VARG - Ewige Wacht / Limited Edition Digipak 2CD

VARG, Germany’s top-notch pagan metal force, returns stronger than ever on their new album, entitled Ewige Wacht, to be released on October 13, 2023 via Napalm Records. With their last and most successful record to date, Zeichen (2020, #16 in the German album charts), VARG put the thematic and musical focus completely on their pagan roots. On their brand new brainchild, the wolves follow this path unwaveringly, honest, authentic and raw, and impressively manifest their reincarnation and matchless standing on top of the scene alike! In addition to eleven brand-new songs, the 2-CD Digipac features an exciting bonus CD on which all the songs are performed by a wide variety of well-known guests, including Rotting Christ, Kanonenfieber, Alestorm, Nachtblut, Korpiklaani, Obscurity, Tyr, Forndom, Harpy and Robse. VARG undoubtedly stand as a firmly rooted, leading entity in the German pagan scene that has been gathering fans around the world for over 18 years of the band's existence, touring Europe and North America, and have always driven their following upwards through numerous gigs at Europe's biggest festivals, such as Wacken Open Air, Party.San or Metalfest. Even after all these years, Freki (vocals), Fylgja (vocals), Morkai (guitar) as well as the newest addition to the line-up, Ulvar (guitar, bass) and Rohgarr (drums,) still matchlessly manage to provide sonic surprises to their devotees. Revitalizing the line-up with two highly talented and innovative musicians brings a breath of fresh air and leads VARG into a new chapter in the band's history. Grown artistic maturity meets a unique feeling of common bond between band and fans, which is reflected thematically in the new album. Ewige Wacht tells of myths and legends of long forgotten times and transfers them into the here and now in the usual multifaceted pagan garb. The eighth studio album transports Nordic mythology as well as values like honesty and loyalty. VARG once again show themselves to be an invincible unit, as the opening track "Immer Treu" (Engl. Always Faithful) already is proof of. At the very first listen it becomes apparently clear, how much singer Fylgja has been involved in the full album this time. Her valkyrie-like singing expands the band's sonic spectrum and forms a perfectly harmonizing contrast to Freki's razor-sharp screams and growls. "Schildmaid" (shieldmaiden), "Fylgja" and "Eisenseite" are emblematic of this interplay and the path VARG have been treading since Zeichen. "Weltenfeind" (enemy of the world), "Tyr" and "Hammer" resound as powerful hymns, uncompromising with mercilessly brute nagging and cutting riffs. The folky melodies in "Morgenrot" (dawn) lead to the epic "Siegreiches Heer" (victorious army), which once again sharpens the idea of unity that runs like a red thread through Ewige Wacht. The title track forms the final climax and combines pagan themes, haunting melodies and the engaging power of the wolves to end this outstanding sonic adventure, leading into promising times for the German horde.

Track Listing:

CD 1

1. Immer Treu

2. Schildmaid

3. Weltenfeind

4. Fylgja

5. Tyr

6. Járnsíðasleið

7. Eisenseite

8. Hammer

9. Morgenrot

10. Siegreiches Heer

11. Ewige Wacht

CD 2

1. Immer Treu (feat. Rotting Christ) feat. Rotting Christ

2. Schildmaid (feat. Christopher Bowes) feat. Christopher Bowes

3. Weltenfeind (feat. Nachtblut) feat. Nachtblut

4. Fylgja (feat. Eïs, Minas Morgul, Plutonyan) feat. Eïs, Minas Morgul, Plutonyan

5. Tyr (feat. Obscurity) feat. Obscurity

6. Járnsíðasleið

7. Eisenseite (feat. Heri Joensen) feat. Heri Joensen

8. Hammer (feat. Ektomorf) feat. Ektomorf

9. Morgenrot (feat. Kanonenfieber & Harpyie) feat. Kanonenfieber, Harpyie

10. Siegreiches Heer (feat. Korpiklaani) feat. Korpiklaani

11. Ewige Wacht (feat. Forndom) feat. Forndom