As far as one can hear and think, the German Black Metal scene seems extremely rooted in underground bands. Although some great names appeared in the country and reached the cult status, as MYSTIC CIRCLE, AGATHODAIMON, the mighty NINNGHIZHIDDA and some others, it seems that the genre there keeps its primordial features there. VALOSTA VARJOON is really a good name from this underground scene, as "Oberpfälzer Wald" states.

The duet brings an aggressive and atmospheric approach on SWOBM, gathering influences from the earlier releases from names as MAYHEM, DARKTHRONE, EMPEROR and BURZUM, keeping the harsh ambiance and simple technical insight. It's an Old School Black Metal album, as time didn't pass, but it's not sounding outdated. No, because even being distant of something new, the band's musical identity pulses in every arrangement, even in the harsh melodies of the guitars. If one is looking for something clean and defined, forget it. It bears the same crude approach from the past, with raw instrumental tunes and that dirty ambiance that some older fans miss a lot in modern releases.

Musically, "Oberpfälzer Wald" offers to the listeners a travel back in time, when Europe was took by assault by the earlier releases of Black Metal. The brutal grasp of "Die Turmwackler" (atmospheric guitar riffs entangled with screamed shrieks), the deeper harsh melodies of "Kneipenterror" and of "Glorreich..." (this one bears a touch of dirty Rock 'n' Roll in the vein of MOTORHEAD in some moments), and the grasping power of "Drunk 'N' Roll" (this one has a very good work from bass guitar and drums, and shows again some influences of dirty Rock 'n' Roll) are the ones for those who miss the days when "Thy Mighty Contract", "In the Nightside Eclipse", "Under a Funeral Moon", "Dark Endless" and "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" created the roots of Black Metal cult back in the 90's'.

Yes, VALOSTA VARJOON is a very good name, and if they keep in this way, maybe future can be great for them. "Oberpfälzer Wald" shows a strong potential that justify these words.