One of the things I usually do when I start to write a review is to take a close look at the song tittles because the way I see it they tell a lot about the album and the band. I see album tittles and song tittles as a whole of the songwriting process where the themes are intrinsically connected with the band’s mastermind personality, or whatever who does this role. As a general rule, the more complex the tittles, the more complex is the music. The more complex is the music, the more complex are the themes the band approaches. Of course, there are exceptions. Hence, as a consequence, this rule applies perfectly to this Vithial and their debut album “Awakened Ancient Spirits.”
The first thing that stands out is the lead guitar technique used here by mastermind David Dwayne who plays all the instruments in the album. He uses a little trick guitarists as Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, for instance, use a lot that is the repetition of the notes while playing to sound faster. This repetition creates a feeling that the guitarist is faster than he really is. Very used in the past, it’s been a while I have not noticed the use of this technique.
As an album, musicwise, “Awakened Ancient Spirits” relies heavily on the Second Wave of Black Metal combining raw and relentless instrumental with despaired and anguished maniac vocals. Songs in general are fast paced as one of the rules of early Extreme Metal, but with some more polished sonancies here and there as in tittle track “Awakened Ancient Spirits” whose intro is a bit out of the rule. The same happens with first strike “Tornadic Wind, the Barons of Nightfall.” Also, at times, there are some more instrumental complex breaks as well.
“Awakened Ancient Spirits” is an album that will please hardcore Black Metal fans who enjoy Black Metal with some more polished guitars and more complex technique. It is an album that combines very well the urgency of early Black Metal with the modern instrumental requirements.
Vithial “Awakened Ancient Spirits” will be released on June 05th.
Track Listing:
- Tornadic Wind, the Barons of Nightfall
- Masquerading Deception of Tyranny
- War of the Gods, the Balance of Darkness and Light
- Temporis Infinitum, Eternity of the Mind
- Soul Incarceration, the Covenant of Blood
- Awakened Ancient Spirits
Watch “Masquerading Deception of Tyranny” official lyric video here:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!