Swedish folk rock pioneers GARMARNA are now premiering the first song from their upcoming record ‘Förbundet’
‘Förbundet’ is slated for worldwide release via Season of Mist on November 6. Pre-sales are now live in the Season of Mist shop HERE.
GARMARNA comment: “We have always gravitated towards gruesome and horrid tales. And in that regard “Ramunder” easily takes the crown. The song tells the tale of a fierce warrior that ravages his enemies for (it seems) the sheer joy of it. This is of course reflected in the music with it’s relentless savage stomp, distorted basses and barb wired mora harps. The track contains a guest appearance by Anders Norudde from the groundbreaking Swedish folk band Hedningarna, that was an early inspiration during our formative years. We´re very happy to present this knuckle sandwich of a song as a first teaser of our forthcoming album Förbundet, to be released on November 6th.”
More than 25 years in the making, Swedish folk rock pioneers GARMARNAcontinue to invent what music rooted in the Scandinavian tradition is about. The new album ‘Förbundet’, also the band’s debut to the new label Season of Mist, is a hard-hitting record that pushes the boundaries of traditional folk and defines the soul of GARMARNA.
The folk act started in 1990, formed by Stefan Brisland-Ferner, Gotte Ringqvist and Rickard Westman. Later in 1992, Jens Höglin joined and vocalist Emma Härdelin in 1993. Having toured extensively in Europe and the United States, GARMARNA celebrated international success with their mix of Swedish traditional folk music, electronica, and rock. The band was nominated for a Swedish Grammy three times and won the title ‘folk album of the year’ for the album ‘Guds Spelemän’ (1996).
After releasing the trip hop and rock influenced ‘Vedergällningen’, GARMARNA took a long hiatus – lasting almost 15 years – aside from a few small live appearances. Early 2016, the experimental folk rockers returned with their sixth full-length, aptly titled ‘6’. While focusing on their own abilities, the band also charted previously unexplored territories and cooperated with major Swedish artists such as Maxida Märak, Thåström, Annika Norlin.
In 2018, the five-piece began a Kickstarter campaign to fund their new record. The recording was completed a year later. The new full-length ‘Förbundet’ was produced by GARMARNA’s own Stefan Brisland-Ferner and Christopher Juul (HEILUNG, VALRAVN, EUZEN) and features guest appearances of Maria Franz (vocals on ”Två Systrar”), Anders Norudde (moraharpa on ”Ramunder”) and Ulf Gruvberg (vocals on ”Lussi Lilla”). ‘Förbundet’ will see the light of day on November 6, 2020.
One of the underlying themes of the record is facing the beauty of living and the beauty in saying goodbye. Some of the core songs on the record, consisting of ”Dagen Flyr”, ”Ur Världen Att Gå” and ”Avskedet”, spread their message of sorrow and letting go across all of the other songs.
Having always pushed to reinvent themselves with every record, GARMARNA does not shy away from modern, electronic influences on ‘Förbundet’. Simultaneously, the musicians also took a closer look at what they believe is the core of their music, calling it the most satisfying albums they have made so far. ‘Förbundet’is all about that soul, from start to finish.
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