Hagalaz Runedance

This is the second full-length of this Northern folkband. Further there have been a 7″ (97) and quite recently a mcd that has already been released in these pages. “Volven” opens with the same track as the Lichttauffe compilation (see review elsewhere) and this mostly sets the style for the cd. The music is mostly pretty tranquil folky music with “shamanistic drumming”, flutes, ‘Viking choirs’ (on the background), traditional sounding instruments and most prominently Andrea Haugen’s vocals. This time Andrea invited a whole group of (session) musicians and a wide range of instruments which surely did a lot of good to the sound of Hagalaz’ Runedance. The cd contains nice rhythmical tracks, atmospheric ones and only one with a modern sound (dance beats, electric guitar) which had better been left out.
All in all a very nice cd though. <12/8/00><4>

Hagalaz’ Runedance is the recent musical outlet of Andreas “Nebel” Haugen. In her Hagalaz group and newsletter she explores traditions of the North and the musical traditions of the North are explored in Hagalaz’ Runedance. This resulted in a very nice 7″ called “When The Trees Were Silent” (97) and the cd “The Winds That Sang Of Midgard’s Fate” (98), both on Elfenblut / Misanthrope. Really beautiful neo-folk music with triballic drumming, flutes and Andreas’ vocals. Now there’s this mcd on the Dutch label Well of Urd, which turns out to be nothing more (or less) than the metallabel Hammerheart. Anyway, “Urd-…” opens with two really good new songs in the true Hagalaz’ Runedance vein. Then we have three old songs in techno/dance remixes which sound like shit! Total desecration of the folky tones and even remixed in a very boring way!! A damn expensive mcd this was too, but this way it’s really expensive. So, tip of the day, if you want to hear good Norse folkmusic, buy the cd of Hagalaz’ Runedance, but leave this mcd where it is. <2>