Digipack CD with 16 sided booklet.
Voluptas are a Prague-based experimental black metal band, influenced by the Norwegian avant-garde of the 1990s and other eccentric rock genres. Their music occasionally incorporates various elements of psychedelia, (free) jazz and noise, and their studio records, as well as live shows, often feature a guest saxophonist.
MetalGate Records have introduced to a number of very promising bands, most of the time from Czechia. The latest addition to this list are Voluptas. This act has already been formed in 2006, but it took until 2016 before they were able to present their first official effort in form of the EP “Ved Rums Ende”. Now they have followed up with their full length debut “Towards the Great White Nothing”. Their style is labelled as experimental black/doom and while this indicates something that might not be easy-listening this album is pretty much enjoyable from the first spin onwards.
The dynamic of the album can be addicting at its best, with crushing and subtly melodic on one side and depressing and ecstatic on the other. The constant interaction between the driving and chugging main chords and the impressive lead guitar is often breathtaking. The melodies are weird at times and always haunting, but sometimes also have a more relaxed and slightly melancholic nature. While there is a certain level of bleakness inherit in the music the band managed to also incorporate subtle hooks and memorable trademark chords. Because of the well planned succession of chaotic and straight-forward parts there is not one moment of boredom over the whole playing time. I recommend consuming the album in one sitting as the music will draw you into its dark realms, providing for an atmospheric experience.
The backbone of the music is pretty traditional black metal, following the Scandinavian school. There are enough punishing blast-beats and howling vocals to be found here to satisfy even the most jaded of blackened souls – but the album’s template strays well beyond the usual boundaries. There is a more introverted and experimental sensibility to it compared to most works of their peers. Sometimes the riffing is slower and doomy, yet immensely powerful. The guitar tone is thick and buzzy, with the trademark melodies hovering over the heavy instrumentation and presenting some captivating moments.
There is some frantic, almost feverish, drum work, offering some really intense moments in combination with the nihilistic main themes. The music is topped off with some brilliantly raw and emotive vocals, which are most of the time delivered in classic black metal fashion, but enhanced by some deeper and growly parts. All in all that makes up for a fittingly monumental and monolithic slab of raucous blackened rebellion, replete with an aura of immersive atmosphere which gives the album an epic, empowering vibe.
There is a full body of work, moving up and down, back and forth across the annuals of emotive black and stoic doom metal. Hints of disturbing melodies sometimes seem to be covered under the atonal nature of the music, but they always manage to break through, lending the album a very harsh and eerie mood.
The production here is perfectly fitting the music. Raw yet transparent at the same time there is enough place for all the small details and fascinating harmonies in the mix. While the guitars are crunchy and the drums have enough punch there is enough grit left in the overall picture. With “Towards the Great White Nothing” MetalGate and Voluptas have delivered a fantastic piece of sinister and fascinating music, perfect as the soundtrack for the upcoming dark and cold days of winter, which might be especially grim in 2020/2021 due to the shitty situation we are in right now all over the world.
Sample: youtube.com/watch?v=6P98af31dkY&t=104s
