The Varangian Way

The Varangian Way
Studio album by Turisas
Released	UK: May 28, 2007 Finland: June 6, 2007 Europe: June 18, 2007 North America: July 17, 2007 Japan: July 25, 2007
Recorded	November 2006 - March 2007 at Sound Supreme Studio, Hämeenlinna, Finland
Genre	Folk metal Viking metal
Length	42:57
Label	Century Media
Producer	Mathias "Warlord" Nygård, Janne Saska
Professional reviews
The reviews parameter has been deprecated. Please move reviews into the “Reception” section of the article. See Moving reviews into article space. Allmusic link PopMatters (7/10) link
Turisas chronology
Battle Metal (2004) The Varangian Way (2007) Stand Up and Fight (2011)

The Varangian Way is the second full-length album from Finnish folk metal band, Turisas and was released in 2007. It is a concept album that tells the story of a group of Scandinavians traveling the river routes of medieval Russia, through Ladoga, Novgorod and Kiev, down to the Byzantine Empire.

A Special "Directors Cut" edition was released with the Rasputin single.

Track listing

1. "To Holmgard and Beyond" – 5:17
2. "A Portage to the Unknown" – 4:50
3. "Cursed Be Iron" – 5:03
4. "Fields of Gold" – 4:34
5. "In the Court of Jarisleif" – 3:17
6. "Five Hundred and One" – 6:18
7. "The Dnieper Rapids" – 5:20
8. "Miklagard Overture" – 8:18

Director's cut track listing

1. "To Holmgard and Beyond" – 5:17
2. "A Portage to the Unknown" – 4:50
3. "Cursed Be Iron" – 5:03
4. "Fields of Gold" – 4:34
5. "In the Court of Jarisleif" – 3:17
6. "Five Hundred and One" – 6:18
7. "The Dnieper Rapids" – 5:20
8. "Miklagard Overture" – 8:18
9. "Rasputin" (Boney M cover) - 3:53
10. "To Holmgard and Beyond" [Single Edit] - 3:29

A Limited Edition "Pagan Fest Tour Edition" version comes with the bonus tracks (with Rasputin and To Holmgard and Beyond swapping places in the track listing) and a DVD containing the video for Rasputin and several live performances.

Enhanced edition bonus tracks Normal listing +

1. "To Holmgard and Beyond" [Single Edit]
2. "Rex Regi Rebellis" [Finnish Version]
3. "Battle Metal" Live at Party San '06 (video clip)

Credits

• Mathias "Warlord" Nygård – vocals, orchestral programming, keyboard
• Jussi Wickström – guitar
• Tuomas "Tude" Lehtonen – drums, percussion
• Olli Vänskä – violin
• Hannes "Hanu" Horma – bass, backing vocals
• Janne "Lisko" Mäkinen – accordion

• Music by Mathias Nygård, except track 3 (Nygård/Wickström), 5 (Nygård/Lisko/Vänskä) and 6 (Nygård/Vänskä).
• Lyrics by Mathias Nygård, except track 3 (traditional/Elias Lönnrot), taken from the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala.
• Classical choir recorded at Vanha Kirjastotalo Music Hall, Tampere, Finland.
• Orchestral samples included in this recording from the Vienna Symphonic Library.

Sources

• Century Media press statement
• Turisas studio diary
• Turisas official website

See also

• Trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks
• The Long Ships (historical novel dealing with the same subject)
• Kalevala (the lyrics of "Cursed Be Iron" contain a section of the poem "The Origin of Iron")