Thursday 3 October 2019

Ancient VVisdom - Mundus (Album Review)


Release date: September 27th 2019. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Mundus – Tracklisting

Human Extinction - 4:14
Plague The Night - 3:11
I Am Everywhere - 2:09
Will To Destroy - 3:17
For The Glory Of The Grave - 7:26
Desensitized - 3:43
Severed Ways - 3:50
Edge Of The Abyss - 3:41

Review

Mundus is the new album from Occult Rock Specialists Ancient VVisdom and sees the band continue their working relationship with Argonauta Records who helped released their last album 33 back in 2017. Mundus sees the band return with a more grown-up and mature sound compared to their previous albums. Their earlier “folk-doom” sound has grown into a more adventurous Doom/Grunge hybrid style of music with elements of Hard Rock and Prog Rock offering a nightmarish vision on certain parts of the album.

I’m going to say this now but this is my favourite Ancient VVisdom yet with the gloomy guitars offering a different side that we haven’t heard from the band. This album sees Ancient VVisdom write some of the heaviest sounds of their career and the song-writing is so damn good and almost poetic especially on the excellent opening song – Human Extinction.

Human Extinction gives you the perfect glimpse on what to expect on Mundus with groove-laiden riffs that flirt between Doom Metal, Hard Rock and elements of Sludge Rock appearing here and there. The vocals from Nathan are bang on form adding a world-weary experience to the band’s overall sound. The sound can be quite claustrophobic in places but it’s an inventive sound that invites listeners into Ancient VVisdom’s dark world.

The album moves at a brisk pace with the following two songs – Plague The Night and I Am Everywhere – which sees traces of their earlier Acoustic Folk Rock sound make a brief appearance especially on Plague The Night. Mundus has a nihilistic feel and maybe too dark for some. However, Ancient VVisdom have never been in the business of writing uplifting songs. It’s not their game and never will be.

Mundus does surprisingly have a few moments of hopeful grooves and vocal passages from the band that will leave you wanting more.

The standout song has to be the 7 minute epic – For The Glory Of The Grave – as the band have more time to fully expand on their trademark sound and try different things as well. The song instantly draws you in with it’s dark themes and narratives and it’s easily up there with some of the best music the band have created to date.

The production is bang-on point and is excellent from start to finish with the band offering their best sounding record to date.

I don’t know what needs to be said about Mundus. It’s a thrilling record that ranks as Ancient VVisdom’s best album to date and it will be good to see where the band go from here in the future. If you’re looking for an Occult Rock/Doom Metal album that dares to be different then look no further. Ancient VVisdom have all bases covered here.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for the promo. Mundus is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Argonauta Records.

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