Vargstenen

Sweden’s Månegarm are one of the most long lasting Viking metal bands yet, unfortunately, one of the most unsung based on their many quality outputs. Vargstenen (Wolfstone) is the bands fifth album and, I dare say, their finest.

It’s one thing when an album has some amazing tracks within it. It’s another when an album is consistently enjoyable from start to finish. But when an album consistently presents gem after gem, well, then you’ve got yourself a classic. That’s exactly what Vargstenen is. A modern classic. The song writing on this record is certainly Månegarm at their best. Melodies are present throughout all songs, as well as fast, crushing power throughout most as well. For me though, the more melodic side of the band is what I think their high point is.

Unlike many bands of the genre, Månegarm utilize real violins and flutes instead of keyboard affects, which for me, brings out more natural and organic tunes. The vocals are also a stunning aspect of the music. The diversity in the vocals used in songs such as En Fallen Fader, Ur Själslig Död, and Vedergällningens Tid are great highlights. The only song that is epic in sound and in length is Visioner På Isen, clocking in at just under nine minutes - awesome. Dispersed all through Vargstenen are beautiful acoustic pieces, my personal favourite is the outro, Eld. Excellent acoustic guitars, great clean vocals and even some nice sounding choirs. What a great way to end this remarkable release.

Because the lyrics are in an archaic version of Swedish, many people might not know that this is a concept album about a man who has lost part of his soul and goes on a journey in hopes of becoming whole again. For all the English-speaking fans, Månegarm have been kind enough to include English translations of all the lyrics in the album sleeve so you can read along with the story. Thanks, guys.

Of course it’s good to support newcomers of the genre, like Equilibrium, but let’s not forget about the forefathers. There’s nothing I’d want to change about this album. For what it is, it’s perfect. If you’re into Viking metal or just epic sounding metal, I don’t see how this could disappoint anyone.

I am normally no fan boy, or so I like to think at least, but this time I cannot help getting overwhelmed and giving an extremely high grade. I have considered Månegarm a competent Metal band since I heard Dödsfärd for the first time, and when I heard Vredens Tid they became one of my favourite bands. Månegarm have developed from being a band that played Viking Metal with big Pagan Black Metal influence to a band that takes Viking Metal to a whole new level. I had really high expectations on this album … and it exceeded them.

This release builds on the same concept as the last two ones: hard and heavy Metal riffs and drumming combined with folk instruments, most importantly the violin, and alternating growls and clean vocals. This time however, they have managed to take it to a whole new level. Not because they have given me a new favourite song, because I still think Hemfärd from Vredens Tid is their strongest song, but here they have created something as unusual as a whole album without weak points … and I really mean it.

Two things have developed the most on this album: the melody-making and Erik Grawsiö’s vocals. The interesting thing with that is that I considered those two things to be strengths of Månegarm even before this album! Grawsiö has always been a very powerful growler, but the clean vocals from him on this album are astonishing. He uses a new and more chanting voice on some of the vocals on this release and that combined with some of Scandinavian folk melodies, which really sound like real Scandinavian folk, create parts of songs that are so good that I feel helpless in a way. I have a feeling that I have to do something with music that is this good. I don’t know what. Spread it across the world perhaps?

To return from my euphoria I can mention that this album can be divided into three main parts: one soft, with the intro and the three acoustic songs (which are really good, as usual), one with the songs that have the violin as leading instrument and one where the guitars are most important. The second category contains the best songs in my opinion, but even the guitar-driven and frenetic Nio Dagar, Nio Nätter, which I consider the worst song on the album, is a killer! This is the greatest advantage of this release over the earlier works of Månegarm: all the songs are great. The best songs on Vredens Tid are just as good as the best on here, but there are no fillers on Vargstenen, not even songs that remind of fillers …

The lyrics are just as great as always and all in Swedish. What makes it even better is that this is a concept album. I love those! (I know, I am a geek …) The story is also much better written and much more sophisticated than most of the shit that Metal bands produce and use as storylines. (*Cough* Rhapsody and Manowar! *Cough*) This story takes place in the world of Norse mythology but touches those influences with style and focuses a lot on folklore, instead of writing lyrics where Odin is mentioned 654 347 times. The more archaic Swedish in the lyrics is also very nice to read. I enjoy that a lot! Thank you, Pierre Wilhelmsson!

To sum up: this album features the classical Månegarm sound, with alternating superb clean vocals and powerful growls, folky violin-driven melodies, heavy and competent guitars, booming and frenetic drumming, different tempos and inspired lyrics in archaic Swedish. The only difference is that this is better than before! What I like to mention last is the moments when you really feel that "this is superb". I bet you know those moments. It doesn’t matter what music you like; sometimes the music takes over your body and you feel that “this is perfect”. On my favourite albums there are usually a couple of those moments. On this album I felt that feeling four or five times! That is one of the best grades I can give, and then I haven’t even mentioned that I have kept on babbling about this album to uninterested people ever since I bought it.

The best songs are Vargstenen (which has one of the best melodies I have ever heard on the second half of the song), Vedergällningens Tid (which screams greatness from beginning to end), Ursjälens Visdom (which is a perfect opener after the intro and sets the mood) and En Fallen Fader (most of all for the fantastic clean chanting cries from Grawsiö in the end). But you must remember: this is an album that should be listened to from beginning to end, for the combined quality is greater than the sum of its parts.

I recommend this to everyone, not just those who like Viking and Folk Metal. Try it! This is the best you can find in the genre, in my opinion. If you don’t like this, I cannot understand how your ears are constructed.

Why I decided to re-write: After writing my first review for this, which I admit, was probably a bit hasty, I went on to listen to it non-stop. And whilst searching for an album to take the spot of best album thus far this year, I couldn’t find anything that beat this.

I really truly love many styles of metal, and I spread my listening quite evenly throughout, but Viking/Pagan metal is possibly my favorite. At it's finest, it represents something that is primal and instinctive. Something lost in time, that we've seem to largely forgotten in the modern world. Something really anybody can relate to. It harkens back to a time when there was simple survival, there was a real sense of community and a connection with one's people. There was an inescapable closeness with Mother Earth and her religion: Paganism.

Manegarm are one of the true champions of this style. If not the reigning kings. They managed to do everything right. They set the standard.

Few bands sound as genuine as Manegarm. Not a detail has been over looked, from the traditional percussion to the beautiful Swedish lyrics, and the amazingly authentic sounding folk elements. Exceptional, moving fiddle playing, well varied and tactful drumming, and just magnificent riffs. The vocals are intense, or profound depending on the mood.

The album has many sides. Somber, malicious, cheerful, or bittersweet. Be it black metal tinged with gorgeous melodies, or 100% authentic sounding folk movements, it's all powerful, gripping music. From the second the intro ends, into the pummeling first riff which you won't be able to stop yourself from headbanging to, all the way to the melancholy, bittersweet closer Eld, this album is attention grabbing, and reeks heavily of everything Viking, Pagan and folk. It reeks heavily of everything done right.

I don’t think I can fully convey just how genuine and piercing this album is. As far as I’m concerned, Manegarm has always done that very well, but when you put together a no-filler album, and you make it feel continuously driving, and relentlessly potent for almost 50 minutes - that is truly an amazing achievement. That is miles beyond what most bands will ever accomplish.

Just look at their band photos. Manegarm isn't trying to play things up with silly theatrics and wearing chainmail. They are absolutely about the music, and it is very obvious, even more so in the music itself. Even as nit-picky as I am, to me, this album is without flaw.

At the very least, a tough contender for album of the year, and among my favorite Viking metal albums.