Release
date: February
15th 2019. Label: Argonauta
Records.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
I,
Prophetic – Tracklisting
1.Origin
01:45
2.The
Abstract Corpse 05:41
3.I,
Prophetic 06:29
4.Of
Dust 05:27
5.Silent
Giants 05:00
6.When
the Wolves Howl 03:02
7.Duelist
05:03
8.Zodiac
04:32
Members
Voice/Bass:
Davide Marcenaro
Guitar:
Alberto Pozzo
Guitar:
Gerolamo Lucisano
Drums:
Simon Lepore
Review
I,
Prophetic is
the new album from Italian Progressive Sludge Masters – VAREGO –
and it’s perhaps their most creative album to date. The band take
many risks with this album and offer a more well rounded experience
with the band playing a more groovier and progressive sound that has
came before it.
Opening
song – Origin – is a subdued Ambient Post-Rock song with a
haunting piano track offering a sense of calm before the heavy
progressive sounds appear.
Second
song – The Abstract Corpse – is a mixture of heavy Progressive
Sludge Grooves and hard-rocking Stoner Metal riffs that I haven’t
heard VAREGO attempt to do before. It’s an encouraging start as the
song has quite a gloomy and atmospheric doom metal approach to it.
The guitars are LOUD and perhaps the most constant threat on the
entire album. The vocals from Davide
are equally as good with Davide drawing influence from bands from the
world of 70s Progressive Rock and perhaps King Crimson being one of
the main influences for Davide’s vocals and perhaps the band as
well.
Third
song I, Prophetic – carries on the heavy Progressive Sound but adds
a deep heavy Post-Metallic sound to the mix with VAREGO becoming
almost as menacing as Neurosis and Mastodon. That’s a good thing as
VAREGO add their sound to the Progressive Sludge Metal genre. The
distorted vocals from Davide is a great touch as the overall feel of
the album becomes heavier and darker as a result.
Songs
such as Of Dust, Silent Giants and Duelist are perhaps the standout
songs on the album with VAREGO creating a heavy and deep meaningful
vortex of different complex rhythms and sounds. The lyrics and
production are other highlights to be discovered on the album. As the
lyrics add a complex and soulful meaning to the overall message of I,
Prophetic.
2019
is VAREGO’s 10th anniversary as a band and on this form
I can hopefully see them for a very long time to come. I, Prophetic
proves that VAREGO are one of the best Progressive Sludge Metal bands
that the Italian Sludge Metal scene has to offer.
If
you’re a fan of Mastodon, Baroness and Neurosis but with the sludge
riffs steeped in classic sounding 70s Prog Rock then this is the
album for you.
Overall,
this album is a highly intelligent and complex sounding album that
leaves you wanting more.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Argonauta
Records and Mona at All Noir PR for
the promo. I,
Prophetic is available
to buy now
on
CD/DD/Vinyl via
ArgonautaRecords.
