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.
Links:
