I have to admit that I’ve never been too familiar with Australia’s black/death metal scene, somehow it didn’t attract me as much as the European one. I only knew some bands like Horde (sic), Destroyer 666, Sadistik Exekution, Anatomy or Drowning the Light but for some reason I did not dig deeper into the Aussie underground. Things have started to change nearly 2 years ago, when I discovered Krvna‘s works and realized that things might not be quite as I imagined them. And very recently I had this suspicion confirmed, when out of the blue I was given the possibility to listen to Varw‘s debut album, “Wights of the Barrow Fume“, released in September 2021 by the Australian label Dark Adversary Records.
Browsing the internet for more info about the band, I discovered that VARW (which apparently is an archaic Welsh word for the dead) is actually a duo comprised of the multifaceted artists Greallach (on vocals and acoustic guitars) and Balam (also in Pestilential Shadows, among many other bands), who handles all the other instruments (guitar, bass and drums). Having no idea whatsoever what to expect from this record , I anxiously pressed the “Play” button….
…and the moment I did that I was instantly surrounded by sorrowful acoustic guitar tunes accompanied by depressive sounds of rain falling quietly in the background. “What a way to start an album”, I said to myself, completely oblivious to the fact that I was about to discover one hell of a black metal record, crafted exactly how I like my favorite music to be: aggressive, melancholic, depressing, raw and memorable.
“Wights of the Barrow Fume” has precisely all those elements mentioned above, but also has something else, something that I find very important, especially when it comes to black metal: a soul. For me this is a mandatory thing about a black metal record, otherwise it’s just another generic album. But this is definitely not the typical black metal record created and released only to fit the standards. The album consists of 4 instrumental tracks and 4 brutal parts, which alternate and intertwine all throughout the 37 minutes, yet flowing smoothly one into the other. This can perhaps remind you of the old Ulver works but don’t be tricked as Varw has nothing to do with the Norwegian band.
No, the 8 songs on the record are two different entities and when combined, they give the album life and meaning. There’s a strong contrast in Varw‘s music but Balam and Greallach have cleverly crafted it in such a way that these two apparent different sides form in fact a powerful whole.
While the acoustic songs are emotional and very atmospheric, everything turns into pure black metal havoc and madness the moment the instruments kick in. Greallach‘s shrieking voice sounds like a vengeful banshee and complements perfectly Balam‘s insane blast beats and raw guitars.
“Black is the blade of vengeance
Black as the carcass that rots
Life has a weight once it’s passed
A balance to wager the cost“
The cold piercing riffs on this record have a profound mid 90’s Scandinavian feeling that would make all the early Emperor fans out there extremely happy (ex. “Väki” or “Ankhu“). The insertion of war-like choirs on songs such as “Aes Sídhe” “Ankhu” or “Yan Gant Y Tan” increases the album’s dramatic atmosphere to the point of . The album’s production is amazing and unlike other raw black metal albums, the bass guitar is highly audible and plays a well defined and important role, especially in the violent tracks.
Another thing I like about Varw is that with this debut record they do not try for one second to copy what’s been done in the past, instead they try to develop their own distinct path and sound. So far they have succeeded very well, let us see what the future will have in stock for them.
If this review made you curious enough, I urge you to check this band out. You’ll definitely be surprised by the quality of the music, it’s 666 times better than many of the so called “bigger” black metal bands out on there.
VARW – “Wights of the Barrow Fume” Tracklist:
1.The River Yearns for Sacrifice
2.Väki
3.The Stones Grow Cold
4.Aes Sidhe
5.The Forest is Wet With Spirits
6.Ankou
7.The Spring Births Monsters
8.Yan Gant Y Tan
Band Contact:
scrollsofdarmoth.com 
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