The band started from the ideas of Svenne Rosendal, Jonas Almquist, and Pierre Wilhelmsson in 1995. After securing another guitarist in Mårten Matsson and a drummer in Erik Grawsiö, they began rehearsing as "Antikrist". By 1996, they had changed their name to Månegarm, after the wolf of Norse legend, apt for a band concentrating on Viking metal, and early that year, they began recording first demo Vargaresa (Wolf's Journey) in 1996. After the recording, Rosendal and Matsson left to be replaced by Jonny Wranning (vocals) and Markus Andé (guitar).
With the second demo, Ur Nattvindar, folk metal became part of their sound, including violins and female vocals for the first time, and they were signed by Displeased Records. Soon afterwards, Wranning left the band and was replaced by Viktor Hemgren. At the end of the year, they went back into Sunlight studios to record their first full-length album, Nordstjärnans Tidsålder (The Age of the Northstar).
In the summer of 1999, they began recording their next album, Havets Vargar. Because of some difficulty with the recording studio, they took some time off from recording the album. During this time off, Viktor Hemgren was fired, but instead of finding a new vocalist, Grawsiö assumed the duties along with his drumming. Also during this time, Janne Liljekvist was added as a full member. With the line up now solidified, they finished recording the album and released it in 2000.
The band's two demos were remastered and released as an album in 2004, with fourth studio album Vredens Tid (Age of Wrath) issued in 2005, followed by performances on the European festival circuit that summer. After one further EP on Displeased, a completely acoustic folk music EP, Urminnes Hävd (The Forest Sessions), the band moved to Swedish label Black Lodge, who issued the group's sixth album, Vargstenen (Wolf Stone) in 2007.
A new album called Nattväsen was released on October 22, 2009 via Regain Records.
Vargbrodern talar
Månegarm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i nattens vind.
Tiden i ensamhet
efter törnets sting.
En resa för födsel
till vårat jag,
den enögdes kämpe,
Dolda kunskaper,
runors makt,
visdom genom offer,
i bergets hall.
Av dvärgar skapad,
en dödens labyrint,
kunskap och kraft
i dess mitt.
Äntra djupen
där tiden står still.
Lyss efter järntand
som ristar nid.
The lyrics of Månegarm's song Vargbrodern talar describe a journey undertaken by the one-eyed warrior, the "Ulvhede stolt", to discover hidden knowledge and uncover the secrets of the runes. The journey begins with a memory of a previous night, where the winds carried our protagonist into isolation after being stung by a thorn. This journey is one of self-discovery that leads to the birth of our protagonist's own identity. The journey involves seeking and acquiring knowledge in the hall of the mountain, where hidden wisdom is gained through sacrifice. The knowledge and power gained from this journey are symbolized by the death labyrinth created by dwarves, which lies in the middle of this hall. The final stanza of the song encourages venturing into deep and timeless places, marked by the sound of Iron Teeth forging curses.
The lyrics are rich in symbolism, drawing from Norse mythology and pagan beliefs. The song invokes the themes of sacrifice, inner strength, and the acquisition of knowledge. It takes listeners on a mystical and metaphoric journey of self-discovery, expressed through vivid imagery of natural elements like wind and thorns.
Line by Line Meaning
Minns vår resa
Remember our journey
i nattens vind.
in the wind of the night
Tiden i ensamhet
Time in solitude
efter törnets sting.
after the sting of thorns.
En resa för födsel
A journey for birth
till vårat jag,
to our true selves,
den enögdes kämpe,
the one-eyed warrior,
en Ulvhede stolt …
a proud wolfhead.
Dolda kunskaper,
Hidden knowledge,
runors makt,
the power of runes,
visdom genom offer,
wisdom through sacrifice,
i bergets hall.
in the hall of the mountain.
Av dvärgar skapad,
Created by dwarves,
en dödens labyrint,
a labyrinth of death,
kunskap och kraft
knowledge and power
i dess mitt.
in its center.
Äntra djupen
Enter the depths
där tiden står still.
where time stands still.
Lyss efter järntand
Listen for the iron tooth
som ristar nid.
that carves insults.
Contributed by Lucas V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.