Maybe I'm getting old, but my initial reaction at having to sit through another release labelled 'Pagan/Viking' metal filled me with an overwhelming sense of dread. Said reaction is certainly forgivable, as the past few years I've been subjected to an endless parade of sub-mediocre bands, of this ilk, whom patently and shamelessly cannibalize one another with blatant disregard. In fact, the last band I reviewed of this style was Týr. Needless to say, that didn't go so well. Perhaps, as my therapist would quickly point out, I've lingering trust issues that stem from childhood, which negatively effect all aspects of my life, including extreme metal. In a concerted effort to work past these issues (and, by proxy, fatten the wallet of my psychoanalyst) I approached this review with an air of optimism. As luck would have it this four piece German band was just the cure my good doctor ordered. Having formed in 2005, Varg remain a relatively unknown entity, at least on these shores. Blutaar, the band's second album, could be best described as a blackened version of metal gods Amon Amarth, most notably on the epic title track. Just as you would expect from the aforementioned Swedish thunder gods, Varg gallop their way through a slew of simplistic-yet-memorable riffs, where melody is the rule of the day. Even more interesting to these ears, was the realization that Varg draw heavily from the well of Dissection's Reinkaos. Plenty of bands have attempted to capture the genius of Jon Nödtveidt's swan song, without much success. Anyway, I hate to resort to comparison shopping within reviews, but this is the one time where it is warranted. To close, if you love the epic bombastity of melodic extremity, then this is the album you've been waiting for. Thank you, Varg, for instilling a renewed sense of trust in all things 'Pagan/Viking'. Can't wait till next week's session… my therapist will be so proud!
