German pagan metal band Varg has been around for quite some time now, dating back to 2005 with their first album, "Wolfszeit" following two years later. In that time, they've become quite popular, being one of the most recognisable bands from their homeland to indulge in the Viking history and lore and also bearing quite a striking aesthetic. Earlier this year, co-founding drummer Silvester Grundmann parted ways with the group, leaving guitarist and co-vocalist Philipp "Freki" Seiler as the sole original member. With only one link to their old days, how does Varg progress? Fairly well, as it happens.

Aside from the drummer, nothing much has changed when it comes to Varg. The album contains all the familiar hallmarks of the band such as the dark atmosphere, vicious guitars, and, as introduced on the previous album, "Zeichen," soulful, at times haunting vocals of Fylgja. Fylgja's vocals are actually one of the real highlights of the record, immediately improving every song she appears on and giving them infinitely more depth. The song that bears her name is obviously a prime example of this, as is the short interlude "Járnsíðasleið," which conjures up images of longships sailing through the mists, awaiting any foe, be it man or creature. She also has some spoken word parts in "Schildmaid," itself an exciting battle cry of a song, and "Eisenseite," which feels a little more metalcore overall.

There are some interesting quirks to "Ewige Wacht" which sets it apart from a lot of other pagan metal albums, save of course for past Varg efforts, in particular the more groovy song segments, found most prominently on "Hammer." This track flows really well, with the rhythm of the song making it stand out among the other pieces on this record, with the intro and verses being very easy to take in. Elsewhere "Weltenfeind," has a nice chug to begin with, a little like Pantera's classic, "Cowboys From Hell," only with a frostier chorus and a high-tempo gallop to lead listeners in.

"Ewige Wacht" is a pretty good album and fans will surely enjoy it, while newcomers who are fans of this kind of thing will also embrace the record warmly. However, there are more than a few times when songs feel like they're being held back by parts that feel completely standard, for lack of a better word. More than once the enjoyment was lessened by choruses or verses that weren't terrible, but offered little to continue the excitement felt at the beginning of the track. The title track feels like this, after opening with an interesting vocal duet over mellow guitars, all the old tropes come rushing back once the verse kicks in and it ends up feeling quite average. "Morgenrot" suffers the same fate too, beginning with the shining intro which feels like emerging from the darkness and into the sunlight, it soon becomes just another Varg song.

Overall, the most honest appraisal is that it's another Varg album. There's a lot to enjoy, especially for those who have stuck with them for a long time, but there's also a notable amount that puts an asterisk next to its mark of quality. It rides the line between being a good album and a decent one, giving fans what they want, but in a movie sequel kind of way, which is to say, satisfying, if not meeting every expectation. There are definitely more good points than bad though and it's a fair album to start with if you're just now finding the band or have decided to see what the fuss is about, just don't expect a classic.