Sometimes,
you just have a feeling about an album and it makes you way more excited for it
than it probably should. Last year while on Ashbringer were on tour they played a little venue in Guelph,
Ontario and with them they brought this band called Vow of Thorns. I had no knowledge of this band before this show and
they instantly shocked me, they could do something most bands couldn’t, which
is not only alternate between the Black and Doom Metal sounds, but mix them
together to make an atmosphere like no other. Well, nearly a full year passed
since this show and now Vow of Thorns
are more than happy to present to you their album, “Farewell to the Sun”.
Lets
just get started, this album kicks off with “Meeting on the Astral Plane” and kicks off with my favourite riff
on this entire album! The riff actually sounds upbeat and is nice in contrast,
this song gets pretty slow and has a quite upsetting atmosphere come the end of
it. After a bit of this riff the song slows down and we are greeted with very
obvious Black Metal influenced vocals, and with such your idea of this album
will begin, this is the main idea of the album, slower riffs with vocals front
and centre. The atmosphere is dark and as mentioned before, upsetting, this
album actually does its job to create the kind of tension filled atmosphere that
most bands aim for and fall far short of. The song will gradually slow down as
it goes through is astounding 10 minute run time before eventually grinding to
a complete halt.
This
album features a 3 part epic totalling a surprising 21 minutes in length
entitled “Farewell to the Sun”,
yeah, the title track(s) itself. They have a full build up, climax and drop
off, with the songs starting off slow, blending outstandingly into one another
and eventually after reaching its height around the end of part two, gradually
drops back off into oblivion. These songs are the main selling point of the
expertise of Vow of Thorns, between
the slow, mellow sound of the Doom influence and the faster, yet just as simple
Black Metal sound you can hear every aspect and feel every note of these
tracks. Then there are the blending sections, where the clear Black Metal sound
is slowed to create a Doomier sound and more menacing atmosphere.
I keep
talking about atmosphere; well this is where a lot of bands fall short. Many
albums released in recent years lack the ability to make you feel and there’s a
reason this is such a problem, many people use music as an escape. Vow of Thorns don’t lack here, “Farewell to the Sun” has an atmosphere
to it that is just as great as the music itself, so rejoice, escape and blast
this spectacular album.
100/100
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