Ancient VVisdom
Ancient VVisdom – Master of the Stone
Argonauta Rcords
Release date: 26/01/2024
Running time: 31:00
Review by Alun Jones
9/10
Ancient VVisdom have never graced my ears before, so I was very keen to dive into their latest creation, “Master of Stone”, and share my thoughts with you, good reader.
The band burst forth with ‘Sold My Soul to Satan’, which bounces along with a hook-riddled riff and captures the listener from the get-go. This song nicely encapsulates the style and theme for the album with absolutely no mercy. It’s a head banging, fuzz drenched rocker that’ll drag you along like a tin can hanging from the back of Lucifer’s wedding hearse.
That opener wasn’t a fluke, either: ‘The Adversary’ and ‘The Apollyon’ are both infectious blasts of Hard Rock with an air of the strange and arcane. The next track, ‘World’s Demise’, is a stomping, eerie acoustic number – all of a sudden Ancient VVisdom sound like Satanic troubadours heralding the end of the world. It’s a dramatic and clever display of skill and variety of musicianship.
If that acoustic approach reminded me of New Model Army, then ‘Ashes from On High’ is the most Metal track here. It chugs along like Slayer playing a retro style Sabbath cover. Brothers Nathan Opposition and Michael Jochum have obviously studied the masters well. If you like old school doom rock, maybe some Type O Negative and Danzig, right on up to modern scene stealers like Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats and Green Lung, you’re bound to love this album.
With songs that are catchy and memorable, and also dripping with a melancholy other-worldliness, ‘Master of Stone’ is a fantastic album. The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. This may be true in my case, but Ancient VVisdom are here to educate us all.
TRACKLISTING
01. Sold My Soul to Satan
02. The Adversary
03. The Apollyon
04. World’s Demise
05. Ashes from On High
06. Master of the Stone
07. Demon Est Deus Inverses
08. The Devi’s Sermon
LINE-UP
Nathan Opposition Jochum – vocals.
Michael Opposition Jochum – guitar.
Justin Mason – guitar
LINKS
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Alun Jones and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.