He was the great-grandson of Ketill hængr ("salmon"), one of the settlers of Iceland.
He composed defamatory verses (níð)[1] about Þangbrandr, a missionary sent to Iceland by Óláfr Tryggvason.
Ryðfjónar gekk reynir randa suðr á landi beðs í bœnar smiðju Baldrs sigtólum halda ; siðreynir lét síðan snjallr morðhamar gjalla hauðrs í hattar steðja hjaldrs Vetrliða skaldi.
He who proved his blade on bucklers, South went through the land to whet Brand that oft hath felled his foeman, Gainst the forge which foams with song; Mighty wielder of war's sickle Made his sword's avenging edge Hard on hero's helm-prop rattle, Skull of Weatherlid the Skald.
Only one stanza of his work survived, a lausavísa praising Thor for having killed giants and giantesses: