This year’s epic northern metal achieves get one more great conceptual album with “The Varangian Way” by Turisas. The voyages of the Varangian open up a new page in the history of this Finnish band, which made its debut full-length album only three years ago. The new CD is a clear proof of the development of the musicians in any way that has something to do with the creative process of making a high-quality product and... Actually, “product” is the last thing that we can say about “The Varangian Way”. This is one of the most powerful and emotional albums that have been released recently, and it deserves special attention. As already mentioned, the songs are merged in a concept line following the steps of the Scandinavian tribes of the Varangian. They make cruises, stop at seaside cities, laugh and fight, sing of victory and search for happiness. The eight songs tell about these and many other things and succeed to grab the listeners’ attention with epic sound and great mood. A big impression makes the folklore rhythm flowing from “In the Court of Jarisleif”, too, but every other song has its own wonderful specifics as well, and the proper end is put by “Miklagard Overture” - a tune in praise of the last and the most important stop in the traveling of the Varangian, Constantinople. After the impersonal start with “Battle Metal”, Turisas have succeeded to gain enough skills and ideas to record an album which can be proudly put among the compulsory releases of 2007. “The Varangian Way” has a potential to become something even bigger if it receives the fans’ and critics’ attention.