Vavel

Vavel is one of those bands whose very name sends shivers down the spines of metal collectors, connoisseurs and cultists worldwide. Whether they are shivers of pleasure or of disgust vary tremendously, and it's not uncommon to hear opinions along the lines of "the most overrated underrated band ever" when discussing these obscure Greeks and their epic heavy metal.

Vavel's self-titled effort was released in 1986 and the original LP has since then sold for unbelievable prices on several occasions. It was eventually re-released on CD by Unisound (apparently one of their legit releases), it it this version that I'm reviewing.

Coincidentally, I'm reminded of another Unisound release - Dark Quarterer's amazing debut. While Vavel doesn't quite reach the stratospheric levels of enjoyment pierced by Dark Quarterer, the two share certain key aesthetics, such as vocals that constantly walk the tightrope between awesome and ridiculous, flawless displays of melodies and a certain otherworldly sound enhanced rather than buried by the weak and murky production. Whereas Dark Quarterer deals with darker themes such as possession and pacts with dark forces, Vavel presents a more hopeful outlook on life, even turning a song about nuclear weapons into a proper hymn.

The keyboards is what truly separates Vavel from other classic epic acts such as Manilla Road, Adramelch and the aforementioned Dark Quarterer. They contribute to a lighter sound-scape somewhere between traditional heavy, progressive and power metal. Think early Fates Warning joining forces with a reject from the classical music conservatory and recording their album in a basement in Thessaloniki and you'll know what it sounds like. The sound of the keyboards might be considered cliched and cheesy by some, and the guy is no virtuoso but he does succeed in enhancing the triumphant themes present in the album's best tracks.

Similar sentiments can be ascribed to the vocalist. His voice is not especially strong with the falsetto ranging from laughable to acceptable. I'm quick to forgive any technical shortcomings as it all just fits and helps create an intangible sound far away from most mainstream metal at the time. I can't imagine someone like Eric Adams singing "Fight with Metal" and sounding even half as convincing as this guy. If I'm not convincing you, the skeptical reader, just listen to the chorus of the title-track and decide for yourself, but beware!

My enjoyment of the album is unfortunately lessened towards its end. It starts out incredibly strong with five songs full of great guitar and keyboard melodies, inaudible bass and an epic flair, only to throw it all away for a rather bland 80s rocker in the form of "Stand Up". This can be excusable (see Manilla Road's "Feeling Free Again") but this particular number is followed by an overlong and boring ballad-like song that further erases the sweet memories of what came before. Vavel attempts redemption with a metalized classic piece which closes the album on a somewhat more enjoyable note.

All in all, Vavel put together an album that doesn't quite deserve to be called a masterpiece but that certainly contains elements thereof. Recommended to all fans of cult metal.