Nordvig and Hagen combine their enthusiasm as fans and participants in the scene with their clear-eyed insight as scholars to explore and unravel how a complex mixture of nationalism, environmentalism and pagan spirituality – together with the wildly differing musical traditions of Scandinavian folk, world music, black metal and Sámi joik music – gave Nordic ritual folk its purpose and its form. Though the romanticised image of the wild Scandinavian past that powers the scene’s intense emotional appeal is entangled with deeply troubling discourses, the authors argue for Nordic ritual folk as a progressive space where identities can be explored, re-imagined and re-combined. Full of detail, but approachably and enjoyably written, this volume is an indispensable and authoritative examination of where Nordic ritual folk music has come from and how it achieves its remarkable power, which will enrich any listener’s enjoyment of the music itself; highly recommended for academic specialists and fans alike.

Simon Trafford, the Institute of Historical Research