Epitome - 2024 Danish Mighty Music Label 9-track LP

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.

Tracklisting.

Side 1.
1. Twisting The Knife  
2. One Man Army 
3. Wood Iron And Will  
4. Sanguis Et Aurum

Side 2.
1. Sorte Grethe  
2. Call To Arms  
3. Fall Of Arkona  
4. Blood Eagle 
5. Kings Will Fall