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Vircolac > Masque > 2019, 12" vinyl, Dark Descent Records > Reviews > Trizk
Vircolac - Masque

Crypts and Chaos - 85%

Trizk, October 10th, 2019
Written based on this version: 2019, 12" vinyl, Dark Descent Records

Vircolac is a death metal band hailing from Dublin, Ireland. After forming in 2013 they’ve had a slow and steady start with their first two demos coming in 2014 and 2016. Their first EP also came in 2016 titled ‘The Cursed Travails of the Demeter’ which showcases everything that the band brings to the genre. Their dark and slow sound encompassed by lead and bass that dance around each other to provide atmosphere and decrepit tone in equal measures. Vocals by Invictus Productions’ founder Darragh O'Laoghaire blend black and death metal vocals in equal measures in an extremely aggressive, yet astoundingly clear and comprehensible style.

After two years on the sidelines, they released their first full-length in March of 2019. You can see what they’re all about from only the cover of Masque as it sports a decomposed skeleton on a concrete slab. The album imagery and sound speak directly to the process of death, yet is more subtle to the exposure of gore, blood and guts in this performance than your regular death metal record. Think less hammer smashed faces and regurgitated guts. This album is about impending doom, human sacrifice and pure anger.

The album itself is an expansion upon their previous work, adding much sounder structure to their songwriting and structure on the album. On top of this, the production is extremely crisp and clean. A lack of distortion is surprisingly one of the strengths of this album.

The album starts with the track ‘Titan’, it truly sets the scene for the album, atmosphere spread throughout, a flurry of instruments that come together seamlessly. Realistically, this album isn’t truly a single genre and isn’t exactly derivative of any old or modern bands too. They are especially strong with the mix of going fast and slowing it down across individual songs and the album as a whole. Songs such as ‘Tether & Wane’ and ‘Snake Among Man’ are the shortest of the album and despite them having less atmosphere, they certainly aren’t afraid to dial up the speed and keep it interesting and intense with riffs galore.

‘Masque of Obsequious Venality’ and ‘So I Hang from a Wretched Tree’ are the essence of what Vircolac does, build the song up with atmosphere to create something entirely new before crushing you with the heaviness of their tone. They are their most rewarding songs after repeat listens and are the most similar to the strengths of their first EP also.

This album is absolutely one of a kind and a fantastic release. Natural sounding guitar, bass and drums somehow create this absurd amount of atmosphere, memorable songwriting and a uniqueness which keeps bringing you back time and time again. Recommended for any fans of atmospheric death metal as well as bands like Grave Miasma, Malthusian, Triumvir Foul and Spectral Voice.