence. Thrilled to be seeing them live later this year ❤

Wait a minute…hear me out…Amon Amarth creates a Norse folk album, of some sort. 😳😤🔥

Ty Johan and Einar. I absolutely love how articulate and humble Einar is. I am very happy you touched on Helvegen. This song absolutely means so much to me. As Einar sang this song looking over Oslofjord at Midgardsblót 2022... I wept. My wife had been so excited to come back and share music with her grandmother. But we soon learned that soon after we arrived, she had taken a turn for the worse. As she slipped from this world to the next, we played Helvegen to guide her way. I learned the lyrics, every inflection, and melody in the song. It will forever be one of my favorite songs... and one that I will want to guide my way as I make the trip down the road to Helheim.

Excellent first podcast!! Ty Johan and Einar 🤘🏼😎 Hail the Old Gods 🙏🏼🧎🏼‍♂️❤️

For those who did not know that Johann Hegg had the website Grimfrost up for many years now, Finally Grimfrost expands into RU-vid with podcasting=D. Keep up the good work fellas.Regards from Vest-Noreg.

I usually do not listen to podcasts except when I have to work on translating them, but this was a fantastic episode and I enjoyed every minute. Johan is an awesome musician and he asked very good questions, and Einar is such an inspirational person and a great musician. I love Wardruna very much and their music resonates with my soul despite the language barrier, which just proves that music transcends everything. Thank you both for all the hard work.

Det glæder mig at se to af skandinaviens musiklig sønner i et samtale sammenf, to moderne skalder!

It's fantastic you all are doing a podcast now!! And what a guest to carry off your first ever episode. Proud of you all! This is great.

“go out with a bang” sounds about right! the acropolis concert was one of the most memorable moments of my life, i thank you for it einar ✨

To me, Wardruna's message is about first reconnecting with yourself. Can't embrace nature if you can't even see yourself being a part of it. It's about helping us remember we are not disconnected from it, to embrace the primal essence within us. Accepting that essence doesn't make us primitive or irrational, what would actually be irrational would be to deny that it exists inside all of us. Embracing that natural connection gives us meaning, sense of belonging, love and care for what surrounds us.

I love Einar, wish the podcast was longer, I could listen to you two for hours. 😊

The God's are pleased for sure with this episode.

Excellent discussion on runes. Great job addressing the differences between elder and younger futharks and the magic of the **words** and the power of the written word. Thank you for also covering the differences between ancient and modern rune practices. Great start to the podcast. Looking forward to more. 🤘🖤🤘

Amon amarth with a wardruna must do something together... We were lucky enough to see them both last year in Greece 🇬🇷

Woooow!!! It's very good to see Johann and Einar together. I hope we can see something done by both, that would be awsome... Greetings and blessings from Guadalajara México

Thank you for the podcast with Einar. Helvegen will be played when my family scatter my ashes in the mountains. Such a powerful piece of music....thank you Wardruna. Greetings from South Africa,

Literally was playing AC Valhalla and starting learning the lyrics to “lust for battle” 2 hours ago 😂🤘🏻

Wardruna has got me thru many things since I found them and started listening to them got me thru some dark and rough times they are what I go to sleep to at night I can’t sleep without having them on my radio thank u wardruna from east tn

Wardruna changed my life for the better. Experiencing their performane live was the single most moving and profound musical experience I've ever had, and since then I proudly bear their bindrune tattooed on my body. Pure magic. Can't wait for the new album! Judging from how Hertan sounds, it's going to be something truly special.

Einar Selvik ist ein echter Künstler, der so tolle Projekte gemacht hat...die Götter werden immer ein Auge auf ihn haben und beschützen 👍👍 toller Podcast 🎉🎉

Starting off with a bang!! Wardruna is so very pleasing to the Hooded One and to me. 😁

I've dreamed this stage background so this will be my number one. Fia is good and Nati Dreeed. Goodluck with the Podcast. 👍👍

Johan and Einar did more with their music to increase my interest in Scandinavian history and culture than any of my history teachers. It's very rare when music can be both great on its own but also educational.

As a fan of Amon Amarth and Wardruna, this podcast is one of the best. It’s one of the most interesting conversations out there. This is important.

What a great start to a hopefully a long running podcast. Can't wait for more.

Wardruna is magic for me, no other music can make me feel like that. Einar is amazing, thank you for this episode ❤

Great band is Wardruna. Brilliant interview, many thanks.

