I was looking for some new music when I discovered Manegarm. I saw this wacky band name so I decided to check it out. Manegarm is a Viking/folk metal band from Sweden, the name Manegarm is also the name of a wolf that belongs in Viking mythology. I bought the album (or digibook to be correct) and I was afraid that it was going to be a blast-beat fest with whiny black metal shrieking, but I was stunned when I started to listen to it. Their music is of course rooted in the Viking metal genre, but this band has also nice influences from folk music. I would describe their music as heavy, dynamic, energetic and melodic. But there are also moments when the band gets really extreme and aggressive as well. The band is active and they have released five full-length albums plus an EP and a compilation album, and the most recent album is called
Vargstenen.
Vargstenen is a concept album. There is a story that flows through all the tracks, from start to finish, what this story is about will be mentioned later in the review. All lyrics in this album are sung in Swedish, not English. This gives the album a totally unique sound, but that's not all. Manegarm has something that few Viking metal bands have: a violin. Never before has one violin been so much metal! This was the thing that stunned me the most, a violin that takes care of the lead work instead of the lead guitar. While the other instruments create a massive and pulsing rhythm section the violin creates this layer of wonderful folk melodies.
Vedergallningens Tid,
Ur Sjalslig Dod and
Den Gamle Talar are some of the songs that has some of the greatest violin melodies. There is also a violin solo in this album, just listen to
Genom Varldar Nio, that violin solo is just as powerful as a real guitar solo. Some bands really like to **** up the title tracks, but not Manegarm. The track
Vargstenen is a real power load I must say, the intro is one of the most extreme on the disc but it is the immense melodies and vocal work that really makes the song to glow.
As I mentioned before, the lyrics in this album is actually a story. I not an expert on Viking mythology but I will do my best to give you a small description of the story. Everything is based around this warrior (or Viking) who wakes up from the dead and he is determined to crush the enemies that reigns in Midgaard (Ur Sjalslig Dod). He wakes up and is later accompanied by this wolf spirit or ’’wolf brother’’. He seeks help from the old ones (Den Gamle Talar), he later travels to Yggdrasil, the tree that grows on top of the world. He ventures through the Nine Worlds and discovers that the Hell Serpent has created destruction and havoc in its path (Genom Varldar Nio). Memories are slowly returning back to him as he searches for the snake. He receives guidance from his wolf spirit as he ventures down in the underworld to find this serpent (I Underjorden). He eventually finds it and slays it, he later returns to gather strength from this Wolf Stone and various pagan/heathen gods (Vargstenen). Shortly after there is a huge battle between the Vikings and the heathens and creatures that once laid the landscapes into chaos (Verdergallningens Tid). In the ending track
Eld everything is cleansed by huge fires and all evil returns back to the abyss. This is the best description I can give you but I know for sure that this has never occurred in Viking tales or stories. Nonetheless, the lyrics are brilliant and all the lyrics fits very well with the songs.
Nothing on this album is bad; the only thing that could possibly drag this album down is just a song or two.
Visioner Pa Isen is a pretty slow track and the melodies are hardly interesting compared to other songs, the song is also a bit repetitive as well. All the instruments are loud and thick except for the bass; it almost disappears because of the massive guitar sound. The rest is practically flawless, even if the songs have a simplistic structure they are still catchy, heavy, melodic and interesting. Plus that no track sounds similar to another.
Ur Sjalslig Dod is a song with many different tempo changes,
Vedergallningens Tid is just a plain heavy track and
I Underjorden is one of the fastest songs (and heaviest). I have to mention the excellent vocal performance as well, this is vocal diversity! Erik Gravsjo really knows how to keep things interesting. Here you have at least four different vocal styles. There are growls, harsh aggressive vocals, clean vocals and chanting vocals.
Vargstenen is the best example of a song that has a good mix of them all. To add even more information, there is also a female guest singer as well. She is not a famous person but sometimes she enters a track with some harmonic angel vocals (or wailing).
This is the most intriguing Viking metal album I have heard yet. Viking metal is actually closely related to black metal if you didn't know that. The only difference is that Viking metal has non-satanic lyrics and minor adjustments in the music. That's one reason why I love this album so much. The crew were not dressed like medieval warriors and they didn't spook themselves out in make-up and or used corny fake names. They are regular musicians that deliver quality music that people need to hear. Not everyone will agree with me but I encourage you to check out this album. Viking metal purists will hopefully like this as much as I do, hopefully others will like it too. So leave Amon Amarth and Ensiferum and all that stuff for a moment and get some of Manegarm's music. I suggest that you start with this album, and if this wasn’t good enough then you could look into some of their other material.
Positives
+ Extremely addictive melodies
+ Skilled and wonderful use of violin melodies
+ The mix between aggressive and soft musical elements is almost perfect
+ Brilliant vocal variety
+ The Swedish lyrics enhances the folk elements
Negatives
- Visioner Pa Isen is the only track that fails to stand out
Recommended Tracks
-- Vargstenen (
The opus track, blast-beat madness and aggressive vocals in the beginning and later majestic melodies and splendid vocal work. Perfect track.)
-- Vedergallningens Tid (
A very simple and heavy track but it has some of the catchiest melodies, the track is equally as good as the title track.)
-- Ur Sjalslig Dod (
Starts with an intensive intro, the song has many tempo changes with great violin melodies.)
-- Genom Varldar Nio (
An intense track but a heavy and forceful one as well. Pretty catchy but it is the violin solo that makes this track to stand out.)
Final rating will be a solid: 4.5/5
