Epitome by Vanir

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.