Amon Amarth and Wardruna together? Am I in Valhalla? 🤩

Hopefully it is just lapsus linguae, but the Acropolis wasn't built by Romans.. anyways love to see these two guys together :) Edit: but the amphitheater in the foothills of the Acropolis actually was built in the Roman period

I'm sitting here watching this in the same shirt as Johan as a mater of coincidence. 💪🏽

That is hands (or shields) down the best podcast studio set I HAVE EVER SEEN!! I want that as my lounge room 😊 Sooo glad GF you are starting this, hopefully it continues. I have some pendant pieces from you so I already know you are men of quality 👍

When my time comes, I will have Helvegen played at my funeral

Great interview ! Wardruna is sacred music to me.

Timeless songs for countless times and in this day and age , having some form of songs that make you slow down just a bit . Having those past experiences being brought here to this day and age it's just incredible and immensly powerful . Now as a fan of both metal and this ( Neo-Folk ) if i can say that even having the fiction and dreams and finally some myths to wrap my mind about that music is just so peaceful and it feels like home . Feels like Einar said : It''s a part of you that was missing . Finding that part of my soul , and my heart . Listening to Wardruna is literally like seeing a friend after a lifetime ! something very tangable , something very present ! Thank you Johan for this amazing conversation with a person to whom i can say only that he made me a better musician and person !

now can we get a tour with Wardruna and Amon Amarth together?

Best first episode of any podcast available.

Wardruna was one of the best concerts i ever attended (Tivoli, Utrecht), can't wait to see them again this year.

My husband and I really enjoyed watching this. Thanks, guys! Einar, we both have your Wardruna symbol tattooed, and we saw you in Cambridge 🖤 Johan, I hugged you in 2019 at Brixton 🖤 you're both awesome!

Such a great, interesting and funny talk between two of the greatest (and masterminds behind two of my all-time fav bands which I carry for ever in my very skin). Indeed that finale was unbelievable in Athens, Einar, got the chance to witness it being that my first Wardruna ritual, made it all the way from Spain. Apart from that, you guys were all really nice in the meet and greet, espcially you sir. Hopefully, soon I´ll get the chance to meet Johan as well, at Midgardsblot 2024. Odin shed some of the mead of poetry over you indeed! Thank you for your art and Skaal!

Being in Acropolis with you was pure magic!!

Thank you for this wonderful and interesting interview! Would love to see Einar together with other member of Wardruna as well.

two of my favorite frontmen tell stories dream come true Concert in Arcopoli. It's magic

What a wonderful guest for episode 1. A perfect choice. Blessings on this new endeavor.

I just listened to this today on my commute home from work. What a great first episode. I am so looking forward to your next podcast!!!

Never got to see Wardruna live, yet I hope the future will change that. But the song that made me connect with the band is Lyfjaberg. Always been a big music lover but that was the only song I could feel during my depression, even before I read the English translation. So yeah thanks for this great podcast into the mind of Einar something that is always fascinating. Hope to see him on here again if new work comes out to review and go into depth about the meaning behind it all.

What a great guest for episode 1.

Saw Wardruna in NYC. I hate the city with a passion, but it was so worth the trip, and wait.

Guys please do a collaboration together ! You are a true heros for us 🥃

Love you ❤ Einar

New here so Hei. Could you make a video on the quickest quietist (beside his screaming of course) way to part a priest's hode and knekke with an axe or a sword? This could be very handy soon the way the pontiff is acting. Love the "Viking world tour" tee its on my winter solstice wish list! Farvel modig venn. WARDRUNA Rocks man. The cave concert was awesome!!!😇

Two of my favorite musicians together! This podcast looks like a dream come true!

My respect for both Grimfrost and Einar Selvik

So excited to see this episode! These two men's voices and music are part of my daily ritual. A staple in my daily life. I Love you both. Thank You for your contributions!

I love listening to Einar talk i could listen too him for hours talk about anything!❤ amazing music

You asked some really great questions in this interview. I've always wanted to know him in a more personal way. He's such a unique individual.

Great interview podcast - tusen tack! ... My spin on the 'runes' worthy of mention in tthat is perhaps not commonly observed is that ultimately all runes have their own unique vibrational qualitiative frequency and all frequencies can be traced back to the origin of all vibrational frequences i.e. the source emanation 'perfect pitch' 'the yawning void' of Ginnungagap. Also the mention of 'numerology' is significant in that galdr and skaldic poetry was very much geared to numerological merit in the way it was organised and arranged i.e. every rune has a specific numerology associated to it and so similar to Pythagorean numerlogy the alpha-numeric properties were carefully considered.

