BAND: VREID (VESTLAND, NORWAY)
GENRE: BLACK METAL (BLACK AND ROLL)
LABEL:SEASON OF MIST
RELEASE DATE:4/30/2021
TITLE:"WILD NORTH WEST"
PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG):
"LIFEHUNGER", 9/28/2018 via SEASON OF MIST.
"SOLVERV", 10/9/2015 via INDIE RECORDINGS.
"WELCOME FAREWELL", 2/22/2013 via INDIE RECORDINGS.
"V", 2/7/2011 via INDIE RECORDINGS.
"VREID GODDAMNIT", (VIDEO), 10/22/2010, INDIE RECORDINGS.
"MILORG" 1/5/2009 via INDIE RECORDINGS,
"I KRIG" 5/8/2007 via INDIE RECORDINGS,
"PITCH
BLACK BRIGADE" 3/27/2006 via TABU RECORDINGS.
"KRAFT" 10/24/2004 via TABU RECORDS
.
VREID: "WILD NORTH WEST" TRACK LISTING:
1. "WILD NORTH WEST"
2. "WOLVES AT SEA"
3. "THE MORNING RED"
4. "SHADOWS OF AURORA"
5. "SPIKES OF GOD"
6. "DAZED AND REDUCED"
7. 'INTO THE MOUNTAINS"
8. 'SHADOWLAND"
BEST
RELEASE(S) "MILORG" (2009), "V" (2011), "LIFEHUNGER" (2018), "I KRIG" (2007)
ITP RATING *** 1/2
PRODUCTION:****
SONGWRITING: *** 1/2
PERFORMANCE *** 1/2
ITP V.09 REVIEW: VREID: "MILORG":
https://spak-individualthoughtpatterns.blogspot.com/2009/09/itp-review-vreid-milorg.html
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 brutal black and roll with expansive riffs and
grooves, enough to get the horns raised with occasional melodic traces
of WINDIR's folk metal.
Here ITP has VREID'S latest release "WILD NORTH WEST" a soundtrack to a movie the band made. .
VREID'S "WILD NORTH WEST" opens with the title track as ominous, gothic organ adorns the track consolidated with good, heavy, black and roll. At 3:00 "WILD NORTH WEST" transitions into melodic black metal with blastbeats and a combination of black and clean vocals. .
VREID'S "WOLVES AT SEA" takes off into another stratosphere with some vicious black metal. "WOLVES AT SEA" features an old school black metal vibe until 2:53.when the bottom drops out and the band take an instrumental break featuring melodic organs, keyboards, piano and guitar solos.
As the pace slows down, STURE DINGSOYR'S vocals close out "WOLVES AT SEA" for a melancholy ending.
VREID'S "THE MORNING RED", a slower paced track, features clean vocals. At 3:30, "THE MORNING RED" picks up a mid tempo pace with black vocals and light, atmospheric keyboards. .
VREID'S "SHADOWS OF AURORA" features a SLAYER like thrash riff and good black metal vocals. "SHADOWS OF AURORA" features some good, melodic guitar solos for a banger of a track.
VREID'S "SPIKES OF GOD" is an exceptional, raw black metal track. At 2:10, "SPIKES OF GOD" features an instrumental break before nailing some good solos and seguing into some good black metal.
VREID'S "DAZED AND REDUCED" is the most UNBLACK and accessible track VREID have ever written. ."DAZED AND REDUCED" is an alternative rock track, ironically better than most rock an alternative bands latest offerings. At 2:42 "DAZED AND REDUCED" segues into psychedelic instrumental break before returning to a rock and roll groove featuring all clean vocals.
VREID'S 'INTO THE MOUNTAINS" is a melodic black metal track with good audible, black vocals, good solos and clean back up vocals. Just when you thought 'INTO THE MOUNTAINS" was over, at 3:12 the track segues into totally in cohesive reggae, instrumental dub groove. 'INTO THE MOUNTAINS" segues back into the bands signature black and roll to close out the track.
"WILD NORTH WEST" closes with 'SHADOWLAND", the longest track on the release. . 'SHADOWLAND" features melodic guitar riffing, and good tribal drumming. At 4:14, 'SHADOWLAND" segues into an instrumental break of lightly plucked guitar and dramatic keyboards. At 6:36, the full band enters 'SHADOWLAND" as melodic distorted guitars pick up the ending chords of the instrumental break.
At 8:07 into 'SHADOWLAND",VREID perform the tracks main melody on piano closing out "WILD NORTH WEST". . .
. VREID'S "WILD NORTH WEST" songwriting covers a wide variety of musical styles.. VREID'S "WILD NORTH WEST" features black metal, black and roll, alternative rock, blackened thrash and more.
However, on occasion, VREID'S musical experimentation can be in cohesive and ruin an other wise quality track ( 'SHADOWLAND")..
If VREID are writing instrumental breaks for cinematic purposes, the band would be better off putting those instrumentals on separate tracks.
. VREID'S "WILD NORTH WEST" is a vague referenced concept release, a soundtrack to a movie.. Conceptually I prefer VREID'S classic release "MILORG".
However, VREID'S "WILD NORTH WEST" weakness is also the bands strength. I like the variety of musical styles explored on this release, intertwined with good songwriting.
Color me surprised that VREID wrote an alternative rock song ( "DAZED AND REDUCED"), as it might not be black metal, but it's a good track.
VREID'S "WILD NORTH WEST" seems hell bent on experimentation as the band does so without sacrificing their black metal roots.
VREID'S songwriting diversity offer up plenty of surprises adding a little spice to standard black and roll as "WILD NORTH WEST" is an adventurous release.
BTW, this review was written on "NORWAY DAY" (5/17/2021), Norway's day of independence. We couldn't imagine black and extreme metal without the influence of Norwegian artists, musicians and bands past and present.
Hail NORWAY! .
.
ITP RATING *** 1/2
PRODUCTION:****
SONGWRITING: *** 1/2
PERFORMANCE *** 1/2
ITP V.011 RITUAL REVIEW: VREID, KAMPFAR and NECRONOMICON:
VREID: "WILD NORTH WEST":
https://spak-individualthoughtpatterns.blogspot.com/2021/05/vreid-streaming-wild-north-west-via.html
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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