Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
The band SVARDENVYRD was founded in 2002 and we were originally 4 members. In 2004, 2 left and the band HEIDEN was formed. In 2005, Svardenvyrd released their debut CD, „Obyčej slunovratu“, in a two-piece band, Typhon (guitars) and Einskaldir (vocals, drums). Pagan black metal with lyrics in the form of poems on the theme of the four seasons and the infinite power of powerful nature and deities. Unfortunately, in 2007 we broke up and another album remained in progress. In 2020, we joined forces again and recorded the new album "Scarred Lands" with great gusto and enthusiasm.
How would you describe your style? Which bands influenced your music?
Our work can be more or less classified as pagan black metal with strong riffs and rhythms. The vast majority of our songs are medium tempo or slow, we are better structured at this level and the atmosphere develops. Our concept of black metal is not a furious winter storm or a summer storm, rather a cold autumn day when you feel like perceiving all the sensations around and walking through the landscape. We were probably most influenced by the Nordic black metal scene, but perhaps even more Ukrainian. We grew up in the bands Bathory, Mayhem, Burzum and later we were enchanted by Drudkh or Astrofaes.
Why should a metalhead buy your demos/albums?
I think that if people like our recordings, the best way to keep the emotions of listening to music in the future is to buy a physical medium. We also dealt a lot with the visual side of the new album and it is absolutely precisely connected with the concept of the album. It is definitely a piece of honest work that will delight every fan of similar genres.
What have you released so far and how were your releases received by the public/media?
The latest album "Scarred Lands" was released only a few days ago and the responses are great so far. As for our debut "Obyčej slunovratu" from 2005, it then became such an underground small cult within the Czech-Slovak scene, and many people listen to it and talk about it to this day.
Do you play live as well? How's your live activity so far?
We do not currently play concerts because we are only two members. If the situation develops in such a way that there will be interest in our live performance, then we are probably able to put the live line-up together.
What should labels/zines/promoters know about your band? Why should they be interested in it?
We definitely sound different and try to make unique but genre music. Our music has a specific gloomy atmosphere and pagan melodies, a dense sound and urges the listeners. The lyrics on the new album are dedicated to the victims of racial and political purges in Central and Eastern Europe in 1925-1953, which are unparalleled in human history and must never be forgotten, even though many people would obviously want it and are working on it.
What plans do you have for the near future as a band?
At the moment, we are trying to promote the new album as best we can and get it into the media and among the listeners. We are putting together social networks, because at the time we broke up, there was no facebook, instagram, bandcamp or spotify and we are actually a completely new band in this area. Over the next year, we'd like to start composing another record, so there's a lot of work ahead of us.
Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
You can find our music on bandcamp, Youtube, Spotify, iTunes and other digital platforms. Physical media can be purchased through our official e-shop at eshop.farhorizonmusic.com or from selected distributors such as Einheit Produktionen, Mystic Production, Magick Musick or Epidemie Records.
December 2021