VARGRAV - Netherstorm
Werewolf Records
Last month when I was writing about the latest DIMMU BORGIR release. I mentioned that, and this is paraphrasing it, that they as a band today are irrelevant considering the fact that there are some cool artists doing symphonic black metal again and they're damm good. Case in point, this is the debut full length by Finland's VARGRAV. It's a one man black metal project by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist V-Khaoz.
Now V-Khaoz is certainly not new to the blackened horizon. He's been part of many other bands within the Finnish scene but this one seems to be a labor of love and devotion in a blackened way of course. When it comes to symphonic black metal VARGRAV leans in the direction first explored by EMPEROR years ago during their classic period (aka: In the Nightside Eclipse and Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk).
In other words V-Khaoz is mindful of not overwhelming the sound structure with synths and concentrating on aggressive riffs as well as bombastic approach to song craft. The only lacking here is that his harsh seething vocals are behind everything. Otherwise this is a fantastic sounding symphonic black metal release. V-Khaoz is not being a copy-cat. Instead he's taken an older style and relayed it through his own vision.
https://werewolfrecords.bandcamp.com/album/netherstorm
https://www.facebook.com/Vargravhatelust/
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