Sonne Hagal is a German experimental and neofolk group.
History The band originates from Rathenow in Brandenburg where the core line-up was formed in 1992. The members were part of the local punk rock and experimental pop music scene. The early records from the 1990s were electronic music. A breakthrough came with the 10" album Sinnreger from 2000, where the band had adopted conventions from the dark wave and neofolk genres. The album includes the German folk song "Herbstlied", a poem by the expressionist poet Else Lasker-Schüler, and a track based on an agitation song by Rosa Luxemburg. The following releases deepened the band's interest in runes, Eddic poetry and nature lyricism, and saw collaborations with Andreas Ritter of Forseti and Kim Larsen of Of the Wand & the Moon. On the album Sonne Hagal vs. Polarzirkel the band collaborated with the electronic sound artists Polarzirkel and Nerthus to create atonal music with ritualistic elements. On the 2005 single "Dygel" they collaborated with Ian Read and Matt Howden.Andreas Diesel, Dieter Gerten. Looking for Europe: Neofolk und Hintergründe. Index Verlag 2007. p. 227-229.
The members of the band have chosen to be anonymous. The name was chosen to reflect the thematic interest in runes and Northern European mysticism. Sonne is German for sun and hagal is one of the runes. According to the singer of the band, modern people can learn a lot from ancient religion and philosophy. He has stressed the advantages of polytheism, harmony with the laws of nature, the ability to find holiness in many places, the view of humans as part of nature, and how the runes can teach people about nondualism.Sonne Hagal. Funprox.
Discography Albums and EPs YearTitleFormat, Special Notes2000Sinnreger10"2001Starkadr7"2001Sinister Practices In Bright SunshineLP2002HelfahrtCD / LP2002Sonne Hagal vs. Polarzirkel12"2004Tarja7"2005Dygel7"2005NidarMini-CD / 10"2008JordansfrostCD / LP2010Läuthner 2a7"2014OckerwasserCD / LP
Compilations YearTitleFormat, Special Notes2002Audacia Imperat!CD2002Tempus ArborumCD2003Audacia Imperat2xCD2003Eisiges LichtCD2003The Bells Shall Sound ForeverCD2004Ny Regret Du Passè, Ny Peur De L'Avenir...MP32005Eichendorff - LiedersammlungCD2005Eisiges Licht 2CD2005Looking For Europe4xCD2006the impossibility of silence (black sun production)CD+CD-R ltd.2006Indaco ep (Albireon/ Ian Read)CD2006FORSETI lebt!CD
References
External links Official Official Sonne Hagal Site
Unofficial Interview with Sonne Hagal on funprox.com Interview with Sonne Hagal on heathenharvest.com