“Get ready for a sonic ritual that blends ancient runes with modern beats. Today, on Metalwar.gr, we welcome the French duo Eihwar. Mark and Asrunn have created a unique ‘Viking War Dance’ that is taking the European festivals by storm. Following their signing with Season of Mist and the release of their debut album ‘Viking War Trance’, we dive deep into the mystical and electronic world of the North. Let the ritual begin…”
Jo: Asrunn and Mark, before we dive into the chaos, we’d love for you to introduce yourselves to the Greek audience. Who are Eihwar, and how did your meeting give birth to the “beast” you call Viking War Trance?
Asrunn: We are spirits from Hugrheim, the tenth hidden world of Yggdrasil, and we have taken possession of the bodies of two human musicians. Our memories and theirs are intertwined, and we no longer know exactly which are theirs and which are ours. This music is therefore the result of this incarnation.
Jo: You’ve managed to marry traditional Nordic instruments with hard, industrial techno beats. How do you keep the balance between a sacred ritual and a modern dancefloor?
Asrunn: We listen first and foremost to what flows through us. We are spirits thousands of years old, embodied, for this occasion, in two musicians from the year 2026. It could only result in a hybrid music of this kind! We don’t think about our music, we live it. If a composition gives us the ‘Wow’ effect, if it makes us nod our heads and puts a big smile on our faces, then we’ve done it!
Jo: Your music has a repetitive, hypnotic structure. Is your goal to lead the listener into a trance-like state, similar to that of the ancient Berserkers?
Asrunn: Trance is an integral part of our songwriting process, since I personally record all the vocal parts in this altered state of consciousness. Again, it’s bound to be felt. We don’t have a specific goal when we compose, other than our own enjoyment and the sincere expression of our emotions, but if we manage to induce this trance in the audience, we’re very happy, like a magical side effect. And it’s an experience made easier by the repetition of rhythms, which is clearly the foundation of our sound.
Jo: Signing with one of the world’s biggest metal labels made quite an impact. How does it feel for your “electronic chaos” to find a home alongside such extreme metal legends?
Asrunn: It’s funny because a lot of people ask us if we feel at home here. And as we usually reply, metal has become an extremely broad genre these days. Metalheads listen to everything from black metal with growls to pagan bands like Heilung, to electronic projects like Carpenter Brut. It seems to me that we’re right at the intersection! So we feel good here, and above all, we’re very happy to feel supported by this team, and especially by Michael, the boss, who has complete faith in us regarding all the artistic aspects. So we feel free and supported—everything an artist needs, basically!
Jo: Your latest work is a massive sonic assault. What was the creative process behind this album, and how does it push the boundaries of what you’ve done before?
Asrunn: We wanted to give me a bit more space for the vocals, to embrace my role as the lead more fully. And also because it’s in this kind of format that we have the most fun, haha. Then, after the audience feedback at our concerts, we figured people were ready for us to push the boundaries a bit more with the electronic elements. So we didn’t hesitate 😀 (Heill Odinn, for example, is a tribute to a band whose hits I love: E-type! This song is our artistic assault, and it’s definitely one of my favorites!) As for the content, we wanted to tell our story, our origins. Even though we only touched on the subject, like a long introduction to a novel, we’re already incredibly happy to have been able to express ourselves on this topic and experiment with ‘musical lore’.
Jo: Asrunn, your vocals shift from ethereal to wild, almost animalistic. How do you prepare yourself psychologically before hitting the stage to release that raw energy?
Asrunn: I’m 100% sincere, raw, and free from all constraints in this musical project. So I don’t necessarily have to prepare psychologically for it. I simply don’t care what others think when I’m on stage. I’m completely dedicated to what I’m doing, what I’m feeling, what’s going through me. If it’s a deep rage, I let it explode; if it’s overflowing joy, I give myself free rein to celebrate it.
However, to be able to give free rein to these emotions, you need a flexible, strong body that can withstand the intensity. It’s a shock, a chaos, what I put my body through every night. Since it’s already quite battered, it requires daily care and discipline!
Jo: Your performances are described as life-changing experiences. How important are the visuals and the crowd’s energy in completing the Eihwar “rite”?
Asrunn: Wow, it’s so impressive every time to read such comments. It fills us with gratitude.
