Review by Adam on January 3, 2003.

Christian Metal: The name has the ability to strike fear into the minds of many metalheads, but why? With bands like Six Feet Deep coming out, no one sees that they place their passion into their music as much as they do into their faith. “The Road Less Traveled” is this: pure unadulterated metal. It is the kind of stuff I miss after hearing overly technical band after overly technical band. Longing for something simpler but something that can still pack a wallop, I return to this CD time and time again.

The energetic execution with which the band plays the songs on “The Road Less Traveled” makes up for any lack of originality within the music itself. The album has an unidentifiable quality that just makes you want to keep listening. Throughout the CD, the style flows from grooving metal to hardcore to melodic, often in the confines of just one song. Where “The Road Less Traveled” truly shines is when it delves into the more melodic aspect of their sound. The vocals rarely break out of their hardcore shell, yet when they do, they are done in a manner which borderlines corniness but never really making it there.

The musicianship is nothing to rave about but that is one of the things that I like about this CD. It is very straightforward, to the point, and done well, which is something I tend to miss nowadays. The production suits the style they play very well, as the guitars are very crisp and heavy. The bass also manages to add melodic layers to certain songs instead of just simply playing along with them. The vocalist is just not another one of those screamers who yells wordlessly and that’s it. He plays guitar on all of the tracks and the bass on a couple others. The lyrics are also quite interesting. Not to worry - there is no excessive Jesus preaching to be found here!

Being a fairly old record, it is sad to see the small amount of attention it got when it is deserving of so much more. The way it bridges the hardcore into the emotional and melodic still sounds fresh to me every time I decide to pop it into my CD player. This is a rare gift to the metal world that I think all headbangers can appreciate. Fans of the technicality and brutality will not find much to feast on here. “The Road Less Traveled” is more for the metal fans that miss the excitement of simple metal done extremely well. If that is the kind of thing you are interested in, then I suggest you look no further than Six Feet Deep.

Bottom Line: Simple metal for the guy who just wants to headbang to some plain old well played metal.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Originality: 8
Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 7
Overall: 7.5

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Review by Dominik on January 22, 2025.

When we Germans think about the Dutch, the reactions are as varied as their bike collection. On the soccer field? Unforgivable. Our take of their love for cheese? An obsession bordering on religion. I mean we all know the Dutch anthem, which is the sound of someone unwrapping cheese. Caravans? They could tow the entire Netherlands behind a VW Golf if given the chance. Well, we poke fun but do so with a twinkle in our eyes. However, when it comes to Dutch (black) metal, that's where we drop the jokes and get serious. For a small country, their extreme metal scene punches well above its weight.

Enter Walg, hailing from Groningen—a city where 20% of the population is made up of students, most of whom are probably too busy partying to realize one of their hometown bands is quietly churning out black metal gold. Since their founding in 2021, Walg has released an album a year, all an assault of melodic black metal, with each one better than the last. And now, with IV, they've reached a creative peak that proves their plan is as solid as a Dutch dam. Their homeland may be flat as a pancake, but their music has a towering ambition.

The whole album is a consistent speedfest and pleasure for your strained ears. The song quality oscillates around a high level with just a few outliers in each direction. Everything feels being delivered by a mature band completely at ease with their approach.

The album kicks off with "Radeloos" ("Desperate"), a track which is anything but, and immediately sets the tone. Fast, furious, and melodic, it's a blueprint for the Walg formula: relentless speed tempered by subtle melodies that never veer into saccharine territory. Something reminds me of Finnish Catamenia in their prime, but with less snow and more canal water. Even the occasional keyboard accents feel carefully controlled, adding depth without drifting into the bloated bombast of symphonic black metal.

"Wanneer Het Glas Brekt" ("When the glass breaks") takes the momentum from the opener and cranks it up. This track is a melodic black metal masterclass: it alternates between blast beats, mid-tempo double bass, and well-placed acoustic breaks that feel like gasps of air in a hurricane. The vocals, shared by the two band members, are particularly striking, switching between classic black metal rasping, clean singing, and a desperate urgency that feels like someone shouting for help after falling into a black pit.

Another standout track is "Geen Einde In Zicht" ("No end in sight"), which shows just how far Walg is willing to push their creativity. Starting with a short folkloric intro, the song weaves its theme into the guitar riffs, creating a sense of cohesion that many bands would kill for. Mid song there's even an accordion tucked into the mix—a bold move that somehow works, though the fade-out feels like a missed opportunity for an even more memorable conclusion. Though it's not like the band decided to end the song with bicycle bells. Still, any track that manages to make an accordion find its place in black metal deserves respect.

But for all its variety, Warg's delivery never feels patched together, but the slower, sometimes atmospheric, sometimes acoustic breaks fit in well between the prevailing blasts. If you are more of the straightforward kind, then "Speel Met Mij" ("Play with me") is for you. The shortest track on the album, it's a relentless banger with clean vocals making a surprise appearance near the end. By the time it's over, you'll be reaching for the replay button faster than a Dutchman heading for his bike after spotting rain clouds. It's like a shot of Jenever: quick, potent, and leaving you wanting more.

