CD Review: Ancient VVisdom - A Godlike Inferno

Written by Colin McNamara Monday, 14 May 2012 15:02

Artist: Ancient VVisdom
Title: A Godlike Inferno
Genre: Dark Metal
Release Date: 24th April 2012
Label: Magic Prosthetic Records

Album Review

Black Metal Blues. That would be the best way to describe the debut album from U.S. based ANCIENT VVISDOM (not to be confused with the Black Metal group ANCIENT WISDOM). The band combines a style that is a cross between OPETH, ULVER, and ROOT that is haunting, emotional, and more effective in a lyrical sense than the typical Black Metal group. Much of the music is acoustic with ethereal vocals, so those who enjoyed ‘Shadows Of The Sun’ by ULVER will definitely hear some similar differences in both vocal style and atmosphere. Tracks like ‘A Necessary Evil’ have twisted lyrics, but are only enhanced by the rather pleasant sound, which makes it ten times disturbing. Other tracks like ‘Lost Civilization’ combine a heavier electric guitar sound with the acoustic for a bluesy kind of ‘Satanic Metal’ that can be comparable to some of the slower work by GLORIOR BELLI, but not as raw and without the harsh vocals.

‘Devil’s Brain’ has the repetitive, yet clean acoustic sound that OPETH tends to use on their acoustic tracks of mid-era work, and the combination of synth in the background is a great enhancement to make the music more melodic along with the plodding thunder of percussion. Some tracks are just acoustic guitar and vocals alone such as ‘Children Of The Wasteland’ which definitely brings some reminiscence of NIRVANA in there with a rather Folk/ Grunge tune that is emotionally depressing, but doesn’t sound like it is wearing out. Plus the cello/ classical arrangement in the background is a huge help. On the downside the album is a bit a short, and the focus on an acoustic style may throw off fans slightly who were expecting a charging, blasphemous Black Metal album. The beauty of what ANCIENT VVISDOM have done here is take the exact same approach of bands who perform louder, more extreme music and created a harmonic approach that is much more attractive and subliminally effective. Some of the tracks sound beautiful to listen to and then when looking into the lyrics one might be surprised what they are listening to isn’t what they expected, whereas a band that performs normal Black Metal is pretty clear cut to what it is delivering. Keep an open mind when getting lost in the darkness of ‘A Godlike Inferno’.


Tracklist

01. Alter Reality - (3:58)
02. The Opposition - (5:48)
03. Necessary Evil - (3:56)
04. Forever Tonight - (3:03)
05. Lost Civilization - (5:13)
06. Devil Brain - (3:30)
07. VVowrld Of Flesh - (4:56)
08. Children Of The Wasteland - (3:41)


Line-up

Nathan Opposition- vocals
Michael Jocum- guitar
Justin Manson- bass
Wade Allison- percussion
Jason Buntz- guitar, synth


Website

http://www.ancientvvisdom.com/


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 8
Sound: 8
Total: 8 / 10


Buy the album here!