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Latvia isn't known in the European region for its Metal bands. One of the bands I came across recently is this 4-piece act called Varang Nord. Their home is Daugavpils, a city in southeastern Latvia located on the banks of the Daugava River from which the city gets its name.

Enough about geography. Varang Nord plays heavily Folk-inspired Metal (à la Finntroll) that also blends elements from Viking Metal bands like Amon Amarth and Moonsorrow into the sound but on a smaller and less professional scale. They make a serious attempt to sound relatively epic, harsh and even pompous on their debut 6-track EP titled Fire of the North but only manage to impress halfway. What nobody can take away from them is the solid attempt at making an impression especially on the EP's closing tune "Through a White Wasteland." This captivating instrumental displays some of the same sorrowful and beautifully epic vibes that one can find in Moonsorrow's songs. They should focus on creating something similar in the future.

Fire of the North is not going to take this band as far as they may have hoped but I expect they will get an opportunity to make a better statement in the future. Time will tell...