Today German dark, primitive metal trio, VALBORG, who feature within their eccentric ranks current and former members of Owl, Klabautamann, Woburn House, Gruenewald and more, undrape their fifth full-length via Temple Of Torturous. Titled Romantik, the follow-up to 2012’s critically-laudedNekrodepression offering, thrusts forth six confounding tracks of morose, avant, blackened ambiance. A cerebral sound exhibition into dark and light, atmospheric synthesizers twine around wistful guitars, slowly and deliberately hovering above a foundation of palpitating rhythms, the band’s harsh, German vocal inflections adding further trepidation to their profoundly bleak brand of funeral power doom.
Elaborates Last Rites, “Romantik is easily the most insanely atmospheric thing VALBORG has released, but it still has strong roots in doom and branches reaching to dark rock and cinematic synth music. The whole thing sounds like the results of Vangelis collaborating with (Triptykon-era) Tom G. Warrior and (Jesu-era) Justin Broadrick on the soundtrack for a story of tragic love directed by John Carpenter. It is as emotionally and tonally complex as it is simple and barren, a seemingly huge change for a band that has always valued their rockin’ side, but not necessarily a surprise for long time Valborg and Zeitgeister followers…” Echoes And Dust issues, “VALBORG‘s Romantik is certainly an acquired taste, but one that is immensely rewarding for the open-minded listener. If you’re tired of groove, tremolo riff blast sections and hyperspeed shredding, and are open to slow lurching melodies and keyboard washes in the vein of early Paradise Lost redone with early ambient black metal touches, this is for you,” while Zombie Ritual champions the release noting, “every song transmits different states of mind and of course it takes you into (almost) hypnotic trips in melodic walls of sound. Music manages different layers, but everything is tied by darkness and sorrow…”
In observance of its release, today No Clean Singing brings fans and curious onlookers the twisted visual accompaniment to fourth movement, “Sulphur Vitriol Angel.” The disquieting clip was created by German artist Soheyl Nassary who chose the song and shaped the concept. “My work is based mostly on a visual idea, which tells a story and creates a mood by default through targeted production. The floral theme is a game with Romantik stereotypes and thus to contextualize theVALBORG song/music theme.”
Adds No Clean Singing, “Yes, there are flowers in the video – lots of flowers – worn in a way that you usually don’t see as adornment for a metal band. And while this may not take the world by storm as a fashion statement, it begins to make a strange kind of sense if you pay attention to the music. Which is why I recommend you listen to the song a second time without the hallucinatory visuals, because the first time you may have some difficulty concentrating on the sounds… the music is very much worth your full attention… It moves slowly, with a simple beat, gradually weaving a gothic/doom spell that becomes increasingly compelling as time passes. The combined guitar-and-keyboard melody is entrancing, while the brief appearances of jagged riffs and equally jagged rasps provide the feel of the knife, lurking there, just under your neck. These flowers must have the fragrance of sulphur.
Take in “Sulphur Vitriol Angel,” and all its cryptic floral arrangements, at THIS LOCATION.
And if you missed it, sample VALBORG’s “Comtesse,” still streaming at Decibel at THIS LOCATION.
Romantik was produced, recorded and mixed by Oliver Weiskopf at Stonehenge Studios and mastered by Michael Schwabe at Monoposto Mastering. Following four albums based around experimental, skull-crushing doom, with Romantik, VALBORG delves deeper into the heart-tearing atmospheres of the abyss of which they’ve so boldly explored. Fans of Type O Negative, Vangelis, Killing Joke and Celtic Frost/Triptykon pay heed.
Romantik is released on CD and digitally TODAY and on vinyl June 16th, 2015 via Temple Of Torturous. Orders can be placed at THIS LOCATION.
