THE THIRD CIRCLE – debut EP announced

Photo by p.j.w – (Per Johan Waag)

By Norse Music is happy to announce a new partnership with Norwegian collective The Third Circle,a modern Norwegian folk trio composed of some of Norway’s most accomplished musicians. The band features John Stenersen (Wardruna, Gåte, Bergtatt), Anders Odden (Cadaver, Celtic Frost), and Birger Mistereggen, each renowned for their mastery across diverse musical landscapes.

The Third Circle merges ancient Norwegian folk traditions with contemporary minimalism, crafting meditative and immersive soundscapes that resonate with the depth of the past while embracing modern creativity.

Anders Odden states: “We are thrilled to join the By Norse family with our new band, The Third Circle. By Norse Music has shown that contemporary Nordic music can find a worldwide audience, and we could not have found a better partner for our path forward with our musical endeavours.”

Laetitia Abbenes, Head of Marketing & PR at By Norse adds: “We’re proud to welcome The Third Circle to our roster. Being a collective with respected musicians from a variety of genres and a fresh approach to folk music, we can’t wait to share their immersive music with the world.”

The Third Circle will release their debut EP later this year. Stay tuned for more news.

The Third Circle is a modern folk three piece comprising John Stenersen (Wardruna, Gåte, Bergtatt), Anders Odden (Cadaver, Celtic Frost etc.), and Birger Mistereggen, each expert musicians in their own fields. Their sound explores the intersection of ancient Norwegian traditions and modern minimalism, creating meditative, expansive soundscapes. 

The band’s origins trace back to 2023, when John and Anders met at the Inferno Festival in Oslo, a gathering of extreme metal enthusiasts. Their conversation sparked around unconventional instruments and an idea took shape: what would happen if they combined a hurdy-gurdy, analog synth, and an upright bass? Intrigued by the challenge, the two met up and began experimenting with an eclectic range of instruments – from keyed fiddle, hurdy gurdy and mora harp to electric soundscapes with distortion and depth. 

Birger soon joined the project, uniting the three musicians with a variety of percussion instruments, jaw harp and voice  – and with a shared love for ancient sounds. An academic researcher of Norwegian folk instruments, especially the rope tensioned drum, Birger had long been studying the unique rhythms and textures of his homeland’s musical traditions. Together, they began to craft their signature approach, blending traditional folk elements with a meditative, minimalistic and darker sound.

For Anders, The Third Circle represents a profound shift in his relationship with music. As a pioneer of Norway’s black-death metal scene, Anders spent over 25 years touring the world. But after a near-fatal illness in 2020, his outlook on life and music changed dramatically.

Reflecting on the toll that relentless touring had taken, Anders searched for what he really aimed to do. The answer came in the form of music that was more personal, therapeutic, and meditative. No longer driven by the pressures of the music industry, he found himself wanting to create music for the sake of the journey, rather than the destination.

The Third Circle seeks to blur the line between performer and listener. The three piece describes the experience of playing as stepping into a third dimension, where the roles of creator and audience merge. It’s a space where music exists not just as a performance, but as a shared, reflective experience.

The music is built on a foundation of repetition and subtle transformation, reflecting the band’s philosophy; circular instead of linear. Minimalism is at the heart of their work, with every detail designed to evolve gradually. Their tracks break away from the typical 3-4 minute format, instead unfolding like sonic landscapes that stretch for 20 minutes or more, transforming listening into an immersive journey. For them, the journey through sound is as important as the final composition. Each track unfolds naturally, like a landscape, taking listeners on a meditative journey that is therapeutic for both artist and audience alike.

All their instruments are made from wood, grounding the music in nature. From the first note, the band creates something raw, deeply rooted, and timeless. Their sound, deeply grounded in wood—both literally and figuratively—reflects the Norwegian landscapes from which they draw inspiration. 

Although Anders’ background is in extreme metal, The Third Circle is his vision of what the essence of what music means to him: a pure, almost spiritual calling. Music is in his DNA, embedded in the very fibers of who he is. It’s not about what you choose to like, but about fulfilling the purpose you were born to do: create.

With their debut EP, “I”, The Third Circle boldly steps into the realm of ambitious, uncharted soundscapes. It offers more than just music; they present an experience. Each note and each breath in the compositions is a call to pause, reflect, and immerse oneself in a journey beyond the everyday. As the band gears up to bring their music to life on stage, their live performances promise to elevate the meditative experience even further. “I” marks the beginning of their evolving story—one that invites listeners to join them in a shared, immersive journey in the concert halls of the future.

Anders Odden: Electric string instruments, voice, samples and production

Birger Mistereggen:  Percussion (rope-tensioned drum, frame drums, cajón, log drums, shake plates, pandeiro, tamborim. laptop conga, melody chimes, and cymbals) willow flute, jaw harps and voice. 

John Stenersen: Keyed Fiddle, Mora Harp and Hurdy-Gurdy

Follow The Third Circle:

Facebook