Viatrophy

Bands breaking stereotypes are usually a firm favorite, and English melodic deathcore Viatrophy continue this trend in their self-titled debut. Taking the melody of The Black Dahlia Murder’s Deflorate and mixing it with the technical brutality of The Eyes Of A Traitor, then throwing in post-metal feel à la Cult Of Luna, the end result impresses on first and subsequent listens. It may even turn the heads of elitists who usually shun the “-core” label, due to its solid musicianship and slightly atypical vocals.

A mellow and ambient post-rock intro is abruptly obliterated by the outburst of “Mistress Of Misery”, a summary of the band’s style in its range between headbanging deathcore and melodic noodling. The guitars of John Jones and Gurneet Ahluwalia switch from technical and melodic riffs to chugging rhythm with ease, and Reynolds adds a tasteful element in his drumming style, which is minimalist and yet still has room for plenty of fills. The production lends credibility and maturity to the band, although it doesn’t save bassist Gavin Thane given he follows the rhythm guitar most of the time. Even the breakdowns are interesting, a usual stigma of the deathcore genre.

The band also include a fair amount of variety in the album, from the less melodic like “Scenes Of Extended Peril” to the melodic lead intro of “Sufferance”. They even throw a curveball in the penultimate track of a 7-minute Post-Metal song, which unfortunately swallows the last track due to the difference in styles. My favorite track, “Futile Prayers” showcases the band’s ability to turn a heavy-yet-melodic opening section into calming Post-Rock and back again without losing flow.

Adam Mayes, taking influence from Trevor Strnad, adds his own twist to the vocals. From brutal lows to scorching highs such as in “Sea Of Storms”, he has the knack of knowing when to use which style to best effect. The lyrics are poetic, if a little abstract, and suited well to his voice; “Self-indulgence makes my flesh turn grey/The beauty within blackened to a darker core/The selfless act brings me into the light/A shell of purity masks the internal decay”. Perhaps his most surprising feature is used in “Scenes Of Extended Peril” and “The Final Light”, which is a Cult Of Luna-esque scream suited to the Post-Metal aspects that are mixed in. The gang vocals used on “The Ethereal Darkness” strangely add to the atmosphere rather than detracting from it, providing an opportunity for a crowd shout-along of “cut the cord/I’ll chase this light”.

Obviously, those who dislike the genre will be skeptical, but the album is easily accessible for both sides of the Death Metal/Hardcore fence. For a debut album, this is jaw-dropping, and it is truly a shame that the band have been split up until recently, though they are due to play Ghostfest this year. Get Viatrophy, as the last dying gasp of a band trying to save the Deathcore genre.

Originally posted at www.deathmetalbaboon.com