What an honour to be nominated for the Spellemannprisen (the Norwegian Grammy Awards)!!!!
The final ceremony takes place in the Norwegian Opera in Oslo, March 22nd. I guess there will be some nerves involved, but no matter how it goes…
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About
Norwegian Folk-metal
Andvake out now!
Afargang is a metal project by Olav L. Mjelva. Olav is mostly known for playing fiddle in bands like SVER, The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc and Lodestar Trio, but he has also been a part of other projects like Wardruna, Skuggsjå, Myrkgrav and Gåte. And he has always been a metal head.
He has played on the soundtracks of Lord of the Rings - the Rings of Power, God of War - Ragnarök, Loki and much more.
He has for years been dreaming about making a hard-hitting band influenced by both folk and metal.
The debut album was released June 13th 2025 on By Norse! Here he is joined by Stian Kårstad (guitar), Sindre Bråthen Tjørswaag (bass), Jon Even Schärer (drums) and Haldor Bromstad (growling).
"Andvake" has already gotten a lot of great reviews!:
«Folk Metal at its best» «The result is a folk metal album that immediately inspired me and for me is one of the best releases of this year so far.» - metal-heads.de
"Afargang focuses more on heaviness and darkness than on speed, and truly succeeds – this is some of the heaviest stuff I've heard in a long time. Olav Mjelva proves that he's not only a skilled fiddler, but also an original composer and an excellent metal guitarist with a powerful voice. This has definitely been worth the wait." - Lira
"The record contains a powerful musical narrative, punctuated by Mjelva’s fiddle, vocals and guitar, that might just awaken your soul, as the album title suggests." - Norway Rock Magazine
“With Andvake, Olav Mjelva and his seasoned collaborators craft an emotionally rich debut that promises to resonate just as powerfully on stage.” - metal.de
Store
The unique artist edition of Andvake! Colour: Iceberg Release Date: 13.06.2025 on By Norse.
If darkness is the canvas upon which the boldest visions are painted, then Andvake—meaning "Awakened Soul" in Old Norse—marks Afargang’s arrival with a vivid and unrelenting creation. At the heart of Afargang is Olav Luksengård Mjelva, the band’s architect and guiding force. A musician whose soul resonates with the echoes of Norway’s past, his mastery of folk music and particularly the Hardanger fiddle, injects a spectral quality into the band’s sonic framework. This is not folk metal as the world has known it, nor is it a simple modernization of ancient sounds. It is a force unto itself, reaching into the marrow of Nordic tradition and twisting it into something new, something untamed.
Tracklist "Andvake" 1. Mot Verda (06:00) 2. Kvile (05:24) 3. Andvake (06:14) 4. Leika (07:17) 5. Sjå det blånar (05:00) 6. Leva og døy (06:14) 7. I di eining (05:21) 8. Kom ned (06:11) Total: 49:48
€30.00
Order the Andvake vinyl! Colour: Black Release Date: 13.06.2025 on By Norse.
If darkness is the canvas upon which the boldest visions are painted, then Andvake—meaning "Awakened Soul" in Old Norse—marks Afargang’s arrival with a vivid and unrelenting creation. At the heart of Afargang is Olav Luksengård Mjelva, the band’s architect and guiding force. A musician whose soul resonates with the echoes of Norway’s past, his mastery of folk music and particularly the Hardanger fiddle, injects a spectral quality into the band’s sonic framework. This is not folk metal as the world has known it, nor is it a simple modernization of ancient sounds. It is a force unto itself, reaching into the marrow of Nordic tradition and twisting it into something new, something untamed.
Tracklist "Andvake" 1. Mot Verda (06:00) 2. Kvile (05:24) 3. Andvake (06:14) 4. Leika (07:17) 5. Sjå det blånar (05:00) 6. Leva og døy (06:14) 7. I di eining (05:21) 8. Kom ned (06:11) Total: 49:48
€30.00
Order the Andvake vinyl! Colour: Galaxy Green Release Date: 13.06.2025 on By Norse.
If darkness is the canvas upon which the boldest visions are painted, then Andvake—meaning "Awakened Soul" in Old Norse—marks Afargang’s arrival with a vivid and unrelenting creation. At the heart of Afargang is Olav Luksengård Mjelva, the band’s architect and guiding force. A musician whose soul resonates with the echoes of Norway’s past, his mastery of folk music and particularly the Hardanger fiddle, injects a spectral quality into the band’s sonic framework. This is not folk metal as the world has known it, nor is it a simple modernization of ancient sounds. It is a force unto itself, reaching into the marrow of Nordic tradition and twisting it into something new, something untamed.
Tracklist "Andvake" 1. Mot Verda (06:00) 2. Kvile (05:24) 3. Andvake (06:14) 4. Leika (07:17) 5. Sjå det blånar (05:00) 6. Leva og døy (06:14) 7. I di eining (05:21) 8. Kom ned (06:11) Total: 49:48
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Blog
Feb 13, 2026
Spellemannprisen (Norwegian Grammys) nomination!
Jun 13, 2025
Album release!!!!
Andvake is released today!
It has been a long wait, but now it´s finally out there.
It was an incredibly fun and creative process working with this album, and we can´t wait to go back into the studio again to…
May 23, 2025
Kom ned released today!
Kom ned from the upcoming album is released today! I see “Kom Ned” as a song about finding peace—whether in the face of something final, or simply in the midst of life’s noise and unrest. It can be interpreted in…
Apr 28, 2025
Leva og døy released
The song is taken of the upcoming album 'Andvake', set for worldwide release on ByNorse June 13. Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/uvjpPdMgt48
Listen here: https://bfan.link/leva-og-doy
Olav Mjelva elaborates about the song: “To live and to die. This one is…
Apr 23, 2025
Kvile play-through
I made a play-through video of Kvile!
Mar 21, 2025
Kvile is released today!
"Kvile" from the upcoming album with Afargang is released today and I am super excited!!!
Full album will be released on ByNorse in June!
Huge thanks to my awesome co-musicians Stian Kårstad and Jon Even Schärer! Could not have done…
Mar 19, 2025
Signing with By Norse!
I could not be happier! Afargang is signing with By Norse!
I have huge respect for all the people involved in the label, and I think this is the best possible match for my music!
New music coming very soon!
Jul 10, 2024
Studio progress 1
So, we´ve been a couple of weeks in the amazing Muchoniceness Studio in Sandefjord!
The first session was already in April, recording drums with the magnificent Jon Even Schärer (Gåte).
Then the latest session was in the end of June…
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The first single from Afargang: Heim Olav L. Mjelva - vocals, guitars, bass, hardanger fiddle, moraharpa Session musicians: Ørnulv Snortheim - guitars John Birkeland - drums Børre Flyen - percussion Lyrics: Olav L. Mjelva Read more
The first single from Afargang: Heim
Olav L. Mjelva - vocals, guitars, bass, hardanger fiddle, moraharpa Session musicians: Ørnulv Snortheim - guitars John Birkeland - drums Børre Flyen - percussion
Lyrics: Olav L. Mjelva & Jo Bjørner Haugom Music: Olav L. Mjelva
Recorded in Dakkota Studio, Hamar, by Ørnulv Snortheim. Mastered by George Tanderø. Released by Klangsmia Records.
