🎵 Tracklist:
Track 1: Furor
Track 2: Flammae
Track 3: Nel vento
Track 4: Eretica
Track 5: Waldgänger
Track 6: Aion
Track 7: Ombre
Track 8: Aura
🎸 Album Review:
Italian black metal band Blaze of Sorrow returns with their latest offering, ‘Vultus Fati’, a haunting and introspective journey through the depths of emotion and nature. Released in 2021, this album showcases the band’s signature blend of atmospheric black metal with folk influences, creating a captivating and immersive listening experience.
From the opening track “Furor”, the listener is immediately enveloped in a swirling maelstrom of tremolo-picked guitars, thunderous drums, and anguished vocals. The production on ‘Vultus Fati’ is raw and organic, adding to the overall atmosphere of the album. Each track flows seamlessly into the next, creating a cohesive and immersive sonic landscape that pulls the listener deeper into Blaze of Sorrow’s world.
Thematically, ‘Vultus Fati’ explores themes of nature, solitude, and existential reflection. The lyrics are poetic and introspective, delving into the darkness of the human psyche and the beauty of the natural world. The album’s title itself, which translates to “The Face of Fate” in Latin, hints at the overarching theme of destiny and the cyclical nature of life and death.
Standout tracks on ‘Vultus Fati’ include “Flammae”, a blistering assault of blast beats and melodic guitar leads that perfectly encapsulates the band’s fusion of aggression and melancholy. The haunting melodies and atmospheric textures on “Nel vento” evoke a sense of longing and introspection, while tracks like “Waldgänger” showcase Blaze of Sorrow’s ability to seamlessly blend folk elements with black metal fury.
One of the most striking moments on the album comes in the form of “Aion”, a sprawling epic that builds from mournful acoustic passages to a crescendo of blackened fury. The songwriting on ‘Vultus Fati’ is dynamic and multi-layered, with each track offering something new to discover upon repeated listens.
In comparison to Blaze of Sorrow’s previous albums, ‘Vultus Fati’ represents a further refinement of the band’s sound and vision. While their earlier works were more raw and abrasive, this album sees the band embracing a more atmospheric and melodic approach, without sacrificing any of their intensity or passion. The production is clearer and more polished, allowing each instrument to shine while still retaining a sense of rawness and authenticity.
Overall, ‘Vultus Fati’ is a powerful and evocative album that showcases Blaze of Sorrow at the height of their creative powers. The band’s ability to blend black metal aggression with folk melodies and atmospheric textures is on full display here, creating a rich and immersive listening experience that demands repeated listens. With ‘Vultus Fati’, Blaze of Sorrow have crafted a masterpiece of modern black metal that is sure to resonate with fans of the genre and beyond.