Vesseles – I Am A Demon EP
Vesseles – I Am A Demon EP
Self-Released
Release Date: 03/05/24
Running Time: 25:01
Review by Oli Gonzalez
8/10
Vesseles. One person black metal project born in the image and vision of creative force Valira, and one that promises to be focus on hard hitting and personal topics ranging from “self hatred, to release, ritual and thus transformation, closing on the disconnect between soul and body”. How far can Valira take this project as on person?
From the onset, the vocals are simply ferocious! Blood curdling scream after harrowing roar, everything about this is purely blunt force trauma! The dynamic shifts effortlessly from eerie spinechilling piano segments to a blatant atmospheric assault. I’m enjoying this.
I was listening to the drums with quite some detail as I understand that they’ve been programmed from this recording. That’s some pretty impressive programming as it’s hard to distinguish that from a real set. No obvious digital sounds or artificial beats.
Here, it’s clear the band are masters of creating tension and suspense. They can shift from the ferocious black metal intensity we all love yet still retaining a melodic quality provided by some quality background synths. Some of the quieter more ambient passages allow you some breathing space and to process everything, before having your senses smashed once again; a great example of this being the intro to ‘I Am a Demon’. For black metal records, it’s easy to get lazy and just play a shed load of blast beats which, whilst being impressive, can get boring quickly. This why I admire the variety of rhythmic approach here, whether it’s slower more groove laden passages, or those which I’d describe as a darkened waltz!
I’ve mentioned the use of synths but this needs more attention. Rather than being relegated to background participants, some piano segments are brought right into the foreground, being the melodic centrepiece and providing some most welcome atmospheric quality. Check out ‘Wrectched’ for an introspective and emotional piece on the keys, fit for any horror movie sound track. They really were not here to play games on this record, that’s for sure.
Have you listened to those absolute scorching guitar leads in ‘Dysphoria’ ? If not, do so now. You’ll be impressed.
So, what’s letting the album down? The production can sound a little raw at times, and maybe a bit half baked. Additionally, given that the lyrics are so personal to vocalist and founder Valira, it seems like a waste that we cannot truly hear or understand them, and cannot embark upon this journey.
With this being said, “I Am a Demon” is a most welcome surprise from the world of black metal and a testament to the creative capacity at an individual level.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Suffocating Flesh
02. I Am A Demon
03. Cathartic Cruelty
04. Wretched
05. Vesseles Rituale
06. Dysphoria
LINE-UP:
EP band line-up:
Valira Pietrangelo – Guitar, Piano, Lyrics, Composition
Adam Rupp – Vocals
Nick Loiacono – Drum Programming
Live band line-up:
Valira Pietrangelo – Guitar
Joel Ferry – Vocals
Joseph Serrano – Drums
LINKS:
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