Not everything on IV reaches the same heights. Both "Vuurdoop" ("Baptism of fire") and "Als Een Korrel Zand" ("Like a grain of sand") feel slightly less inspired, struggling to stand out in an otherwise stellar lineup. But even during its weaker moments, IV never falters entirely. Also these tracks showcase the band's consistent craftsmanship and attention to detail.

At its core, this album is a testament to Walg's growth as a band. A band that knows exactly what it wants to do and executes it with precision. The balance between speed, melody, and occasional surprises like that accordion ensures the album remains engaging from start to finish. For black metal fans who enjoy their steak medium rather than still dripping blood, IV is an album worth savoring.

And if you order directly from the band, Rob will include a personal note—a charmingly Dutch touch that reminds us that these maestros of mayhem are as down-to-earth as their homeland is flat, and who'd probably invite you for a beer after melting your face off with blast beats.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10 – because even the Dutch can't pedal fast enough to perfection, but damn if they don't get close.

Review by Dominik on January 22, 2025.

When we Germans think about the Dutch, the reactions are as varied as their bike collection. On the soccer field? Unforgivable. Our take of their love for cheese? An obsession bordering on religion. I mean we all know the Dutch anthem, which is the sound of someone unwrapping cheese. Caravans? They could tow the entire Netherlands behind a VW Golf if given the chance. Well, we poke fun but do so with a twinkle in our eyes. However, when it comes to Dutch (black) metal, that's where we drop the jokes and get serious. For a small country, their extreme metal scene punches well above its weight.

Enter Walg, hailing from Groningen—a city where 20% of the population is made up of students, most of whom are probably too busy partying to realize one of their hometown bands is quietly churning out black metal gold. Since their founding in 2021, Walg has released an album a year, all an assault of melodic black metal, with each one better than the last. And now, with IV, they've reached a creative peak that proves their plan is as solid as a Dutch dam. Their homeland may be flat as a pancake, but their music has a towering ambition.

The whole album is a consistent speedfest and pleasure for your strained ears. The song quality oscillates around a high level with just a few outliers in each direction. Everything feels being delivered by a mature band completely at ease with their approach.

The album kicks off with "Radeloos" ("Desperate"), a track which is anything but, and immediately sets the tone. Fast, furious, and melodic, it's a blueprint for the Walg formula: relentless speed tempered by subtle melodies that never veer into saccharine territory. Something reminds me of Finnish Catamenia in their prime, but with less snow and more canal water. Even the occasional keyboard accents feel carefully controlled, adding depth without drifting into the bloated bombast of symphonic black metal.

"Wanneer Het Glas Brekt" ("When the glass breaks") takes the momentum from the opener and cranks it up. This track is a melodic black metal masterclass: it alternates between blast beats, mid-tempo double bass, and well-placed acoustic breaks that feel like gasps of air in a hurricane. The vocals, shared by the two band members, are particularly striking, switching between classic black metal rasping, clean singing, and a desperate urgency that feels like someone shouting for help after falling into a black pit.

Another standout track is "Geen Einde In Zicht" ("No end in sight"), which shows just how far Walg is willing to push their creativity. Starting with a short folkloric intro, the song weaves its theme into the guitar riffs, creating a sense of cohesion that many bands would kill for. Mid song there's even an accordion tucked into the mix—a bold move that somehow works, though the fade-out feels like a missed opportunity for an even more memorable conclusion. Though it's not like the band decided to end the song with bicycle bells. Still, any track that manages to make an accordion find its place in black metal deserves respect.

But for all its variety, Warg's delivery never feels patched together, but the slower, sometimes atmospheric, sometimes acoustic breaks fit in well between the prevailing blasts. If you are more of the straightforward kind, then "Speel Met Mij" ("Play with me") is for you. The shortest track on the album, it's a relentless banger with clean vocals making a surprise appearance near the end. By the time it's over, you'll be reaching for the replay button faster than a Dutchman heading for his bike after spotting rain clouds. It's like a shot of Jenever: quick, potent, and leaving you wanting more.

Not everything on IV reaches the same heights. Both "Vuurdoop" ("Baptism of fire") and "Als Een Korrel Zand" ("Like a grain of sand") feel slightly less inspired, struggling to stand out in an otherwise stellar lineup. But even during its weaker moments, IV never falters entirely. Also these tracks showcase the band's consistent craftsmanship and attention to detail.

At its core, this album is a testament to Walg's growth as a band. A band that knows exactly what it wants to do and executes it with precision. The balance between speed, melody, and occasional surprises like that accordion ensures the album remains engaging from start to finish. For black metal fans who enjoy their steak medium rather than still dripping blood, IV is an album worth savoring.

And if you order directly from the band, Rob will include a personal note—a charmingly Dutch touch that reminds us that these maestros of mayhem are as down-to-earth as their homeland is flat, and who'd probably invite you for a beer after melting your face off with blast beats.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10 – because even the Dutch can't pedal fast enough to perfection, but damn if they don't get close.