Gremnir - Sandr Ok Snj​á​r (feat. Naheli and Suvi)

I shan’t lie when I say that the cover art for Gremnir’s latest single Sandr Ok Snjár immediately thought that he took inspiration from Dune. Which, I admit, I did find quite odd considering that he focuses around neopagan folk music. And how wrong I was when I read that ‘Sandr Ok Snjár’ takes influence from the Old Norse poem ‘Hávamál’, as well as “scales from classical Persia / Iran, singing styles from Mongolia, and western traditional instruments including Irish bodhrán drum and cello.” Regardless of where he gets his influences from, Gremnir fastens them into a modern epic for all audiences. 

The opening track focuses on what sounds like a cello playing over ambiance as Gremnir sings above it. Around the two-minute mark things quiet down for a little plucking serenade before Gremnir returns with his signature gruff vocals. Opening up into a tribal like beat with his two guest vocalists, Naheli and Suvi, providing an ethereal element to the production. From there it’s a non-stop bout of chanting, tribal percussion, and ancient instruments playing out until around the five-minute and thirty second mark where things take a more ritualistic turn. A gorgeous send out as if the heavens above broke lead us out of the song. 

Gremnir does it again, moving ancient traditions and instruments into the modern age, in a gorgeous fashion. There’s not much more to be said here.