Gangar releases the single Bånsull - a wild, raw, and beautiful lullaby - together with Synnøve Brøndbo Plassen and Martin Steinum Brun

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The song is based on a traditional bånsull, a nighttime lullaby from Gudbrandsdalen and Østerdalen, which has been given new life inside Gangar’s unique musical universe. With their explosive style, the band describes it as “the noisiest and least effective lullaby ever.”

The inspiration for Bånsull came unexpectedl through Irish fiddler Manus McGuire, whom the band met at a festival in Australia. He had recorded the melody with his brother in the 1980s, based on transcriptions by composer and folk music collector Catharinus Elling (1858–1942).

Guitarist Richard Max wrote the arrangement in the spirit of prog metal, originally without vocals. But when Brøndbo Plassen and Brun happened to be in the studio, they were given a spontaneous challenge: to sing a bånsull over the track.

“It was a shot in the dark—completely unplanned,” the band says. “We just had to hope that they had something in their repertoire that could fit the arrangement. Luckily, the first one they tried fit perfectly.”

The result is a song that unites raw power and vulnerability—a forceful encounter between metal, folk tones, and voices that lift tradition into new dimensions.

On Gangar’s new album, set for release in April, you’ll hear harder arrangements featuring elements of prog metal, combined with tracks arranged with a classic rock sound, numerous new and perhaps surprising collaborations with top vocalists, as well as contributions from various more and less well-known folk instruments. The album is recorded with producer Håkon Iversen, engineer Simon Jackman, mixed by Martin Selen, and mastered by Morgan Nicolaysen.

Norway's Gangar brings a fresh take on Nordic roots music. The young, five-piece ensemble digs deep into Norway's extensive folk music archives to come up with rare traditional tunes. -- and give them new, modern arrangements influenced by rock, folk-metal, and jazz improvisation. Inspired by such artists as Hoven Droven, Meshuggah, and AC/DC, Gangar's sound is driven by the unique sound of Norway's Hardanger fiddle. Once vilified as "the devil's instrument" in folktales and banned in churches, the hardanger is now celebrated as the country's national instrument, and gives Gangar its distinctive sound. The band's mission is to bring traditional Norwegian melodies a wider audience. 

Since their first concert in 2021, Oslo-based Gangar have established themselves as one of Norway’s most in-demand musical exports; with a fresh, original take on traditional Norwegian folk and roots music. Gangar’s five members, Mattias Truell Thedens (Hardanger fiddle), Oskar Goedvriend Lindberget (saxophone), Richard Max (guitar), Jonas Thrana Jensen (bass), and Henrik Dullum (drums), bring an array of musical styles and expertise to bear on their music, creating a unique, hybrid approach to traditional folk music.

Gangar are known as a formidable live band that consistently delivers shows filled with energy, audience interaction, dancing, and top-shelf musicianship. This combination makes it hard for any audience to keep their feet off of the dance floor. They’ve forged a deep bond with audiences at home and abroad, playing shows all over Europe, Australia, and the USA at renowned festivals and venues such as Rudolstadt Festival in Germany, Sziget Festival in Hungary, Celtic Connections in Scotland, and Port Fairy Folk Festival in Australia.