Daugavpils viking metal (at least that’s how they describe their style themselves) band “Varang Nord” released their previous studio album “Pārķiuņa Uomurs” in early 2021, but this time they submitted “seven acoustic instrumental versions of songs from previous albums, adding even more ethnic ones” to the audience vibrations and giving the opportunity to look at it from a different point of view,” the musicians themselves explain, recalling that in the mythology of the Baltic peoples, “clothes” are the souls of the dead living in the afterlife, and these song versions are also “like shadows from another dimension.”
The names of the tracks included in the EP are in Latvian – “Saucīns iz kauju”, “Meža kaujis hymna”, “Bragys karaveirs”, “Ašnis pret ašni”, “Zīmeļveiri” and similar “warring pieces”, but it is not of great importance, as in an instrumental masterpiece so-called compositions. The album is also available on the Bandcamp website, but “varangi” will be present in person at the mighty folk metal evening on December 8 in “Fontaine Palace” in Liepāja together with colleagues from the band “Yomi” – however, it is unlikely that anything from this program will be played there.
It should be reminded that the star time of “Varang Nord” came three years ago – they are the first and still the only band from Latvia that won the competition of the prestigious metal festival “Wacken Open Air” held in Germany. The band’s discography includes four studio albums: “Fire Of The North” (2014), “Master Of The Forest” (2015), “Call Of Battle” (2017) and “Pārkiuņa Uomurs” (2021). The main engine and driving force of “Varang Nord” is vocalist/guitarist Maksims Popovs, however, the most recognizable is the charismatic accordionist Jelena Kalniša.
PAR. This time, the accordion sounds in all its power and splendor only in the very last piece of the album, “Mada svātki”, in other compositions more popular instruments are preferred, but this is also good. An excellent interplay of guitars and the wild rhythm of drums and percussion typical of “varangs” – none of it is lost in the acoustic version. The most elegant piece is “Meža kaujis hymna”, but “Vyltus divs” and/or “Ašnis pret ašni” can also be directed as well as recommended for testing.
AGAINST. This EP would also require one of the central pieces of the previous album “Stuojīs” or “Svietņeica”, but the “varangi” know better what is needed and how it is needed. Whether Daugavpils’ acoustic folk metal offering without vocals is justified – it is doubtful.
2023-11-14 19:31:14
#REVIEW #Varang #Nord #Laundry