2004's "Battle Metal" was a raw, powerful introduction to the world of Turisas and their own brand of Viking Metal. Mixing different instruments such as violins and accordians ended in an inspired album full of promise and great songs. The Varangian Way polished this and raised the bar. Now more than ever, Mathias Nygard arranged the various instruments and effects with prestige and quality. "To Holmgard and Beyond" is the most commercial track on the album, with the exception of the cover of Boney M's Rasputin. A catchy hook and clean vocals make it an early favourite for someone new to the style. Some songs on the album are ...  Read the complete review

Released in 2007, "The Varangian Way" is Finnish Viking metal band Turisas' follow-up album to 2004's "Battle Metal". It is a laborious concept album, charting the trail of a group of Scandanavians through ancient Russia and down to southern Europe and the Byzantine Empire, produced by the band's vocalist Mathias "Warlord" Nygard with Janne Saska. The album kicks off with "To Holmgard and Beyond", beginning the epic journey via sail across dangerous waters towards Holmgard and Aldeigju and ending with "Miklagard Overture" where the travellers finally reach Constantinople. When I first heard this ...  Read the complete review

Turisas coined the term 'Battle Metal' with their previous album of the same name and it quite aptly describes the music they play. Yes, it's metal, albeit with violins and accordions, but the lyrical themes are historical, with references to war, fights and battles. 'Battle Metal' was an excellent debut from Turisas, but 'The Varangian Way' takes what they started a whole step further, a stronger, better produced concept album that from the very first listen, I found a pleasure to listen to. So as mentioned, this is a concept album, telling a fictional story of a group of 'Varangians' who travel down the East European river route to Constantinople, or in ...  Read the complete review