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Rating: I wanted to listen to some metal but lately I was being offered the usual cloned bands. I was listening to a lot of other rock because it seemed I had heard a bit of everything in metal. But then I tried with "Valdr Galga" by Thyrfing mainly because I was intrigued by the cover depicting a banquet of warriors.
All Thyrfing's artworks are beautiful because they give the idea of ancient (and faded) historical illustrations. This band, whose existence I was unaware of, plays excellent viking black metal, a genre (the viking) that I never delved into too deeply but which has always fascinated me, especially with Amon Amarth. "Viking metal" was born in the early 90s, launched by Bathory who played Black; thus, the dark and gloomy atmosphere remains, but the rhythms and slowed, somewhat closed melodic games are accentuated. The lyrics are characterized by often referencing Viking historical ideologies. Amon Amarth, for instance, represents its anticlinical stance not in a satanic way but as a nostalgia for Viking culture (and worship). I remain a bit incredulous when, browsing the internet for more information, I discover that Thyrfing isn't even very famous, despite representing an uncommon and well-crafted style.
Listening to the CD with closed eyes is like watching a film, the idea that emerges is precisely that of Vikings arriving aboard a longship, docking, disembarking, and raiding. They set villages on fire, loot, rape, cut off heads, laugh, and torture. It's as if we dose our bodies with an amount of macabre vertigo... and we enjoy it. There's a lot of epicness, a lot of symphony, it’s as if the Vikings were heroes. There are sounds of battles, assaults, screams, the sounds of swords piercing, and many cries of pain. This album satisfies those who love black and epic in equal measure, it's full of somewhat folk references, the keyboards are extremely powerful and constitute the entire basis of the "epic-sadistic-violent" context, raw and scratchy guitars, and two monstrous screaming voices. The tempo always varies, the screaming "plays" intertwining with the choirs. Absolutely listen to the first song: "Heading for the Golden Hall". The most epic and representative.
In short, a CD that already at the first listen, bluntly represents what they want—a wicked and powerful music, like a long agony of revenge and hatred.
Curiosity: "Valdr Galga" is Odin, the author of the artwork Kris Verwimp is also the creator of the covers for Marduk and Immortal.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
05 Valdr Galga (04:40)
I know that I hung in this tree
All of nights nine
Wounded by the spear, given to myself
Enlightened I'll become
No horn they upheld, nor handed me bread
I looked below me, aloud I cried
Caught up the runes, caught them up wailing
Then to the ground I fell again
I know that I hung in this tree
All of nights nine
Wounded by the spear, given to myself
Enlightened I'll become
From the son of Bolthorn, Bestla's father
I mastered mighty songs nine
And a drink I had from the strongest mead
Got out from? thraerir
Valdr galga
Yggdrasil must abide
More than to men is known
The hart browsing above, it's bark rotting
And Nidhogg gnawing beneath
11 A Great Man's Return (04:56)
Under Norve's starfilled sky
In a forest so deep and wide
Eight hooves are thundering
By the mountains darkest side
In the shadows two grey shapes
Hungry stalking their prey
A long time has passed
Since they went away
This is the call for a great man's return
Longing for the old age, let this world burn
I yearn for retribution, I want fields stained red
Odin show us that you're not dead
Northern king... return
Follow the path we make, longer for every day
Warlord... return
Your eyes in the sky will show you the way
Northern king... return
We will be waiting, thousands and thousands of men
Warlord... return
Together we will drink, fight, die and live again
Under Norve's starfilled sky
In a heathen forest deep and wide
Sleipner calm is standing
With Odin by his side
By his feet two wolves are lying
Feeding and resting in the night
A long time will pass
Until bloodred snow becomes white
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