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Venvidiwar - Tracklisting
1.Morning Chime (3:37)
2. Kraktus (3:59)
3. Grifter (5:41)
4. WARUS (5:07)
5. Entropy (3:50)
6. Tremor (4:18)
7. Mimicry II (3:53)
8. Boggart (4:04)
Members
Arvid - Guitar, Vocals
Fred - Bass, Vocals
Tim - Drums, Vocals
Review
Venvidiwar is the second full length album from Doomgaze/Noise/Sludge/Stoner Rockers WAR and it has a lot of different sonic excursions developing from the start. The record can best be described as “genre-blending” as there’s moments of Screamo, Punk and Hardcore being played throughout the whole album. The sound is quite grounded with a distinctive “DIY” sound that allows WAR to play with a raw sounding aesthetic. WAR create their own style of Doomgaze offset against a powerful Sludge/Stoner edge with a slight Industrial quality coming through within the opening track of Morning Chime.
WAR still manages to play a wide assortment of riff-centric melodies despite the harsh NOISE ROCK atmosphere that develops throughout the album with moments of DOOMED OUT clarity forming within the hard-hitting vocals and fast-paced instrumental passages that firmly take control within the early stages of the album. If you dig bands such as KOWLOON WALLED CITY, BOTCH and CAVE IN then WAR should satisfy those cravings with an uncompromising style of Shoegaze and destructive Doom Metal surroundings with a deeply satisfying emotional core appearing on tracks such as Kraktus, Grifter and Warus.
Sometimes WAR do feel stuck in an infinite loop or timewarp with the band focusing upon a daring style of Nineties based Rock/Metal structures for the majority of their music but it still sounds thoroughly modern especially when the band hit upon political themes and personal experiences which you can feel when the vocals from Arvid, Fred and Tim become slightly more acute and emotional. The album isn’t exactly “Post-Metal” but WAR does venture into that world when the heavier Sludgy instruments appear with Arvid’s guitar playing making a mighty impression.
The later stages of Venvidiwar continues the great work that WAR constructed on the first half with pulsating grooves and melodic rhythms which becomes quite reflective once more when the band go for a heavier, aggressive and sludgier direction on tracks such as Tremor, Mimicry II and Boggart. This closes the album in a highly satisfactory fashion that does leave you emotionally drained at times.
Venvidiwar is a highly unconventional record but one that delivers intense grooves of the highest order to impress everyone who listens to this album.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Good Boy PR for the promo.
Venvidiwar will be available to buy on Digital Download from October 17th 2025.
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