Viking folk music constellation Wardruna — which features multi-instrumentalist Einar "Kvitrafn" Selvik, Kristian "Gaahl" Espedal (ex-Gorgoroth, God Seed), and vocalist Lindy Fay Hella — will release its second album, "Yggdrasil", in North America on April 2. "Yggdrasil" is the follow-up to 2009's "Gap Var Ginnunga" and is the second album in the group's planned "Runaljod" trilogy based on the interpretation of the runes of the elder futhark.

About the new album, Kvitrafn commented, "It has taken me quite a while to find the necessary calmness and time needed in order to create the way I do. Last year in November, I began recording 'Yggdrasil', the second part of the 'Runaljod' trilogy. The creative process has been time-consuming and demanding, but I am very happy...

"Like our previous album, it is partly recorded outdoors and in places or situations relevant to the given song. Although the instruments are more or less the same as on 'Gap Var Ginnunga', the nature of the set of runes featured on 'Yggdrasil' have naturally made it a very different album. It is also worth noting that this time I've been working more closely with Lindy and Gaahl during the creative process. We are all very satisfied with the result so far, and we are looking forward to presenting this new piece of old-rooted culture!"

Wardruna recently performed at the medieval/fantasy festival Castlefest in the Netherlands, about which Selvik commented: "A lot has happened since the release of our debut album in 2009. We have been lucky enough to be able to perform at some really special places and interesting festivals. A concert with Wardruna is in my view two-way communication, and meeting our audience has been both overwhelming and very inspiring for us."

Live video footage of their majestic and enticing performance can be seen seen below.

Additonally, the band has been confirmed to perform at this year's Inferno metal festival, set to take place March 14-16 in Switzerland, alongside acts such as Anaal Nathrakh, Primordial, Dark Funeral, My Dying Bride and Aura Noir.

In September, Wardruna will make its American live debut at the Stella Natura Festival, an ambient/folk/black/doom-centered event to be held at Shinnyboo Creek Resort in California's Tahoe National Forest.