VLTIMAS – EPIC
VLTIMAS – EPIC
Season of Mist
Release Date: 15/03/24
Running Time: 37:09
Review by Rory Bentley
8/10
Old School Death Metal acolytes rejoice, Extreme Metal supergroup VLTIMAS are back with their sophomore release “Epic”. Led by iconic Morbid Angel growler David Vincent, this elite team of shred merchants delivers fun, catchy and delightfully over the top Death Metal that gives you a warm fuzzy feeling inside.
After kind of tanking Morbid Angel on that hilarious Industrial album that many fans want to forget (not me, I think it’s hilarious) Vincent has rebuilt his reputation as a reliable source of triumphant, occult-tinged extremity and that hot streak continues on this latest record. Frankly with members of the likes of Mayhem and Cryptopsy in the squad, it’s hard to imagine how one would fuck this up but nonetheless “Epic” this album certainly is. The title track is satisfyingly chunky yet tinged with ethereal darkness and a semi-melodic performance from Vincent who brings a bellowing vibrato to the fore that just about gels with the hulking pomposity of the music, but may leave you scratching the old noggin on first listen.
The more Black Metal elements will certainly go over well with more ‘necro’ fans, with the delightfully titled ‘Mephisto Manifesto’ melding early Celtic Frost and Venom with a modern sheen and snarl. In fact, it is this area of the band’s sonic palette that is the most catchy and accessible, with each creepy arpeggio and furious tremolo part providing a dash of melody and panache one might not expect from a group of players from such Extreme stock.
Those concerned that the band may be a little too soft in spite of their day jobs need not fret though, ‘Scorcher’ is one of the most appropriately titled cuts you’ll hear on a Metal album this year. It steps hard on the gas all the way through with machine gun drums and Vincent reverting to his classic Death Metal growl. ‘Imvictus’ also breaks up its more flamboyant passages with grit and brutality to keep the headbangers in the room from getting restless, and the two dynamics compliment each other perfectly.
Slickly produced, furiously performed and featuring no small amount of songwriting nous, “Epic” is another immensely satisfying, tightly wound release from a band that joins the likes of Killer Be Killed in the sparse category of ‘supergroups that kick ass’. Crank it loud and enjoy one of 2024’s catchiest Extreme releases.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Volens Discordant
02. Epic
03. Miserere
04. Exercitus Irae
05. Mephisto Manifesto
06. Scorcher
07. Invictus
08. Nature’s Fangs
09. Spoils of War
LINE-UP:
David Vincent – Vocals
Rune ‘Blasphemer’ Eriksen – Guitars
Flo Mounier – Drums
Ype TVS – Bass
LINKS:
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