Art, for the most part, is made with some sense of ambiguity. The Republic Of Wolves’s debut record,Varuna, is a clear-cut example of this. The hour-long album is both highly mythical and spiritual to the point that it could be considered a concept piece, but it evokes a certain reaction that lays deeper than the gods and highs and lows on the surface of the record. Varuna is nowhere near as in-your-face as its predecessor, His Old Branches, is, but that’s okay because it shows another side of TROW, a side that’s much more deserving of attention.
 
The first three major tracks of Varuna, “Woolen Blankets,” “Sea Smoke,” and “Oarsman,” essentially sum up the bulk of the album perfectly in terms of structure: Mellow versus fueled by Mason Maggio’s lulling voice perfectly backed by Gregg Dellarocc and Christian Van Deurs and explosive endings powered by Billy Duprey’s shattering screams.
 
But nothing that The Republic Of Wolves do is that plain or simple. The band creates two very distinct sides in each individual song, building blocks for a pervading duality throughout Varuna. This dynamic that the band was able to create makes the record nearly heartbreaking at times. The vocals in the initial verses of “Grounded, I Am Travelling Light”  provide an almost upbringing feel, but the chorus ushers in absolute melancholy as Maggio and crew sing, “I think it’s time you and I should come home // It’s been three years and I can feel it in my bones // If turning back means I am turning back alone // Then I guess I’m my own // I’m on my own.”
           
“Greek Fire” and “You Missed The Point” are the two songs on the record that come closest to His Old Branches and will certainly be favorites of those who can’t quite wrap their heads around the band’s rapid growth, but they also exhibit what the band has done right. Instead of being simple repeats of songs on the EP, these two songs take the typical lyrical and musical habits further.
 
“Woolen Blankets” shows off the best writing the band has to offer as Maggio lets loose in another heartbreaking moment as he sings, “I do believe that hope is just a grand distraction // From the walls you will have to climb,” while “Oarsman” best shows their musical growth as Van Deurs lead guitar parts nearly steal the album.
 
The two largest complaints regarding the record will be what people call Mason Maggio’s lack of vocal variation as well as the general “stillness” and lack of risks that the band takes musically. Both of these complaints can hold water but easily evaporate when true time with the record runs its course.
 
There are two equally good types of music: the kind that you sing and scream to at the top of your lungs, that creates a relatable feeling and the kind where you find yourself immersed in so deeply that you lose yourself in the highs and lows and begin to build your own thoughts off of it. The latter is what The Republic Of Wolves were able to create with Varuna. The bright spot in this work of art is the ambiguity left upon the listener. The record is simply worth losing yourself to.

****.5/*****