Vanum – Legend
Release Date: 22nd April 2022
Label: Eisenwald / Profound Lore Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Black Metal
FFO: Ultha, Wiegedood, Ash Borer, Fell Voices, Turia, Fluisteraars, Wode, Yellow Eyes, Bathory, Rotting Christ, Epic Heavy Metal.
Review By: Eric Wilt
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, and while I see the wisdom in the aphorism, I will admit that I listen to numerous albums, at least initially, because of their album artwork. Ageless Fire by Vanum is one such album. With the artwork being such an integral part of metal releases, I find that albums that have illustrations that pique my interest usually contain music that does the same. Vanum’s latest full length, Legend, is once again adorned with a beautiful painting that would cause me to give the album a listen even if I didn’t already know of and love the band. In the case of Legend, the majesty of the water roaring down the green mountain in the foreground and the awe-inspiring destruction of the lightning in the background, perfectly represent the five songs of atmospheric and melodic black metal contained within.
Clocking in at a hair over 45 minutes, the five songs on Legend are all given time and space to stretch out and make a literal journey through the atmosphere and mood of each composition. Although few people would describe extreme metal as soothing, the songs Adversary and Frozen in Vile Illumination are oddly calming in their majesty and melodicism. The Gateway and the Key sounds like a mesmerizing romp through the hills that are depicted on the cover of the album. And, while Bathory is still a point of reference for Vanum, they have incorporated more classic metal into their sound. The 14-minute album closer, Beneath the Pillars of Earth and Air is an excellent example of this.
Comprised of M. Rekevics, K. Morgan, E. Priesner, and N. Aguilar, Vanum have created a piece of art that is every bit as beautiful and majestic as the painting on the album cover, but like the lightning beyond the mountain, it is also heavy and full of sublime fury. Black metal fans of both the old guard and contemporary bands will find something to enjoy on Legend, especially if atmosphere and melody are your thing.
(4.5 / 5)
