The Vastness

Continuing on from his previous collection "Journey into the Depths of Winter", this one-man atmospheric raw BM project delivers an intense and bleak listening experience in this, the third album for the project. Solo member V T sticks to a straight and narrow path of bleeding-raw six-string melodic melancholy, slow to the point of listless synth percussion and whispered echoing vocals: this formula can be very good, even pop-friendly when it has distinct melodies and rhythms to play with, otherwise the music can be much more doleful and repetitive than intended! For the most part the songs (five originals and one cover) whose titles emphasise the harsh dark bleakness of a huge sprawling landscape are instrumental with some whispery vocals sung either at the start of the track or near the end to anchor it and link it thematically to the rest of the album.

Compared to other songs on the album, the title track is a little disappointing in not having really pop-catchy melodies and the vocals being drowned out by grinding post-metal sounding music that seems laborious and even gloomy. There is a lot of repetition on the track that does drag it down into doom-n-gloom and not enough frosty atmosphere that would send sharp chills up and down most people's backs. Fortunately "The Vastness" is shoved right near the end and the tracks that really command your attention come first: "Faraway Lands", one of the more frosty and atmospheric songs with distinct riffs and melodies and a particularly hellish lead guitar tone in parts; the darkly brooding "Embrace of Night"; and "Eternal Withering" which relies very much on repeating riffs with tones so raw you can almost feel the insides of your ears turning red and raw themselves. Admittedly some of these tracks lean heavily on the Burzum / Odinpop formula and in their pacing are very lumpen when a lighter touch on the instruments and a slightly faster speed could have given them the energy and aggression they need.

Most of the atmospheric clouds, the dark and creepy steaminess and the musical experimentation are reserved for the cover "Smutek Nocy" by which time, coming right at the end, the creepy dampness and chilly cold are too little too late to give the album the sonic variety and moods it should have had through most of the songs.

On the whole, the album is good technically and is aimed at satisfying Spell of Dark's fanbase but it's not likely to bring new fans on board - the early energy and power dissipate quickly after the first track, and there is a sense of the whole work settling into its familiar comfort zone and never leaving.