The Northman - 2022 US Sacred Bones label Red 43-track 2LP Set

“Rob wanted the world of The Northman to feel harsh and uncomfortable, and for everything to feel like it was caked in mud and dry blood, so it was crucial for the score to mirror that.” Composers Robin Carolan (Tri-Angle Records) and Sebastian Gainsborough (Vessel) were given a task of epic proportions when director Rob Eggers (The VVitch, The Lighthouse) asked them to create the score for his ambitious and highly anticipated new film The Northman, releasing on April 22nd. They needed to make a score that both honored the immense research that had gone into the authenticity of this Viking era period piece and complimented the cinematic maximalism of the film for a modern audience. The artists stretched themselves to the depths of their creativity and the resulting album is a gorgeous, sonic tableaux that places the listener right in the center of the film.

While arranging the score the composers consulted musician and ethnographer Poul Høxbro for inspiration and insight into the history of Viking music. Having backgrounds in left field electronic music, Robin and Sebastian felt liberated by the constraint of using a small selection of musical tools for this piece. “Electronic music has almost limitless potential when it comes to making sounds and that’s obviously an incredible thing, but you can also go down the wormhole and get lost in it sometimes. There’s no risk of that happening when you only have a few primary instruments to draw upon.” Robin remarked.

They utilized traditional instruments such as the tagelharpa, langspil, kravik lyre, and säckpip to build the cinematic world of The Northman but they also took creative freedoms in adding instruments likes drums, which some academics believe wouldn’t have played a big part in Viking musical culture, simply due to the lack of archaeological evidence of actual drums. “One of the pieces we wrote was intended to emulate the sound of a bullroarer; an ancient instrument used in sacred rituals or in battle to intimidate enemies. It makes a really disorienting roaring vibrato sound and low frequencies capable of traveling insane distances.” Robin says when asked about one of the more unique aspects of the score. Everyone involved put so much effort into both their research and their creativity and this richness is evident in every track. The album as a whole is a cinematic masterpiece of sound and ambiance, both gorgeous and disturbing, like the film it so beautifully accompanies.

Tracklisting:

Side 1 - Hrafnsey.
1.  Approaching Hrafnsey   
2.  The King   
3.  Entering The Temple   
4.  Last Teardrop   
5.  Blood Tree, Part 1   
6.  Strike, Brother   
7.  Escape   
8.  I Will Avenge You, Father   

Side 2 - Follow The Vixen's Tail.
1.  The Land Of The Rus   
2.  A Burning Barn   
3.  Seeress   
4.  Raven's Omen   
5.  Storm At Sea / Yggdrasill   
6.  Iceland   
7.  I Will Save You, Mother   
8.  Slave Work   
9.  Guðrún   
10. Follow The Vixen's Tail   

Side 3 - The Night Blade Feeds.
1.  He-Witch   
2.  Draugr   
3.  Mound Dweller   
4.  To The Games   
5.  Birch Woods   
6.  First Of Many   
7.  Trollish Sorcery   
8.  Svið Night, Part 1   
9.  Svið Night, Part 2   
10. I Am Your Death   
11. Come Morning   
12. I Am His Vengeance   
13. Óðinn   
14. Valkyrie   

Side 4 - The Gates Of Hel.
1.  Vestrahorn   
2.  Hidden Valley   
3.  Blood Tree, Part 2   
4.  Blóð Inside / I Choose Both   
5.  A Maiden King   
6.  The Wolf Has Grown   
7.  The Gates Of Hel / Slain By Iron   
8.  Hekla   
9.  Cut The Thread Of Fate   
10. Make Your Passage / Valhöll   
11. Ættartré / End Credits