*BAND: VREID (NORWAY) **GENRE-BLACK METAL ***LABEL-INDIE RECORDINGS (NORWAY/EU) THE END (NORTH AMERICA) RELEASE DATE(S): 1/5/09 (NORWAY) 1/15/09 (EU) 10/27/09 (INDIE RECORDINGS/THE END (NORTH AMERICA)
**** PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG): MILORG (2009-INDIE RECORDINGS), I KRIG (2007-INDIE RECORDINGS), PITCH BLACK BRIGADE (2006-TABU RECORDS), KRAFT (2004-TABU RECORDS)
******
TRACKLISTING: VREID: "MILORG"
01. Alarm
02. Disciplined
03. Speak Goddamnitt
04. Blücher
05. Blücher Pt. II
06. Heroes & Villains
07. Argumentum Ex Silentio
08. Milorg
ITP RATING:****
PRODUCTION: *** 1/2
SONGWRITING: ****
PERFORMANCE: ****
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_resistance_movement
Norway is a phenomenon of sorts in extreme metal, spitting in the face of the mainstream and spearheading the second wave of black metal with a counter cultural identity of it's own. In a frigid country of only 4 million people, the second wave of black metal started it's own cultural war against Christianity, researching it's Pagan roots and cultural heritage.
Norway's VREID are spawned from the ashes of Norwegian folk/black metal warriors WINDIR. WINDIR lost their front man/founder Valfar (January 2004) in a tragic accident (hypothermia) ending the potential of WINDIR. Two bands have been founded in the wake of WINDIR: COR SCORPII and VREID.
Norways VREID write a brutal black and roll with expansive riffs and grooves, enough to get the horns raised with occasional melodic traces of WINDIR's folk metal.
VREID wrote MILORG (and all previous releases) from the Norwegian perspective of WW 2.
Conceptually, VREID's lyrical themes are about the NAZI occupation of NORWAY and it's Norwegian resistance MILORG.
A historical, educational perspective of WW 2 of sorts, in one of the darkest times of Norwegian history this side of the Christian's destroying the Pagans and Vikings.
In fact, VREID's MILORG's lyrics come complete with historical liner notes, and photo's, as MILORGS trailer scared the poop out of me with scenes from this graphic war.
So here we have VREIDs latest release MILORG, and brace your self for war.
VREID's "MILORG" opens with the track entitled "Alarm", with an ambient intro until 1:07 as an alarm sounds and your're bombarded with a brutal riff , and then blast beats and utter intensity. This is awesome, powerful, black metal, the best I've heard in a while, majestic, with an understated melody and some clean whispered vocals. At 4:38 MILORG takes a turn for a melodic guitar break reminding me of Morningrise era OPETH with jazzy breaks thrown in there for good measure. Awesome.
VREIDS "Disciplined" enters with a good groovy riff, and segues well into melody, well written, flowing well at a mid pace. At 2:40 "Disciplined" takes a clean vocal break reminiscent of WINDIR, with good black and roll, or progressive rock riffage to follow.
"Speak Goddamnitt", the third track on VREIDS MILORG is again mid paced and at 2:02, invokes a melodic, slower break, and at 3:32 blasts into black metal territory, well done as "Speak Goddamnitt" black and rolls into the distance with a war torn groove.
"Blücher" enters the war with nice progressive melodic riffing, a wondrous folk melody backs this great tune, and everything flows so well, including the nicely timed melodic solos.
"Blücher Pt. II", takes a more black and roll approach, an epic instrumental and the shortest tune on MILORG, with a beautiful acoustic outro.
"Heroes and Villains" enters the war with a progressive rock riff, thrashes lightly and flows from black and thrash to black and roll, and then to straight up black metal. There is some cool progressive rock riff a rolla in "Heroes and Villains", making for an interesting listen.
"Argumentum Ex Silentio" enters the war in a slow instrumental ambiance, with prog rock textures, ala post MAURDRUM era ENSLAVED, a primer and intro for the title track of MILORG.
The title track of MILORG enters the war, on a strong resistance of occupation. "Fight for freedom" screams VREID vocalist STURE, backed by an epic post rock, black and roll groove. At 2:47 "Milorg" displays a dazzling folk melody, a soundtrack to the epic battle of resistance of German occupation of Norway during WW 2.
\m/ \m/
VREID have a interesting lyrical concept going here, engaging enough to open up the history books and open minds to resistance against invasive forces. Although cliched with chord progressions, MILBORG may not be as awesome as VREID's I KRIG. However, once VREID hit that black and roll groove, get those horns raised this band will inspire you.
I do like VREID's progressive rock excursions, perhaps reminding me of prog era ENSLAVED with the balls of DARKTHRONE or MOTORHEAD. VREID have perhaps brought some melody to the fore front of the bands latest release, making MILORG and an enticing and educational listen.
ITP RATING:****
PRODUCTION: *** 1/2
SONGWRITING: ****
PERFORMANCE: ****
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-
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