There's no doubt that
EMPEROR band has been a major influence in Black Metal, especially when it comes to creating the
symphonic black metal genre. Many bands would come out to replicate the symphonic style that Emperor is known for, but many of them are either just watered-down versions of Emperor albums or just flat out boring.
Enter
VARGRAV, a Finnish BM artist. The artist does stand out in a way that makes him different from most Emperor worship clones, and this was especially apparent with his 2017 debut album "Netherstorm".
Vargrav is the project of sole member
V-KhaoZ, a Finn who’s been involved in more bands than I can count.
Vargrav sits firmly in the “symphonic” black metal category, but before you wrinkle your nose in disgust, hold up. Keyboards in black metal is cause for apprehension for many, and for good reason – the abuse of keyboards in black metal has reached absurd levels in the past, with bands being content to drown everything in synth and thinking “we’re Emperor!” These bands, of course, completely missed the point of what made early Emperor so brilliant to begin with.
Enter
VARGRAV, who athletically dodged this bullet; and his “Netherstorm” album has similar vibes to “Nightside”-era Emperor. So, with that said, Vargrav is symphonic black metal, but done tastefully. Vargrav honours pioneering bands in this style, and successfully pulls off an album that would be in good company with second wave luminaries like early Emperor,
Limbonic Art or even
Obtained Enslavement.
The Name of the band comes from the union of the (Swedish) words varg (wolf) and grav (grave). “Vargrav is the rest where a sinister wisdom lurks only to rise again.” The name is also a palindrome with 7 letters. The number 7 is the number of complement. A number of time and space, representing wisdom, perfection, balance and immortality.
Genre: Raw/Symphonic
BLACK METAL.
Country of origin:
FINLAND (one of the best extreme/underground Finnish Metal bands). Lyrical themes: Loneliness, Solitude, Hatred/Supremacy, Desolation/darkness, Depression, Individuality.
Crowned by Demonstorms:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UH0PuucYJQ&ab_channel=Vargrav-Topic
As the Shadows Grow Silent:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9twUf6nmG9g
Limbo of Abysmal Void:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtDs_BbhACY
Obedient, Tolerant, Ensnared vinyl:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLF-KRe-ikc&ab_channel=SacroSantumVinylum