When it comes to the European underground Black Metal, it is always gratifying to come across bands that maintain a firm identity rooted in their own environment. That is the case of VALOSTA VARJOON, a band formed in 2016 in Germany, although its name comes from the Finnish language and translates as “from the light into the shadow”. Their musical proposal is focused on melancholy and misanthropy. The heart of this project is V. V., who since 2016 has been in charge of all instruments and vocals, in addition to actively participating in bands such as COSMIC BURIAL, NACHTIG, BXXM and WITCHYRE, having also been part of TODTENAU. Since the year 2018 he has Sturmwolf on guitars, consolidating a duo that knows very well where to direct their sound. To reach this fourth full-length album, titled “Blut, Stahl Und Leid” and released in 2026 under Folter Records, the band forged a steady trajectory since their demo “Von Licht Zu Schatten” in 2017. That first step was followed by the split releases “Valosta Varjoon / Viha Surma” along with VIHA SURMA in 2018 and “Germanic & Slavonic Heathen Unity” in 2019, in addition to their three previous albums: “Oberpfälzer Wald” (2019), “Das Flammenmeer” (2021) and “Boarisch Grattlig” (2023). Likewise, they left a memory of their strength with the song ‘Drunk ‘N’ Roll’ on the CD compilation “Purity Through Fire – …Deutsches Eisen Trägt Den Tod hinein!” from 2020 and with the track ‘Der Krähentisch’ on the CD compilation “Temple Of Satanic Warlord #3” from 2022. Throughout the 40:42 minutes that make up “Blut, Stahl Und Leid”, the group unleashes seven tracks that sustain a raw sound from the beginning to the end. The album begins its march with ‘Die Könige Der Nacht’, which immediately establishes the gloomy and cutting tone of the album. I love that sound at the beginning of someone opening and pouring a foamy beer. Then, the second track, ‘Vambier’, where that load of melancholy and contempt takes on an even greater step. Then ‘Reise Ins Gestern’, keeping a firm pulse before giving way to ‘Blut, Stahl Und Leid’, the title track that summarizes the misanthropic essence of the entire album. With a sound very typical of the most traditional Black Metal and with a Scandinavian air. The second half of the album advances through the density of the fifth cut, ‘Im Kalten Moor’, which is more immersed in a galloping mid-tempo. Then the album moves into the passages of ‘Die Insel Im Traum’, once again returning a bit to that melancholy that intrinsically surrounds the band throughout the entire album. Finally, the curtain falls with ‘Am Rande Der Welt’, giving a solid and forceful and devastating closure. “Blut, Stahl Und Leid” is a direct work, without ambiguities, a Black Metal faithful to its origins. More information here: www.facebook.com/valostav, www.facebook.com/folterrecordsgermany