Malokarpatan – Vertumnus Caesar
Release Date: 27th October 2023
Label: Invictus Productions
Bandcamp
Genre: Black Metal, Heavy Metal, 70s Prog, Folk.
FFO: Master’s Hammer, Bathory, Mercyful Fate, Venom, Tribulation.
Review By: Rick Farley
Lying somewhere between first wave black metal, classic metal and 70s tinged progressive rock, Bratislava, Slovakia’s Malokarpatan are a band that should already be on your radar. Formed in 2014, these macabre masters have released three full length albums and already developed a recognizable yet unique sound all their own. Taking melodic influences from the NWOBHM, thrashy riff attitude from bands like Master’s Hammer, Venom and Tormentor, then mix in a healthy dose of organ/synth fused prog rock, black metal vocals, and it wickedly translates to a lethal concoction of highly infectious, compelling extreme heavy metal with a penchant for the occult. I know, sounds fucking killer.
Vertumnus Caesar marks the bands fourth album and the further evolution on their already quirky metal sound. While the band was a little heavier on the whole speedy black metal thing on their first release, each album thereafter has been an evolution on their burgeoning sound to include more heavy metal badassery, luscious melody and a few musical nods to the 70s rock bands such as King Crimson.
Released on Invictus Productions, Vertumnus Caesar is a charismatic anomaly of everything that’s great about black metal/traditional metal/prog smashed it into a clear-cut contender for AOTY. Not easing up on ferocity, Malokarpatan is more about the whole journey of experimentation rather than full speed for speeds sake. This album is metal through and through, but it has a keen sense of charismatic musicality that’s impossible to ignore. The album’s so naturally fluid from track to track that it seems as if it were released in 1988 and is currently of one of the genres most revered classics. It has a timeless feel about it that translates to sounding relevant in 2023 as well as an old metal feel that takes you way back to when you were a fist-pumping long hair degenerate.
The opening blackened riffs of track three Vertumnus Caesar are devilishly cut-throat with a sharp point but jagged blade. Piercing and tearing its way through with bendy dual leads and hooky metallic riffs. The songs menace only gives pause towards the end with a beautifully done folky hat tip to 70s rock balladry. An incredibly bold transition that somehow works.
(Translated from Slovak to English) Withinside the Kunstkammer’s Soothing Solace fires out of the gate with a jolt of classic Motorhead influenced swagger and hellish rock and roll vigour. Bass grooving and guitars sneering, vocalist HV’s goblin-esque growls sound inhuman against the hard charging song, but still rather accessible. The juxtaposition of extreme vocals over such a fast, drum heavy rock song is fantastic, and Malokarpatan are masters of it.
The bouncy, airy synths and feverish drums of The Mansion of Dragons is in Caverns of the Earth have a medieval merry-go-round quality about them. Thick, moving basslines driving the track, while eerie melodies dance in the background, galvanizing the track into mystical prog rock territory without sounding overly weird. The walking down a castle corridor behind a hooded figure with only candlelight vibes are strong on this track.
Infernal closer And Lo, Thus the Imperial Star Descends is an epic ten minutes of fiendish atmospheres with building tension between Iron Maiden-esque basslines, thrashy guitar hooks and savage first wave black metal.
Every track on Vertumnus Caesar feels enchanting and essential to the record. The production is clean, full, and sharply toned. The guitars have a barbed rawness, creating a classic metallic sound not far off from the early days of thrash metal. Everything is clear, audible, and recorded evenly. Malokarpatan has gifted us with the best record of their careers so far, and quite possibly an album that will be on infinite years end lists. It’s forty-six minutes of adventurous songwriting, impeccable musicianship, dark occult themes and one hell of a blackened heavy metal ride. 
(5 / 5)
