As everyone knows, BATHORY created Viking Black Metal during "Blood Fire Death"/"Hammerheart" age between the latest years of the 80's and early years of the 90's. And after, many bands brought new insights to the genre. It's hard to find acts with a pure Viking Black Metal personality today; and hardest to find some who keeps on such way after years and releases without gathering elements from Pagan/Folk Metal. But THRUDVANGAR, from Germany, is one of those veterans from the genre that keeps its identity, as can be heard on "Vegvisir".

The main identity traced on the past is here: a brutal and aggressive form of Viking Black Metal, but tempered with Viking melodies and ambiences. And the years only made their music even sharp and heavy (a consequence of their musical evolution), Their musical focus is to created massive weighty songs under an oppressive rhythmic work from bass guitar and drums, with charming melodies being weaved by the guitars, and a low-tuned shrieked vocals. This mix isn't as new as many can think, but in the hands of these forgers, things work on a very personal way.

The hands of Lars Rettkowitz (the guitarist of AMEN GRAVES and FREEDOM CALL) are the ones who worked on the production. And his different insight created a sonority that keeps the aggressive crude aspects of extreme Metal, but allowed some refinement and clean definitions on instrumental parts to give the band's music a boost. It's a great sonority, indeed!

All the songs are very good, but ones are named as references for a first time on their work: "Wächter der Brücke" (oppressive with tempos that aren't fast, but with a dense and strong Viking ambience, with great guitars and vocals), "Ran" and "Hravnagud" (both with a heavy musical weight from the spinecrushing guitars that is amazing, and what great raw melodies), "Siegvaters Maid" (a melancholic feeling fills the song, especially due the melodies, contrasting with the shrieks), "Für die Ewigkeit" and "Fardrengir" (both with some very good contrasts between melodies and harsh elements). On the second time, the listeners will fall in love with the album for sure.

"Vegvisir" comes to show that THRUDVANGAR is still going strong. Listen to it and feel your ears being shredded!