Forndom - Flykt (2015)

Bandcamp page

The Swedish label Nordvis is the home of a tight community of musicians with a common interest in Nordic Nature and philosophy. Although primarily focused on Black Metal, it also welcomes non-metal projects with a like mindset. Such a project is Forndom, the musical journey of Ludvig Swärd. Ludvig also happens to be a talented landscape photographer, as can be seen on his personal page. In fact, he sees his music as the soundtrack to his visual art. Indeed, upon listening to Flykt (Swedish for flight, escape), it is immediately apparent that the music has a contemplative, almost yearning quality to it. The artwork is adorned with pagan symbolism and Ludvig has given a thorough explanation of it in an interview on Bardo Methodölogy. I will refrain from comparing Forndom with Wardruna out of respect for both projects. Suffice to say that they share aesthetic traits but differ in interpretation. The music on Flykt is intimate and comforting, but at the same time fleeting and sad. It is as if it were mourning the fading past, reminiscing a time when Nature, Animal and Man were much closer to each other. The atmosphere is secretive, owing much to the vocals which are soft and only hinted at, occasionally harsher but never too loud nor intrusive. There is a fine use of reverberation on the leads and vocals as they drone solemnly over slow and minimal drumbeats. Images of old forests whispering quietly in the rain come to mind. Interestingly enough, this is music that always seems reserved and distant-sounding even at a higher volume… As if it wanted to keep its secrets. Thus, the aptly named Flykt seems like a faint glimpse into an age-old and otherwise inaccessible realm, one that is unconcerned with the intricacies of the modern world.

Of note is the fact that Forndom renamed from Heathen Harnow in 2014 and the first physical version of Flykt, released under the name Heathen Harnow and limited to fifty CDs, might be worth hunting down for its two unlisted bonus tracks.