Thyrfing is a viking metal band from Sweden. The band is named after the ro… Read Full Bio ↴Thyrfing is a viking metal band from Sweden. The band is named after the royal sword Tyrfing from Norse mythology.

Thyrfing was formed in 1995 by Patrik Lindgren (guitar), Jocke Kristensson (drums), Peter Löf (keyboard) and Kimmy Sjölund (bass guitar). From the beginning, the band was meant to be a side project, as Patrik and Jocke put their main focus into their other band, Pantheon (not to be confused with the American National Socialist black metal band of the same name). Northern mythology and the Viking age was an interest of all the members, so the lyrics and the concept was focused upon this subject. The music was rather primitive and built upon slow pounding drums, heavy guitars and medieval synth-melodies. After two demo tapes that gained a lot of positive response in the underground scene, Thyrfing signed to the Dutch record label Hammerheart Records in 1997.

In Stockholm's Sunlight Studio in , their debut album was recorded, showing a much more varied songwriting. The album was then released in March 1998. For their second album, this time recorded in the Abyss Studios, their music took on a more symphonic approach, still keeping with the roots from the older material. For future live performances, Henke Svegsjö from Winds was recruited on guitar. He was regarded as a good choice, and nowadays he is considered a full-member of the band. Once again with Tommy Tägtgren, Urkraft was recorded and released in August 2000. During that same year, the band also held two mini-tours with Primordial and Shadowbreed throughout The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

In the autumn of 2001, the band entered Dug-Out Studio with well-known producer Daniel Bergstrand to record the most diverse and mature Thyrfing-album to date, Vansinnesvisor (English: Songs of Madness). The album was released in July the following year, masterly-packaged by Niklas Sundin, and was considered a big step forward for the band. With more experimental vocals, distinct and focused songs, odd instruments such as keyed fiddle and home-made percussion, and with a majority of Swedish lyrics, the band won new fans and rooted their position within the genre.

To support the album, Thyrfing played two support gigs during the winter (for Freedom Call and Dismember) in Stockholm, and did a small headliner tour in Benelux with Cruachan and Shadowbreed.

2003 followed with further live-promotion, such as the Generation Armageddon Festivals (including Ancient Rites, Septic Flesh, Primordial, Blood Red Throne and Skyfire), a 12-day European tour throughout Europe, and performances on the main festival stages of 2000 Decibel in Sweden and Wacken Open Air in Germany.

Thyrfing entered EMI studios on April 18, 2005 to record their new album, Farsotstider ("Times of Plague"), which was released on November 21, 2005.

The band played their first US show in January 2006 alongside Moonsorrow and Primordial at the Heathen Crusade metalfest in Columbia Heights, Minnesota.

On March 13, 2007, the band posted a message on the official Thyrfing-site declaring that Thomas Väänänen (vocals) and Henrik Svegsjö (guitars) had decided to leave the band due to lack of motivation. Instead of Thomas, founder and ex-vocalist of Naglfar, Jens Rydén, is currently handling the vocals. The band also decided to continue with one guitarist.

Till Valfader Urgammal
Thyrfing Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Slutligen foll jag pa kampavallen
Men sorgen varar ej hos en krigare fallen
Som foda at korparna jag foll
Men svardet mitt I handen jag holl

Valkyriors vackra skepnader jag sag
Da jag doende I mitt sarsvett lag
Striden valdig blev mitt fall

Till Valfader urgammal jag nu fardas skall

Harfader, Valfader, in I salen mig bjuder
Enharjarskarans skalar I Valhall ljuder
Kommen var min sista jordedag
Nu ar blott vantan pa det sista av slag

Min dod pa faltet var ond och brad
Och nu berattar jag om manget hjaltedad

Var dag far vi pa garden kampa
Aldrig bliva gammal, aldrig lida av en alders krampa

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Thyrfing's song "Till Valfader Urgammal" tell the story of a fallen warrior who meets his end on the battlefield. Despite his death, he is not burdened by sorrow, as a true warrior knows that death is a natural part of life. He falls among the ravens, as a sword remains firmly gripped in his hand. As he lies dying in his own sweat, he sees the Valkyries, beautiful spirits who escort the souls of the fallen to the afterlife. As he embraces his fate and makes his journey to Valfader Urgammal, the oldest and most powerful of the gods, he knows that he will join the great hall of the dead in Valhalla. He is summoned by Harfader and Valfader to enter the hall of the Einherjar (the chosen ones), where the sound of their horns echoes loudly.

The song goes on to say that although his death was painful, he will forever be remembered as a great warrior. Every day in the afterlife is a battle, and he will never grow old or suffer the pains of aging. This lyric is a tribute to fallen soldiers who have given their lives in combat, honoring them as they make their journey to the afterlife.

Line by Line Meaning

Slutligen foll jag pa kampavallen
Finally, I fell on the battlefield

Men sorgen varar ej hos en krigare fallen
But the sorrow does not last for a fallen warrior

Som foda at korparna jag foll
As food for the ravens, I fell

Men svardet mitt I handen jag holl
But I held my sword in my hand

Valkyriors vackra skepnader jag sag
I saw the beautiful forms of Valkyries

Da jag doende I mitt sarsvett lag
As I lay dying in my sweat

Striden valdig blev mitt fall
The battle was fierce and led to my fall

Till Valfader urgammal jag nu fardas skall
To ancient Valfather I shall now travel

Harfader, Valfader, in I salen mig bjuder
Harfader and Valfader bid me welcome into their hall

Enharjarskarans skalar I Valhall ljuder
The horns of the Einherjar sound in Valhalla

Kommen var min sista jordedag
My final day on Earth has come