Hells Headbangers Records bring another opus of Blackened Heavy Metal delights, this time in the form of Vaultwraith’s second album, suitably set for release on October 31st.
Opening with haunting orchestration, you can be assured that this release is going to sound massive and really take you on a journey from pretty early on. When the accursed sounds of ripping vocals begin slicing away with guitars and drums equally as savage, the anticipation is high, with a speedy rendition of grisly music that is as extreme as it is melodically catchy and approachable. The melodic touches provided by the lead guitars are reminiscent of label-mates Deceased which can never be a bad thing. There is something so loveable about the raw edge of Black Metal being presented in an anthemic and 80s sounding fashion that is captivatingly fun but not lacking in savage heaviness. Taking such a classic and enjoyable, universally liked approach to a far more macabre genre works wonders, with this band offering an occult conjuration of pure demonic goodness. The guitar work on this album is played with such a magnificent precision, as are the monolith of monstrous drum fills, perfectly set to back up the gnarly vocal mayhem that is screamed with insanity over the instrumental ferocity. There is a wicked attention to detail with a heavily bass driven production akin to the classic 80s bands while keeping the raw blackened edge prevalent for the lovers of all things extreme, capturing the music to every tiny detail with compressing it into garbage. There is also some gorgeously dissonant flare in parts along with doomy atmospherics, really packing a bit of everything into the album, which thanks to its larger running time never feels rushed or overindulgent. If someone were to ask me what Heavy Metal is, this album would be a fantastic way to show them a bit of each subgenre in one sweep. An impeccably well balanced and written record that delivers volatility, unpredictability and wonderful music in a unique package that suits Hells Headbangers wide array of releases stunningly well. This is a fine example of how to balance melody, vicious aggression and killer music skills to make an exciting release with a great concept style to tie it all together. Magnificent stuff. Do not miss out on this blistering and epic opus of Heavy Metal brilliance! -8/10
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