Their MySpace reads ‘having spent a decade refining their songwriting this is no novice project’. Well, it definitely shows through in these three tracks that a lot of effort has gone into the music. Having set up in 2001 this is the debut EP from this Greek act, which features Maelstrom (also of Ravencult, Dodsferd and Nadiwrath amongst other things). While some bands seemingly can’t wait to get in the studio at the first opportunity and subsequently flood the market with sub-standard releases, I get the feeling Vacantfield are not likely to be one of them.
Aside from having great production values, what comes across on Iteration is a very advanced level of composition and song structure that is rarely seen in a first recording. Their sound errs toward the avant-garde without trying too hard. The first of 3 tracks, ‘Broken Shaped Atom’ strikes in with a brisk, off-kilter rhythm that soon finds its strength as the vocals take shape. For now these are very Maniac-esque croaks and give a rather sinister feel to things, while beneath it a cosmic wave sweeps in with a sound not dissimilar to a theremin. The guitars play out with a sense of disorder and there is an underlying sense of disquiet that really keeps you on edge. There are moments of brooding serenity throughout the tracks and lots of light and shade; one-dimensional black metal this ain’t and aside from the continual foreboding and menace there is a quirkiness to the sound that I find incredibly charming.
There’s almost an old-school thrash influence that sneaks in on occasion, especially at the start of ‘Worms Of Sulphur’ which kicks up a gnarly hate-filled furore. Toward the end of the track an underlying classical spirit is invoked through melancholic and magickal piano melody. Meanwhile, the vocals here emit a clean, majestic timbre in the Andreas Hedlund mould in stark contrast to those menacing croaks, and sound incredibly dramatic on ‘White Knuckled Cosmos’, when pulling against the vortex of chaos beneath.
Well crafted, engaging and meaningful black metal, with cold, menacing atmosphere, good use of melody and a cosmic quirk. This is a 20 minute EP that leaves me thirsty for more. Hopefully it won’t take Vacantfield 10 years to release an album!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vacantfield/228203903887387?sk=app_2405167945
Luci Herbert
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