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Denmark is perhaps not the most common land when times come to find Black Metal, but I believe some of you might be tempted to do further investigation.

I knew Agantyr before and two of its musicians are members of Vardlokkur. Vrede is a live bass player and Yngleborgaz (founder/solo artists) is said to be a regular player of this trio completed by drummer Saule. Cult release limited to 666 hand-numbered copies, the Med Doden til Folge MCD will find takers among the ones with a taste for old school Black Metal. With a raw but still decent sound production, Vardlokkur spits in your face four fast and vicious cold grim numbers. Some melodic and harmonious passages introduce the disc in the shape of dark and sad piano parts, not very common in old school bands. Then the pace and mood shift from mid-fast to a fast generic style with the usual distortion, rolling drums and rasps. Mid parts containing nice arpeggios, even if distorted, give a melodic edge to the rawness of their work. My overall favorite composition is the closing track, Nordens Fare, for its variation in tempo and mood. Starting things off with clean arpeggios this time, followed by more of the ferocious Black Metal elements, only to end with a cool surprise made of electronics in a psychedelic tone.

Vardlokkur is a 17 minute taster likely to be of interest to the old schooler in you.