Clive Nolan - Song of the Winter Throne

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Clive Nolan - Song of the Winter Throne

WLR (We Låve Rock) & Oskar Records


That Clive Nolan has a big interest in Vikings and the old Norwegian Culture is clear. In his garden he has build a Mead hall, a Viking celebration hall. He organizes lovely weekend concerts there. Often his musical productions are the theme of these weekends. Clive has written and staged several musicals, including ‘She’, ‘Alchemy’, and ‘King’s Ransom’ which have been performed internationally. In recent years, Clive has expanded his artistic scope. His 2020 project ‘Song of the Wildlands’, a secular oratorio inspired by ‘Beowulf’, featured an orchestra, soloists, and a two-hundred-voice choir singing in Old English 


His love for the Viking culture now results in an epic new album: Song of the Winter Throne. 


Song of the Winter Throne tells the saga of Håkon Håkonsson, the child born in secrecy who became one of Norway’s most important medieval kings. Born in 1204 at Folkenborg, Håkon was the son of King Håkon Sverresson and Inga of Varteig.
His claim to the throne was dangerous from the beginning. Norway was divided by civil war, and the infant prince became a threat to those who wished to control the crown. 

This is a real storytelling album with beautiful medieval and folkloristic influences. Ross Andrews is the storyteller. Clive Nolan has surrounded himself with excellent musicians like Mirko Sangrigoli on guitars and drums, Morton L. Clason on flute and Arnfinn Isaksen on bass guitar. Amongst the lead vocalists you can hear Christina Booth and Ryan Morgan. You hear traditional instruments and of course there is a huge choir. 


Clive Nolan is a brilliant composer and lyricist and he shows that in this amazing album. I will not go into the 14 songs because in fact this is one big musical production. But every part of this masterpiece is beautifully written. There is even a bonus cd in the Earbook.

I totally enjoyed this album. This is Clive Nolan at his best. One of the greatest rock composers of this era.