Thyrfing - Vanagandr (2021)

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After a wait of 8 years, Thyrfing is finally back with their high-octane brand of Viking/Pagan Metal. “Vanagandr” unravels nearly 50 minutes of superbly catchy and highly polished melodic music, just as one would expect from this band. Perfectly mixing precise guitar work with lush atmospherics and firm vocal melodies, this release is as good as it gets in this genre.

Opening with “Döp dem i eld”, we get that vibrant mixture of atmospherics and incisive guitar riffs. Always creating a very epic Folky/Viking vibe while maintaining a hefty dose of heaviness, “Undergångens länkar” and “Fredlös” are prime examples of the band’s duality. We particularly enjoy how the band uses additional instruments to adorn a very powerful guitar-driven musical core like “Järnhand” shows.

While many bands in the genre make all songs sound the same, Thyrfing nicely carves unique sounding pieces like “Håg och minne”, and “Träldomsord” which fully allow the band to expand into new aural territories and shake things up in terms of the flow of the release. Saving the best for last, “Jordafärd” is our personal favorite song thanks to its lush opening instrumentation and very melodic and melodramatic edge, showcasing the band’s full musical range.

Overall, “Vanagandr” is one hell of a release from Thyrfing. While some people might have expected just melodic passages for non-stop headbanging, the band shows more range and creativity by producing more layered and complex songs. All their classic elements are present, but wrapped around a more elegant and introspective package, making this release fresh and exciting while familiar as well.

Band: Thyrfing Album: Vanagandr

Label: Despotz Records

Release: February 5th, 2021

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Genre: Viking/Pagan Metal

Country: Sweden

Rating: 96/100
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