Release
date: October 10th 2016. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD
Epoch
– Tracklisting
1.Alpha
Tauri 07:01
2.Phantasma
05:09
3.Flying
King 04:44
4.The
Cosmic Dome 06:16
5.Swarms
06:23
6.Dominion
06:53
Band
Members:
Voice/Bass:
Davide Marcenaro
Guitar:
Alberto Pozzo
Guitar:
Gerolamo Lucisano
Drums:
Simon Lepore
Review:
Varego
return with their 2nd album – Epoch. A blend of
progressive sludge rhythms and tribal post-metal sounds sees Varego
add more scope to their music. Drawing from their sludge/post-metal
contemporaries, Varego show a dramatic flair to their music with
post-rock sounds starting the album off with the first track –
Alpha Tauri for the first few moments before Davide's start to
arrive. The atmosphere becomes quite frantic at times with the dual
guitar work from Alberto and Gerolamo.
Epoch
contains some stunning ideas that allows Varego to create addictive
progressive sludge riffs. Shades of early-era Mastodon and Baroness
can be detected throughout the album but Varego excel in creating
their own musical identity. The album has a certain cinematic edge to
it especially on songs such as Phantasma, The Cosmic Dome and Swarms.
With
this being a sludge metal album, Epoch has a slight depressing doom
and gloom feel to it. It does allow Varego to inject heavy moments of
psychedelia into the mix. The lyrics are another highlight with the
band writing lyrics with actual meaning to the music being played
around you. The album sounds excellent which isn't surprising since
it was mixed and mastered by the legendary Billy Anderson.
One
of the albums main strengths is how Varego experiment with their
sound on every song. Each of the songs sound very different to each
other. With more of our favourite Sludge/Post-Metal bands starting to
embrace the more aspects of commercial rock/metal music, it's good to
hear a band such as Varego creating heavy moments of
Post-Metal/Sludge Metal that their more famous contemporaries used to
make back in the day.
If
you're a fan of the classic sludge/post-metal style of music then
Varego have a few surprises waiting for you on the final two tracks
of Swarms and Dominion. Dominion is perhaps the standout track on the
album as Varego unleash the albums heaviest and perhaps most
catchiest riffs.
Epoch
is an album more people should be checking out as it would be a shame
this album not getting the full recognition that it deserves.
Excellent
and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Barbara at NeeCee Agency for the promo. Epoch is available to buy
now on CD/DD from Argonauta Records.
