VANIR is one of Denmark’s most prominent melodic death metal bands and has, since the band’s inception, released six full-length albums. And today they unleash their seventh beast, titled “Epitome”.
The theme of this new opus is the Danish middle-ages, with two songs branching into the Renaissance (“Wood Iron And Will” and the early middle-age “Blood Eagle”). The core of the album’s theme is the throne and the battles fought to keep it or to cement its power.
The first single of the album, “Twisting The Knife”, was written about The Stockholm Bloodbath, which was a trial that led to a series of executions in Stockholm between the 7th and the 9th of November 1520. The siege of Arkona in 1169, led by the Danish and Pomeranian forces under Valdemar I, is the beginning point for “Fall of Arkona”. Finally, a song about strength, valour and courage (“One Man Army”) completed the singles trilogy of the record.
The “Epitome” album cover is a depiction of the Danish queen Sorte Grethe (Black Greta). In her own time, Margaret had a reputation as a competent and enlightened regent. Regent Margaret was faced with the unresolved conflict between the crown and the archbishop. The song “Sorte Grethe”, on the album, is about a bloody battle where 12.000 men were killed to protect her sons’ right to the crown.
Vanir has been around for more than 10 years and has evolved a lot since the band’s beginning. With the last three records, and now with “Epitome”, Vanir shows its hard edge and catchy melodic death metal.
From the Sagas of old to the halls of kings and the bloody battlefields, Vanir’s music has been put together, without compromise, with a fascination with Scandinavian common origins, and the blood spilled throughout history.
“Epitome” tracklist:
1. Twisting The Knife
2. One Man Army
3. Wood Iron And Will
4. Sanguis Et Aurum
5. Sorte Grethe
6. Call To Arms
7. Fall Of Arkona
8. Blood Eagle
9. Kings Will Fall
Lineup:
Martin Rubini – vocals
Kirk Backarach – guitar
Michael Lundquist – guitar
Mikael Christensen – bass
Jon Elmquist Schmidt – drums
Stefan Dujardin – keyboards
Live dates 2024:
17/18.02 – Cernunnos Pagan Fest, Paris (FR)
01.03 – Kulturfabrikken Nykobing (DK)
08.03 – Mejeriet Sønderborg (DK)
23.03 – Gimle, Roskilde (DK)
09.05 – Dark Troll Festival (DE)
10.05 – Heathen Gathering (AT)
30.08 – Von Hatten, Randers (DK)
29.-31.08. – Næstved Metalfest (DK)
28.09 – Fredagsmangle, Stockholm (SE)
“A sure fire cracker of an album” 9/10 Fireworks Magazine
“A beautiful and accessible album that has a particularly epic apotheosis with “Kings Will Fall”” 8/10 Rock Tribune
“A very homogeneous album that will please fans of melodic death metal” 85/100 Musika
“Vanir truly embodies the term “epic”” 90/100 Acta Infernalis
“A compelling album, rich in history and damn epic!” 8/10 Metalheat.it
“This experienced band is so good at songwriting that this disc is very nice to listen to, not least thanks to its very rough, determined radiance. Good work” Scream Magazine
“”Epitome” is not just an album; it’s a journey through time, presented in Vanir’s signature melodic death metal style” Metalized Magazine.
