The Nordic Sound's Top 10 Albums of 2025

Send us a textWhat a year to be a Nordic music geek, eh? This is already my fourth year of doing these year-end lists, and looking back, I do believe this year has left the greatest impression on me. Not only as a listener, but as a musician myself. I look forward to what next year has in store, but for now, it's time to reflect and enjoy on the awesome music Nordic artists have brought us this year.Thanks for another great year, everyone, and happy holidays!Support the showThe Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound BarMonicaEmberGeorgeBetsCarrieGenLeighMikeCindyClaytonDrakeEricJamieJuliaMaryMichaelMichaelSeanSimonTonyYou too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

Send us a textFaber and I had such a good time hanging out for Nordic Sound 52 , that we just had to have him back on the channel to talk about Sowulo’s latest album, NIHT. We also talk about our shared challenges of listening to music as musicians (cognitive vs emotional listening), mythology, paganism, and why we seem to always use esoteric languages in this style of music.Support the showThe Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound BarMonicaEmberGeorgeBetsCarrieGenLeighMikeCindyClaytonDrakeEricJamieJuliaMaryMichaelMichaelSeanSimonTonyYou too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

Send us a textRunahild joins the channel once again for Nordic Sound #61 to chat about her upcoming album (and book!) Seid, in which she takes us through a personal and spiritual journey with "seid" - an ancient Nordic shamanic practice of which there is woefully little archaeological or literary record. Seid is out October 17th!Support the showThe Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound BarMonicaEmberGeorgeBetsCarrieGenLeighMikeCindyClaytonDrakeEricJamieJuliaMaryMichaelMichaelSeanSimonTonyYou too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

Send us a textLive from the Pike's Peak Center in Colorado Springs, Einar and Jameson sit down for a retrospective on Wardruna’s “Birna” and the historic Fire in the Mountains festival in Montana this past July.Jameson Foster is an ethnomusicologist at the University of Colorado Boulder specializing in Nordic music traditions. Thumbnail photo: Morten MuntheSupport the showThe Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound BarMonicaEmberGeorgeBetsCarrieGenLeighMikeCindyClaytonDrakeEricJamieJuliaMaryMichaelMichaelSeanSimonTonyYou too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

Send us a textMaja Kjaer joins the Nordic Sound for episode 59 to talk about her debut album "Landing", why Danish music is "like that", fiddling traditions in Denmark, and more. Support the showThe Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound BarMonicaEmberGeorgeBetsCarrieGenLeighMikeCindyClaytonDrakeEricJamieJuliaMaryMichaelMichaelSeanSimonTonyYou too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

Send us a textLive from Midgardsblot, MÍO returns to the Nordic Sound for a second time for an interview about their signing with ByNorse, their new album "Hva Nå", and how they use creatures of folklore to tell their stories about modern issues through their lyrics.Support the showThe Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound BarMonicaEmberGeorgeBetsCarrieGenLeighMikeCindyClaytonDrakeEricJamieJuliaMaryMichaelMichaelSeanSimonTonyYou too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

Send us a textIn this installment of the Nordic Sound live from Midgardsblot, Jameson the Garden Gnome is joined by Mathias Dahlsveen of Norwegian folk metal band Vanvidd for a chat about the band's history and how they approach their own style of folk metal in their latest album Avlivsritualer. Featuring special guest, BorrepusI highly recommend checking out Vanvidd's discography if you haven't already.Avlivsritualer: https://vanvidd.bandcamp.com/album/avlivsritualerSupport the showThe Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound BarMonicaEmberGeorgeBetsCarrieGenLeighMikeCindyClaytonDrakeEricJamieJuliaMaryMichaelMichaelSeanSimonTonyYou too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

Send us a textJohannes Geworkian Hellman is one of the foremost names in the Nordic folk music sphere today, impressing audiences the world over with his acrobatic and innovative approach to an often underestimated instrument - the Hurdy-Gurdy.Johannes sits down with Jameson for Nordic Sound 56 to reflect on his Hurdy-Gurdy journey and his own identity as a musician, the story of his acclaimed gurdy/accordion duo Symbio with Lars Emil Öjeberget, and his recent collaboration with highly regarded kantele player Maija Kauhanen. I think this is an especially important episode for the musicians who follow the channel, as Johannes offers some profound insight and perspective on what it means to be a musician in the 21st century. Johannes Website: https://www.johannesgeworkianhellman.se/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johannesgeworkianhellman/Symbio: https://symbiomusic.com/Maija Kauhanen & Johannes Geworkian Hellman: https://www.kauhanenhellman.com/Timestamps:0:00 Introduction2:07 Johannes’ Hurdy-Gurdy Journey19:20 The Hurdy-Gurdy in Swedish Tradition26:44 Symbio50:55 Migrating with Maija Kauhanen1:01:37 Advice for Aspiring Musicians1:10:03 Solo Project1:21:20 Some spiritual perspectives on musicianshipSupport the showThe Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound BarMonicaEmberGeorgeBetsCarrieGenLeighMikeCindyClaytonDrakeEricJamieJuliaMaryMichaelMichaelSeanSimonTonyYou too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

Send us a textBjörn Kaidel (Akleja, Plønk) joins Nordic Sound #55 to talk about how the Scandinavian folk revival of recent decades is leading to renewed interest among German musicians to reclaim a folk music tradition of their own. Diving deeper, Björn and Jameson discuss the importance of medieval folk/rock bands such as In Extremo and Faun in keeping some semblance of folk music alive in Germany, how the folk revival is using archival work and manuscripts to reclaim a lost tradition, and the old connections between all folk musics of Europe and beyond before they became a matter of national identity. Of course, we then tie all of this together in talking about Björn’s project Plønk and the reclaiming of the Waldzither as a German folk instrument, and his work with his wife in Akleja that could fool anyone into believing he’s Swedish (the name Björn doesn’t hurt).Timestamps:0:00 Overture1:59 Introductions5:50 Getting into Scandifolk11:11 Where’s the German folk music scene?44:02 Why Folk Music?51:24 Plønk and the Waldzither1:08:32 AklejaSupport the showThe Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound BarMonicaEmberGeorgeBetsCarrieGenLeighMikeCindyClaytonDrakeEricJamieJuliaMaryMichaelMichaelSeanSimonTonyYou too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

Send us a textPlease join me in welcoming the inimitable Mia Guldhammer to Nordic Sound #54. Performing with acts such as Virelai, Mallebrok, and now Guldganger, Mia has long made a name for herself as a passionate keeper and performer of the Scandinavian ballad tradition at Medieval markets and reenactments, as well as a celebrated vocalist in the Danish folk music scene. Mia takes us through her experience in both, diving deep into the enchanting world of medieval balladry, how we keep them alive (and meaningful) today, and how we can bridge the worlds of traditional folk music and medieval reenactment. Mia, thank you so much for joining the Nordic Sound, it was an absolute pleasure to nerd out with someone as passionate and knowledgeable as yourself.0:00 Overture1:46 Introduction4:06 Mia’s Musical Upbringing12:29 Medieval Ballads25:24 Danish Folk Music51:40 Medieval Markets and ReenactmentsSupport the showThe Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound BarMonicaEmberGeorgeBetsCarrieGenLeighMikeCindyClaytonDrakeEricJamieJuliaMaryMichaelMichaelSeanSimonTonyYou too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound