Sonatorrek ("the irreparable loss of sons") is a skaldic poem in 25 stanzas, that appears in Egil's Saga (written c.a. 1220–1240), an Icelandic saga focusing on the life of skald and viking, Egill Skallagrímsson (ca. 910–990). The work laments the death of two of the poet's sons, Gunnar, who died of a fever, and Böðvarr, who drowned during a storm. According to the saga, after Egill placed Böðvarr in the family burial mound, he locked himself in his bed-chamber, determined to starve himself to death. Egill’s daughter, Thorgerdur, diverted him from this plan in part by convincing him to compose a memorial poem for Böðvarr, to be carved on a rune-staff.
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This album were initially written to be one single song. But instead of having a massive 25 minute track, I decided to split it up into six pieces with very small subtle differences. Therefore, the songs are more or less musically based on the one and same idea.
Andreas
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TalesFromUtgard's comment on the release:
"I got the opportunity to help my good friend at Nattramn to design his latest album Sonatorrek.
A set of poems based upon the skald Egil Skallagrímsson about the loss of his sons set in the viking age.
Alot of work has gone into this, from the sketching to final touches, such as the set of colors and translating of the runes.
For example the set of colors are based upon real colors that was used during viking age and put forth by scientific means.
Sadly during the design process a war started, a nation, friends and family have suffered some horrible events, events that no one should ever experience.
So me and Andreas decided that all of the earnings from this album will go toward helping those in need.
We know that it might not be alot but we are helping in every way we can.
If you want to contribute then we both would be super thankful.
For our Ukrainian friends, you are not forgotten.
We help in what way we can.
On behalf of Nattramn and TalesFromUtgard.
We wish that this horrible war will end soon."
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Mjǫk erum tregt
tungu at hroera
með loptvétt
ljóðpundara;
esa nú vænligt
of Viðurs þýfi,
né hógdroegt
ór hugar fylgsni.
Esa auðþeystr,
þvít ekki veldr
hǫfugligr,
ór hyggju stað
fagna fundr
Friggjar niðja,
ár borinn
ór Jǫtunheimum,
Lastalauss
es lifnaði
á nǫkkvers
nǫkkva bragi;
jǫtuns hals
undir þjóta
náins niðr
fyr naustdurum.
Þvít ætt mín
á enda stendr,
hreggbarnir
sem hlynir marka;
esa karskr maðr,
sás kǫggla berr
frænda hrørs
af fletjum niðr.
Þó munk mitt
ok móður hrør
fǫður fall
fyrst of telja;
þat berk út
ór orðhofi
mærðar timbr,
máli laufgat.
Grimt vǫrum hlið,
þat ’s hrǫnn of braut
fǫður míns
á frændgarði;
veitk ófult
ok opit standa
sonar skarð,
es mér sær of vann.
Mjǫk hefr Rǫ́n
of rysktan mik,
emk ofsnauðr
at ástvinum;
sleit marr bǫnd
minnar ættar,
snaran þǫ́tt
af sjǫlfum mér.
Veizt ef sǫk
sverði rækak,
vas ǫlsmið
allra tíma,
hroða vábroeðr,
ef viða mættak,
fórk ægis
andvígr mani.
En ek ekki
eiga þóttumk
sakar afl
við sonar bana;
þvít alþjóð
fyr augum verðr
gamals þegns
gengileysi.
Mik hefr marr
miklu ræntan,
grimt es fall
frænda at telja,
síðan ‘s minn
á munvega
ættar skjǫldr
af lífi hvarf.
Veitk þat sjalfr,
í syni mínum
vasa ills þegns
efni vaxit,
ef randviðr
røskvask næði,
unz hergauts
hendr of toeki.
Æ lét flest,
þat ‘s faðir mælti,
þótt ǫll þjóð
annat segði;
mér upp helt
of herbergi
ok mitt afl
mest of studdi.
Opt kømr mér
mána brúðar
í byrvind
broeðraleysi;
hyggjumk umb,
es hildr þróask,
nýsumk hins
ok hygg at því,
hverr hugaðr
á hlið standi
annarr þegn
við óðræði;
þarfk þess opt
við þrágǫrum.
Verðk varfleygr,
es vinir þverra.
Mjǫk ‘s torfyndr,
sás trúa knegum
of alþjóð
elgjar galga,
þvít niflgóðr
niðja steypir
bróður hrør
við baugum selr.
[Excluded. Missing,
incomplete verse.]
Þat ‘s ok mælt,
at mangi getr
sonar iðgjǫld,
nema sjalfr ali,
né þann enn,
es ǫðrum sé
borinn maðr
í bróður stað.
Erumka þekt
þjóða sinni,
þótt sér hverr
sǫ́tt of haldi;
burr ‘s býskeyðs
í boe kominn,
kvánar sonr,
kynnis leita.
En mér fens
í fǫstum þokk
hrosta hǫfundr
á hendi stendr;
máka upp
í aroar grímu,
rýnnis reið,
réttri halda
Síz son minn
sóttar brími
heiptugligr
ór heimi nam,
þanns ek veit,
at varnaði
vamma vanr
við námæli.
Þat mank enn,
es upp of hóf
í Goðheim
Gauta spjalli
ættar ask,
þanns óx af mér,
ok kynvið
kvánar minnar.
Áttak gótt
við geirs dróttin,
gerðumk tryggr
at trúa hǫ́num,
áðr vinan
vagna rúni,
sigrhǫfundr,
of sleit við mik.
Bloetka því
bróður Vílis,
goðjaðar,
at gjarn séak,
þó hefr Míms vinr
mér of fengnar
bǫlva boetr,
es et betra telk.
Gǫfumk íþrótt
Ulfs of bági,
vígi vanr,
vammi firða,
ok þat geð,
es gerðak mér
vísa fjandr
af vélǫndum.
Nú erum torvelt.
Tveggja bága
njǫrva nipt
á nesi stendr;
skalk þó glaðr
góðum vilja
ok ó-hryggr
heljar bíða.
TRANSLATION
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1. My tongue is sluggish
For me to move
My poem’s scales
Ponderous to raise
The god’s prize
Is beyond my grasp
Tough to drag out
From my mind’s haunts
2. Since heavy sobbing
Is the cause -
How hard to pour forth
From the mind’s root t
He prize that Frigg’s
Progeny found
Borne of old
From the world of giants
3. unflawed, which Bragi
Inspired with life
On the craft
Of the watcher-dwarf
Blood surges
From the giant’s wounded neck
Crashes on the death-dwarf’s
Boathouse door
4. My stock
Stands on the brink
Pounded as planar-trees
On the forest’s rim
No man is glad
Who carries the bones
Of his dead kinsman
Out of the bed
5. Yet I shall
First recount
My father’s death
And mother’s loss
Carry from my word-shrine
The timber that I build
My poem from
Leafed with language
6. Harsh was the rift
That the wave hewed
In the wall
Of my father’s kin;
I know it stands
Unfilled and open
My son’s breach
That the sea wrought
7. The sea-goddess
Has ruffled me
Stripped me bare
Of my loved ones:
The ocean severed
My family’s bonds
The tight knot
That ties me down
8. If by sword I might
Avenge that deed
The brewer of waves
Would meet his end;
Smite the wind’s brother
That dashes the bay
Do battle against
The sea-god’s wife
9. Yet I felt
I lacked the might
To seek justice against
The killer of ships
For it is clear
To all eyes
How an old man
Lacks helpers
10. The sea has robbed
Me of much
My kinsmen’s deaths
Are harsh to tell
After the shield
Of my family
Retreated down
The god’s joyful road
11. Myself I know
That in my son
Grew the makings
Of a worthy man
Had that shield-tree
Reached manhood
Then earned the claim
Of war’s arms
12. Always he prized
His father’s words
Highest of all, though
The world said different
He shored me up
Defended me
Lent my strength
The most support
13. My lack of brothers
Often enters my thoughts
Where the winds
Of moon-bears rage
I think of the other
As the battle grows
Scout around
And wonder justification
14. which other valiant
Warrior stands
By my side
In the peril;
I often need him
When facing foes
When friends dwindle
I am wary to soar
15. It is rare to find
One to trust
Amongst men who dwell
Beneath Odin’s gallows
For the dark-minded
Destroyer of kin
Swaps his brother’s
Death for treasure
16. [Excluded. Missing, incomplete verse.]
17. It is also said
That no one regains
His son’s worth
Without bearing
Another offspring
That other men
Hold in esteem
As his brother’s match
18. I do not relish
The company of men
Though each of them might
Live in peace with me;
My wife’s son
Has come in search
Of friendship
To One-Eye’s hall
19. But the lord of the sea
Brewer of storms
Seems to oppose me
His mind set
I cannot hold
My head upright
The ground of my face
My thoughts’ steed
20. ever since the raging
Surf of heat
Snatched from the world
That son of mine
Whom I knew
To shun disgrace
Avoid words
Of ill repute
21. I remember still
When the Gauts’ friend
Raised high
To the gods’ world
The ash that grew
From my stock
The tree bearing
My wife’s kin
22. I was in league
With the lord of spears
Pledged myself loyal
To believe in him
Before he broke off
His friendship with me
The guardian of chariots
Architect of victory
23. I do not worship
Vilir’s brother
Guardian of the gods
Through my own longing
Though in good ways too
The friend of wisdom
Has granted me
Redress for affliction
24. He who does battle
And tackles the hell-wolf
Gave me the craft
That is beyond reproach
And the nature
That I could reveal
Those who plotted against me
As my true enemies
25. Now my course is tough:
Death, close sister
Of Odin’s enemy
Stands on the ness:
With resolution
And without remorse
I shall gladly
Await my own
