Photo by Natascha Dumbledear Allen
As we get closer to the release of VANIR’s new opus, the Danes release a new lyric video and digital single to tease the album. And once again they dive deep in Scandinavian history, in “Fall Of Arkona”.
The siege of Arkona was a short eight-day siege between the Danish and Pommeranian forces under Valdemar I and the Wendish forces of the temple fortress of Arkona. It resulted in a decisive victory for the Danish forces, after which the rest of Rügen surrendered. After the battle, the Danes destroyed the large statue of the Wendish God Svantevit.
Join the premiering below:
Vanir is one of Denmark’s most prominent melodic death metal bands and has, since the band’s inception, released six full-length albums. And now, they’re ready to unleash their seventh beast, titled “Epitome”.
The theme of this new opus is the Danish middle-ages, with two songs branching into the Renaissance (“Wood Iron And Will” and the early middle-age “Blood Eagle”). The core of the album’s theme is the throne and the battles fought to keep it or to cement its power.
The first single of the album, “Twisting The Knife”, was written about The Stockholm Bloodbath, which was a trial that led to a series of executions in Stockholm between 7 and 9 November 1520. The siege of Arkona in 1169, led by the Danish and Pommeranian forces under Valdemar I is the beginning point for “Fall of Arkona”. Finally, a song about strength, valour and courage (“One Man Army”) completes the singles trilogy of the record.
The “Epitome” album cover is a depiction of the Danish queen Sorte Grethe (Black Greta). In her own time, Margaret had a reputation as a competent and enlightened regent. Regent Margaret was faced with the unresolved conflict between the crown and the archbishop. The song “Sorte Grethe”, on the album, is about a bloody battle where 12.000 men were killed to protect her sons’ right to the crown.
Vanir has been around for more than 10 years and has evolved a lot since the band’s beginning. With the last three records, and now with “Epitome”, Vanir shows its hard edge and catchy melodic death metal.
From the Sagas of old to the halls of kings and the bloody battlefields, Vanir’s music has been put together, without compromise, with a fascination with Scandinavian common origins, and the blood spilled throughout history.
“Epitome” will be released on CD, LP (black vinyl, limited to 300) and digital formats via Mighty Music on February 16th, 2024.
Live dates 2024:
17/18.02 – Cernunnos Pagan Fest, Paris (FR)
01.03 – Kulturfabrikken Nykobing (DK)
23.03 – Gimle, Roskilde (DK)
09.05 – Dark Troll Festival (DE)
10.05 – Heathen Gathering (AT)
23.08 – Von Hatten, Randers (DK)
28.09 – Fredagsmangle, Stockholm (SE)
Lineup:
Martin Rubini – vocals
Kirk Backarach – guitar
Michael Lundquist – guitar
Mikael Christensen – bass
Jon Elmquist Schmidt – drums
Stefan Dujardin – keyboards
Digital single: https://vanir.lnk.to/arkona
Webshop: https://bit.ly/vanir-target
More information at:
https://www.facebook.com/vanirband
https://www.instagram.com/vanirdenmark/
https://vanir.bandcamp.com/
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/vanir/427022932
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6DCYYeX3Iqic6GnQTXM3n4
https://tidal.com/browse/artist/3927453
Click image to watch the video
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