Yggdrasil

Yggdrasil formed in Falun, Sweden in 2008 with David Welin on guitar and vocals, Martin Öhman on bass, and Robin Hagglund on drums. They took their name from the Norse mythological tree of life, which gives a sense of the themes they'd explore. Their music draws from Nordic folk traditions and progressive metal, with songs like 'Höstmörkrets Natt' and 'Kvällning över Trolska Landskap' showing their interest in natural landscapes and twilight atmospheres.

Their debut album 'Ascension' came out in 2011, followed by 'Vinter' in 2015. That album's title track became part of a religious debate in Sweden, with some interpreting its lyrics about Nordic winter's duality as blasphemous. The band defended it as an exploration of human emotion within their cultural context. They followed with 'Heimdal' in 2018, which incorporated some jazz and electronic elements.

Yggdrasil has played shows across Europe and North America. Their sound remains rooted in that blend of folk melody and metal instrumentation, with tracks like 'I Nordens Rike' and 'Alvadansen' continuing to draw from Scandinavian musical heritage.