Varg/Ewige Wacht/Napalm Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Germany's  Varg  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  mixture  of  viking,  pagan,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Ewige  Wacht"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Napalm  Records.

  Melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  start  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  bring  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  spoken  word  parts  and  whispers  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks.

  Clear  vocals  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  while  some  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars.  Female  vocals  can  also  be  heard on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  one  song  also  introducing  keyboards  onto  the  album  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  medieval  touch,  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  paced  direction.

  On  this  recording  Varg  goes  for  more  of  a  mid  tempo  and  melodic  mixture  of  viking,  pagan,  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  Vikings,  Norse  Mythology  and  Paganism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Varg  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Immer  Treu"  "Fylgia"  "Hammer"  and  "Ewige  Wacht".  8  out  of  10.

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Varg Interview

 

Answered by: FREKI (vocals)

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?

We are overwhelmed by the great reactions to the album and are looking forward to our upcoming tour when the pandemic is over.

2.Recently you have released a new album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Our new guitarists Morkai and Garm have improved our songwriting to a new level. The songs are heavy and melodic at the same time. Let's say this album is the grown up pagan rebirth of VARG. 

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores on the new album and also how would you describe your progress and songwriters over the years?

With the opening track 793 we draw the listener back to the official beginning of the era of vikings. The lyrics are a journey through paganism, the viking way of life, old gods, heathen values, bloody battles and norse mythology. Over the past 15 years many things have changed for me, I did not only grow older but gained a lot experiences that improve you as a person and hand-by-hand improves you as songwriter of course.

4.Some of your lyrics have also Paganism and Norse Mythology, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

My interest in paganism and norse mythology began in 2005. I read books about these topics and was trying to dig deeper and deeper into it. While most publications only scratched the surface I was happy to find some rare books that described for example the blood eagle ritual which fascinated me a lot. Over the years I have never lost my interest in norse mythology but the real desire for it was reborn around the year 2017. Today I am more interested in these topics than every before.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

The artwork is very plain and dark. It focuses on the wolfrune which is the new sign for VARG, like a second band logo. If you look closely you will find some more details.

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Our stage performance is more a ritual than a concert. We built a strong connection to the audience and let them dive into the raw era of vikings and the VARG universe we create. Surrounded by iron, runes and fire we feel comfortable and anyone who is willing to join our wolfpack will be rewarded with being part of this ritual. 

7.You have also mentioned being against fascism and racism in the past, can you tell us a little bit more about these views?

There's not much to tell. We are against facism and racism and any intelligent person should share this opinion.

8.The new album was released on Napalm Records a label you have worked with in the past, what was the decision behind returning back to this label?

We have never splitted ways with Napalm Records. We released “Wolfszeit II” on our own label Wolf Metal records because it was more a remake than a new album.

9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your newer music by fans of extreme metal?

The reactions have been great. It seems that the pagan rebirth of VARG is exactly what fans were looking for and even some former haters have changed to fans with this new album. 

10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

Morkai is part of the power metal band Victorious who are also signed to Napalm Records. Garm is part of the melodic death metal band Deliver The Galaxy. Fenrier has his own streetwear label.

11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

We will definitely follow the path we chose with the new album “Zeichen” and go even further into norse mythology and the viking era.

12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

A big influence for the pagan rebirth of VARG has definitely been Wardruna  who not only do great music but also have an extraordinary live show. Personally I don't listen to new music that often and focus on the good old albums that have been part of my life for many years.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Stay save and healthy and listen to the new VARG album “Zeichen” now!

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Varg/Zeichen/Napalm Records/2020 Full Length Review

  Varg  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  viking,  pagan,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "Zeichen"  which  will  be  released  on  September  18th  by  Napalm  Records.

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  acoustic  guitars  which  also  introduce  elements  of  folk  music  onto  the  recording  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction.  Vocals  are  also  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  and  the  music  also  shows  a  Swedish  influence.

  Whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  viking  style back  up  shouts  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  some  clean  pagan  metal  styles  as  well  as  some  female  vocals  and  chants  also  being  utilized  briefly  on  a  couple  of  songs  and  most  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  direction,  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  On  this  recording  Varg  expands  on  the  melodic  death  emtal  style  while  still  having  some  of  the  black,  viking  and  pagan  metal  elements  that  where  a  very  huge  part  of  their  earlier  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  German  and  English  cover  Vikings  and  Paganism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Varg  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  viking,  pagan,  black  and  melodic  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "793"  "Fara  Till  Ranar"  "Wanderer"  and  "Zeichen".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/8I7O83qJ_Tw  

Varg/Blutaar/NoiseArt Records/2010 CD Review

  Varg are a band from Germany that plays viking/black metal and this is a review of their 2010 album "Blutaar" which was released by NoiseArt Records.

Drums are mostly mid paced drumming with some fast playing and blast beats, while the bass playing has a very powerful tone and follows the riffs that are coming out of the guitars.

Rhythm guitars are mostly mid paced to fast viking/black metal riffs that contain a great amount of melody and a thrash edge, while the lead guitars and melodic sounding viking/black metal guitar solos with some classic metal influences, as for the acoustic guitars when they are utilized they bring a medieval pagan sounding edge to the music.

Vocals are high pitched black metal screams with some deep death metal growls, while the lyrics are written in German and are about Norse/Germanic Paganism and Mythology, as for the production on this recording which was recorded at Stage One Studio in Buhne, Germany during the months of October and November of 2009 sounds very professional and you can hear all of the musical instruments that are present on this album.

In my opinion Varg are a very talented pagan/black metal band that should appeal to all fans of this genre. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Wolfsmond" "Invicitus" "Nebellen" and "Alter Fiend". RECOMMENDED BUY.

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