Vargrav (FIN) – Dimension: Daemonium DIGI-CD

Black Metal

From the dawn of the classic debut album, Netherstorm, in 2018, Finland’s VARGRAV have almost single-handedly reinvigorated the oft-maligned symphonic black metal subgenre. Forged in fires from the ancients – founder V-Khaoz’s credentials are vast and stretch back decades – and stoking the embers last left by Obtained Enslavement and Norway’s Covenant and Odium, VARGRAV’s first two albums stand as proud pillars of shimmering, classics-based obsidian. However, it was 2023’s literally MASSIVE The Nighthold where VARGRAV eclipsed all prior achievements. With a lineup that included the notorious Graf Werwolf von Armageddon on vocals and Moonsorrow members Trollhorn of the Black Harvest on guitars/bass and Baron M. Tarwonen on drums, VARGRAV’s swirling, cosmic surge hit a fever pitch of potency – and the filmic elements latent to their sound became a movie unto themselves. It was not unjust to liken this third album to Covenant’s classic Nexus Polaris.