Release Date: October 25th 2024. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Transitions - Track Listing:
1.Deadname
2.Phantom Carriage
3.Pink Fang
4.Chrysalis
5.Arrival
6.Transitions
Members
Written by
Simona Ohlsson
Jonte Johansson
Sven Lindsten
Oscar Johannesson
Recorded by
Simona Ohlsson
Sven Lindsten
Oscar Johannesson
Review
Progressive Doom/Stoner Metallers Vokonis return with their fourth album Transitions which sees the band blend the Progressive imagery of bands such as Mastodon with the world building creative sensibilities of OPETH for a record that’s dominantly heavy with fresh sludgy sounds. The music is highly energetic with the modern day beatdowns and bursts of aggressive Psychedelic energy which harks back to the days of their classic first two albums.
I will admit I wasn’t fully sold with their last record though it was a beautifully made album. I missed the riff-centric aggression of their earlier albums and I’m pleased to say Vokonis return to that style of music in a big way. The first two tracks of Deadname and Phantom Carriage are quite different to each other with Deadname being a melodic and uplifting style of Post-Doom and Post-Stoner rhythms with Phantom Carriage delving into heavier areas especially with the vocals going under a harsher landscape with deft-charged growls allowing Vokonis slightly moving to the darker areas of Sludge/Stoner Metal.
Though, the band keep an almost perfect balance of LIGHT vs DARK musical movements with the deft touch of Post-Rock imagery appearing within Phantom Carriage which does allow Vokonis to feature more of their love for 1970’s Prog Rock surroundings and writing lyrics that have a deeply personal touch to them.
The next two songs of Pink Fang and Chrysalis continues with the modern day Progressive Sludge Metal vibe being the main creative building blocks with Vokonis transforming their music into a deliciously heavy and multi-layered style of Psych Rock, Folk Rock and intense instrumental solos with Pink Fang perhaps being my favourite track on the whole album. The soulful Ambient noises allows Vokonis to expand their music into the areas of Sludge Metal that Mastodon and Baroness are mostly known for but giving it their own wholly original take on that wonderful style of music. Simona’s vocals are excellent yet again that demand your full undivided attention.
The final two tracks of Arrival and Transitions is where Vokonis lay everything on the line by venturing further into areas of Cinematic Rock with a haunting Post-Rock score being quite operatic and multi-layered at the same time. The vocal arrangements and lyrics of both tracks standout as some of the best moments the band have written to date. The sound is emotionally engaging and isn’t afraid to be more aggressive when the mood needs an intense blast of Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves with Vokonis playing music that is open, honest and pure.
Transitions is the most mature and technically impressive record Vokionis have released yet. The album runs around forty four minutes in length and is perhaps the perfect length for Vokonis to cement their status as one of the best Progressive Doom/Stoner Metal bands merging from the Swedish Metal scene. It’s good to see the band working with Majestic Mountain Records who are one of the best labels currently within the underground scene and the sublime artwork of Kyrre Bjurling all making this quite simply an unmissable album.
Words by Steve Howe
Transitions will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Majestic Mountain Records from Friday 25th October 2024.
Links
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