Year: 2024
Label: Prophecy Productions
Rating: 9,2 / 10
VEMOD is an outstanding band, there's no doubt about that. After horrible demos, the distance between which took as long as 6 years, they suddenly gave out the already legendary debut album ”Venter på stormene". Recorded on an 8-track analog recorder, this album instantly became an example of atmospheric Nordic metal. Paradoxically, its success was based, in fact, on the single brilliant title song! Everything else – another song and two extended ambient tracks - served as just an appendage to it. I also cannot help but note that VEMOD, being part of the circle of Terratur Possessions, have always lacked the pretentiousness, which is characteristic of this environment, and clearly distinguished themselves from Black Metal - an attitude that I deeply respect.
If the period between demos lasted 6 years, then the period between the albums (which is perhaps logical) lasted 12 years! This is not a record, as we're waiting for the new THORNS album (the band also did not officially break up) for 23 years already, but it's still impressive. "The Deepening" began to be created immediately after the debut, and I do not know why it took so long, but it feels like the effort was not in vain.
The album turned out to be grandiose in every sense. There are already four full-fledged songs, each of which is a separate masterpiece. Limited edition, in the best faggot traditions of Prophecy, has a bonus disc with another rather valuable track for 16 and a half minutes. The recording was made in a professional studio, which means death for most atmospheric metal albums, but not in this case. I don't know what kind of studio it is, but they knew exceptionally well what kind of material they were working with, so the music didn't lose anything. It retained the transcendence of the previous album, while not shaking the emphasis on the direct performance of instrumental parts. And this is important, since "The Deepening", unlike the monotonous debut, is very variable, in some places almost progressive. However, you shouldn't expect any musical innovations from it. There are no unnecessary riffs and luxurious multi-level arrangements; each note is in its place, which was chosen very long and carefully. The same goes for the vocals: they are either clean or rough, used only in the right places and sound simply thorough. In my opinion, such a voice is the most appropriate option for such sublime and estranged music.
Like the debut, “The Deepening" generates very natural and plausible images of amazingly beautiful cold landscapes that lie under the powerful northern lights. Metal tracks, ambient tracks, soulful lyrics, visual design - all serve the same purpose. Rarely have I come across such concentrated and deeply thought-out releases. One of the best works of the year is already here, there is no doubt about it.
English (UK) 
Крыўская