I think above all that our initial attitude (basing it on laughter, not taking things too seriously, especially ourselves, inviting people to experience the music with their bodies, allowing ourselves to be fully ourselves, etc.) forms, even more than the technical aspects of our shows, the foundation of what the audience has decided to call “our rituals.” If we don’t represent ourselves what we believe in, it can’t work!
Furthermore, the people who love our music and believe our concerts have changed their lives are primarily people who felt ready to change, to evolve, to feel better. Because even though I send out a very, very strong energy, as it’s my job during these shows to channel the energies of Beings of Light to shower the audience, you have to be ready to receive them for something to happen. Having this mindset is essential for the connection between them and us to fully function. And it is in this effort to let go that truly magical things can happen!
Jo: Your sound is incredibly rhythmic and beat-driven. Do you feel that this energy makes your music a perfect “weapon” to conquer the radio airwaves and reach a broader audience in 2026?
Asrunn: Whoa, I don’t know! It would be quite presumptuous of us to claim such a thing! Especially since, once again, we’re so focused on expressing pure, raw emotion when we compose and perform live that we’re light years away from wondering if these songs might get radio airplay! To be honest, we’re already completely amazed to be where we are today, so it’s hard to imagine ourselves in any greater sphere!
Jo: Despite the synths and beats, your music breathes through forests and mountains. How does the pagan spirit survive in a world dominated by technology?
Asrunn: Ah… We really do need to make an effort, especially for the younger generations who are glued to their screens! We just need to relearn how to contemplate Beauty. It’s everywhere. In a wildflower that has managed to push its way through the concrete, a robin with a twig in its beak, a summer sunset, satiny black skin, a pretty pink seashell on the beach, a smooth pebble, the sound of a river. The Earth is so beautiful, humans no longer take the time to look at it; it’s as if they’re entitled to it all.
Jo: We live in a digital age, yet Eihwar uses technology to return to the roots. Is this a form of artistic revolution?
Asrunn: Evolution is perpetual! Often, as a painter myself, I think of the great masters like Leonardo da Vinci, and I like to imagine how excited he would be if someone showed him Photoshop or Procreate on an iPad! Not using today’s tools would be like trying to light a barbecue with two flints. It’s the same in music: we simply use what’s available in 2026 to tell a story, our own. It’s not about artistic revolution, it’s about living with the times to remain as true as possible to our creative flow.
Jo: The Greek audience has a deep love for Viking aesthetics and powerful rhythms. When can we expect to see you here for an authentic Viking War Trance party?
Asrunn: By Odin, as soon as we can! Especially since my human host studied Ancient Greek for years, so I can read your language (even if I don’t understand it, of course), it would bring back old memories, haha! Besides, I’d really love to know how Greek is actually pronounced, since in France, when you study Ancient Greek, you can imagine it probably didn’t sound anything like that, haha.
And meeting all our audiences around the world is a source of immense and intense joy for us.
Jo: Beyond the instruments, you create a very specific atmosphere. How do you decide which sounds or textures best represent the “warrior spirit” in your compositions?
Mark: The architecture of our sound could be described as follows: As a foundation, we use synthetic techno kicks that carry very, very low frequencies. We layer them with skin-based percussion sounds such as taiko, epic drums and shamanic drums to add more impact and a more organic character. We also use a wide range of metallic percussion, as well as hand percussion. In the low end, we also combine organic elements, with slightly detuned cellos, and synthetic bass lines that are either sidechained or arpeggiated. For the harmonic layers, we often use guitar or pads. The melodic parts are generally performed by string instruments (tagelharpa, violins, santur) and bone flutes. I forgot to mention that I also often play arpeggiated lute-guitar parts to tie everything together.
Jo: Your tour schedule is becoming legendary, with appearances at major festivals like Hellfest. What are your touring plans for the rest of 2026 and what is the ultimate vision for Eihwar?
Asrunn: Well, we’re leaving in a week for an insane European tour, and we just announced that we’re going to the US for a nearly month-long tour at the end of August! It’s completely crazy! Ö_Ö
So we don’t really have any visions, we’re just trying to survive the intensity of this flood for the past three years!
“That was the hypnotic world of Eihwar. A project that proves the Viking spirit is not just about the past, but a living, breathing force for the dancefloors of the future. We want to thank Mark and Asrunn for sharing their vision with us. Make sure to catch their trance-inducing performance at their upcoming shows—it’s an experience you won’t forget. Stay tuned to Metal War Radio for more ‘war stories’ and deep-dive features. Stay heavy, stay pagan!”