LMAO... 1st music I bought with my own money, was when I was 9 years old & I got a 45rpm record of Twisted Sister & brought it home and put it on my tan & orange plastic record player. And Quiet Riot - Metal Health (Bang Your Head) on a 45rpm. Great interview.

Lookin forward to more Grimfrost podcast eps. Not a day to soon 🖤 Tack

Two of my favorite musicians in one room and talking about awesome stuff- wow!

I do not listen to any of you guys music (at this point in time), but this conversation is the definition of true. Love It!

A greate podcast, intresting to hear Einars story and thoughts. What about an episode with Heri Joensen from Tyr ?

Briliant podcast! You shoud have bjørn bull hansen on! Creater of the jomsviking series

I was hoping Grimfrost would do a podcast Tusen takk johan

What a great interview, very interesting topics and good to see this two beasts of music together. Thanks for sharing my friends :D

Fantastic and very inspiring interview with great questions and answers. Thank you for that!

Tech side: VERY awesome, you got a really really good setup! - Podcast Was amazing, and i will definately listen to the upcomming pods! About death: In Denmark we do have open casket as an option. When my grandmother died i went to the chapel and spoke to her and kissed her cheek as a farewell, it gave me peace.

Jotunspor is great. A second album would be great :D

Wardruna is outstanding ! Amazing

Omg what Ive always wanted! Both amazing people!!!!! Grimfrost podcast??? Lets go!!!

Great insights into the making of the music and delving into the history of the skalds - thank you guys! Einar is a hugely intense person - love that he considers his words so carefully and makes intelligent insights into your questions as well.

Please Please Please interview Ylva Eriksson from Brothers Of Metal. I absolutely love their music.

When will we see Wardruna + Amon Amarth cooperative music? Asking for a friend 😂

Great first episode. Keep it going!

Anyone know where Einar gets his sweater? That thing is so cool

Great talk. By the way, there are a few times during the pod where both the video audio just stop and then resume like at 1:09:24.

Am I dreaming?! Amazing podcast! Thank you! ❤

Johan please call Ludwig from Forndom, it would be very nice

Good stuff, ty!

Great interview, is there a part 2?

Thank you Gentlemen! Your insight and music inspire me daily.

This is awesome

Awesome 😁👍

Great interview!

Very interesting, thank you

I have a question for you guys at Grimfrost. I live in America in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve been reading the Poetic Edda by Olive Bray since 2012 and later I got Jackson Crawford’s translation when it came out. I prefer Tolkien’s translation of Beowulf almost entirely for the part where he changes Elves being kin to Grendel and uses the word goblins instead. I’ve bought books from your website so I know how to read and write in old Norse and the younger futhark and I’ve been taking the lessons Jackson Crawford gives for several years. But I still can’t speak old Norse well. I appreciate how historically accurate you guys are. I’m not sure how you practice the religion itself and that’s what I am curious about. Do you consider yourselves Ásatrú? Like do you consider yourselves apart of Icelands Ásatrú religion? Because I’m in America I looked up the Ásatrú folk assembly and initially I liked their traditional values but they venerate Guido von List and that dude seems like an idiot to me. Being Norse I’ve come to learn is pretty lonely except for my wife and kids, I have a few close friends I study the Hávamál with. I know Oðin says to find praise and friendship within yourself but he also says it’s important to be able to share your mind with people. Basically I was wondering what you guys think of this whole Ásatrú thing that is spreading around the world, I’ve always just told people that I’m Norse and a son of Oðin. Thanks for your time and all the work you guys do.

That’s a class pairing right there

Wooooaaahhhhh, what??? How is this channel real???

I got the wardruna bindrune tattooed on me ❤

Great episode. Thank you.

Cool podcast!

Johan thank you for interviewing Einar. Look forward to many more Grimfrost podcasts. Now I must go listen to some Wardruna and A.A. 🦉🐗🦅🦌.

Next stop for Einar? Rogan.

Seeing Wardruna in Athens is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. My only regret is that I didn't take my son with me because he's a fan too!

Wardruna 🍻

The only viking i know is Simon the Savage🎉

Ließe sich das Interview mit deutschem Untertitel belegen?