An act worthy of appreciation, this compilation. V.A.R. have influenced many domestic bands during their more than thirty years of existence and the release of a tribute album is completely appropriate, so the discussion about the meaning of this album is completely pointless. “A stroke lineup”, that’s how I would jokingly describe the list of bands and musicians who contributed to “Variatorum”, sixteen interesting versions of V.A.R. songs performed by a diverse group including the celebrants themselves fulfill the basic purpose of releasing these albums – in addition to paying tribute to the band, to primarily inject a new dimension into the original songs. I think they succeeded in doing that as best as they could.
The “stroke lineup”, as I have already, not seriously, called the participating musicians, is more than varied. It consists of both undoubted metal icons of the domestic metal scene, as well as a number of interesting bands that I had almost no idea about. A certain surprise for me is the participation of Miloš Doležal Jr., but only until I heard his contribution. But I won't get ahead of myself, I'll get to everyone. I called the venerable company this way on purpose, because what they managed to do with fifteen songs from the Wrocław rarach is really worth it. This is not a dry tribute, released to add an item to the catalog. It's alive here, until the Sudetenland shakes!!!
"Variatorum" representatively airs the discography of V.A.R. with cult demos starting and ending with the penultimate album "Level 6". We start with the hit "Proti Vizím", which was taken care of by PIKODEATH. The brutal death metal form transformed the song into a rather bestial piece and we will see it more than once during the playlist. Moving on, SACRASTIC grabbed the weakness of "Poslední sen". Their version sticks to the original template and does not go into bigger events, which is not a bad thing. SACRASTIC does not mess with it and their raw expression fits the song perfectly. FLASHBACK threw "Krvavej kšeft" into the HC level and lo and behold, it works and I still enjoy it. MAJSTER KAT captured the period atmosphere of the late eighties with their treatment of "Je po všem", the song is bewitchingly dark and depressing. V.A.R.'s fellow travelers of the time DAI (remember???) continue the underground atmosphere at the end of the mosquito in Bohemia and Slovakia as well, "Konec světa" has an absolutely great demo atmosphere, no embellishing smut, pretty rough and straight. The groove of the more brutal version of "Prdele Evropy" was rushed by ARCHEONIC with respect to the original, it should be noted that the powerful conclusion is not wrong, maybe ARCHEONIC could consider fast passages in their own work, they obviously like it... "Tango na razletkách" was recast to their image by PAČESS, the song got a beautiful style and considerable added value, I'm laughing!!! KRMELEC... I'm waiting for a party and I got it, "Requiem for a pig's head", brutal decadence and disarming perspective, I have no problem and I'm having a great time. M+ (Martin Brňovják and company) gave "Už se nvrátím" a somewhat rougher and nihilistic form with a stoner doom touch, decent mush. Miloš Doležal Jr., a skilled young man and bass wizard, took "Bikila" apart. But the components probably spilled all over the floor and after reassembling it, something was created that is "Like Bikila", but after a rough rework - but it's a great instrumental party, great!!! OLD, true to their name, soaked up "Oči z podzemí" old and without heat treatment (i.e. raw), decent pumice, I eagerly await more pieces. "Žeka Rolling Hell" during the flood, grew to a freezing width in the hands of master BIG BOSS. Of course, I'm very happy that he will grab my private hit, Master's version gives me chills down my spine. "Sudety" in death metal form in the style of TORTHARRY got an extra dose of explosives and war gas, definitely and undoubtedly a remake of the top best. NOBODY KNOWS made perhaps the rawest contribution, "In five minutes after death" rustles like shavings from a lathe. The ultra-raw rock'n'roll rage can be a bit off-putting with its rudeness, but I have no major reservations. I used to play the penultimate album V.A.R. on repeat, so "Hvězda Lucifer" is my personal hit number "I don't know how many". SIVI's version is wonderfully schizophrenic - dense sound and soft girl's singing, what the f... is that? But don't worry, I simply like this treatment, the song got a bizarrely scary atmosphere thanks to the contrast of sound and vocals - great!!! The conclusion is provided by V.A.R. themselves. "Nowhere to Hide" in a form that has never been released before. In this version, the unfortunately deceased guitarist Sznegh took over the vocals, and the memory of him in this form simply has height and gradation, the song has a different and very interesting dimension thanks to his vocals.
I hardly do compilations, but with "Variatorum" I like to make an exception to the rule. This celebration is really noisy and uninhibited, the participants have a great time together with the birthday boy until the early hours of the morning, miles away from the contrived and farted luxurious banquets. What this party lacks in gloss and pomp, it more than makes up for in sincerity of content. I had a great time from start to finish, nothing more is needed.
Sample:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9loXKyhe8k&t=94s
Sample:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OxuJeu0Xhw
