Det polske melodiske death metal band Valkenrag er vant til at spille i Danmark med optrædener på bl.a. Aalborg Rock & Metal sammen med Raise Your Horns veteranerne Konkhra. I betragtning af bandets tekstmæssige inspiration virker det åbenlyst, hvorfor de ville blive ved med at vende tilbage til vores kyster. Valkenrags sange trækker stærkt på skandinavisk mytologi sammen med deres eget slaviske ophav og fortæller historier om gamle guder og storslåede kampe, der passer perfekt til at hæve sit drikkehorn!
Og nu når vi taler om drikkehorn, kan Valkenrags stil tydeligt sammenlignes med bands som Hávamál og Amon Amarth både ift. lyd og det nordiske tema for lyrik og æstetik. Bandet er blevet kaldt ’de polske Amon Amarth’ siden deres start i 2008 og har endda indspillet et cover af de svenske viking metal kongers ’Victorious March’. Nummeret passer perfekt i Valkenrags katalog med sange som ‘Berserk Ritual’, ‘Victory or Valhalla’ og ‘Call of the Ancient’ fra deres seneste album ‘Chasing the Gods’ fra 2018.
Bandets version af death metal bør dog ikke alene appellere til fans af bands med vikingetema, men også Gøteborglyden og andre polske navne som Decapitated, Hate og Vader. Forsanger og guitarist Lorghat dominerer fra scenen med sit brutale og tydelige brøl, og Valkenrags musik passer perfekt til en festival med dens blastbeats, melodiske guitarlicks og krigsråb, som helt sikkert vil få publikum til at nikke hoveder.
English
Polish melodic death metal band Valkenrag are no strangers to Denmark having played venues such as Aalborg Rock & Metal with Raise Your Horns alums Konkhra. Considering the band’s lyrical inspiration, it would seem obvious why they would want to keep returning to our shores. Drawing heavily from Scandinavian mythology as well as their own Slavic origins, Valkenrag’s songs tell the tales of old gods and epic battles that are perfect for raising your horn!
Speaking of raising horns, obvious comparisons for Valkenrag’s style would be bands such as Hávamál and Amon Amarth both in terms of sound and the Norse themed lyrics and aesthetics. Having been labelled ‘the Polish Amon Amarth’ since their early beginnings in 2008, the band has even recorded a cover of the Swedish Viking metal kings’ ‘Victorious March’. The track is a perfect fit for Valkenrag’s catalogue with songs such as ‘Berserk Ritual’, ‘Victory or Valhalla’ and ‘Call of the Ancient’ off their latest album ‘Chasing the Gods’ from 2018.
However, the band’s take on death metal should not only appeal to fans of Viking themed bands but the Gothenburg sound and fellow Polish acts Decapitated, Hate and Vader as well. Lead singer and guitarist Lorghat has a commanding presence on stage with his ferocious and audible scream, and Valkenrag’s music is perfect for a festival setting with its blast beats, melodic guitar licks and war chants that are sure to get the crowd’s heads rocking.
