Style: Symphonic/Black/Folk (mixed vocals)
Review by: Matt
Country: Italy
Release date: 8 May, 2021
Metal has given us some wacky cultural teamups. We’ve had samurai from Finland, pharaohs in South Carolina, and now Italian czars. Far be it from me to comment on the authenticity of this tribute to Russian history, but musically, Voland does them proud.
A two-man band from Lombardy, Voland doesn’t sound entirely different from its members’ parent band, Veratrum. Bombastic orchestra and choirs sit on top of blastbeats and militaristic marches, with vocals trading off between a death growl and a deep operatic baritone. While this is ostensibly black metal, like many black metal bands, the outside influences have gradually taken over until their origins are only occasionally recognizable. At this point, it’s like calling Turisas death metal – the guitars aren’t neutered to that degree, but the symphonic aspect is clearly the main draw, and composer Haiwas is up to the task.
I wouldn’t say the orchestral arrangements are very intricate here, but they are big and bold. It was about four minutes into “Casa Ipatiev” where this EP clicked with me, with that glorious organ and string melody. Rarely is there much harmony or counterpoint going on, but the melodies are grandiose and straight to the point, and the orchestra successfully takes what the guitars are already doing and expands them to an epic scale. These four songs sound appropriately regal, and for whatever reason, actually evoke imperial Russia to these foreign ears.
Vocalist Rimmon contributes a great deal to the songs’ believability, not just with a solid growl, but more committed operatic vocals than one normally gets in a symphonic metal band. He’s not Dmitri Hvorostovsky, but he’s certainly not hacking it either… He can legitimately pull this style off, and appears to be bilingual as well. I haven’t been able to find any mention of a guest singer, so unless I’m wrong, hats off to him. Really, both members have done a great job of taking a less-traveled subject in metal and portraying it with every tool at their disposal.
Rounding out Voland III are two “live in studio” performances of older songs from the band. They fit right in with the other tracks, and could have fooled me into thinking it was all one package except that the guitar is now mono. It’s arguably kind of pointless, since there’s no audience and the piped-in orchestra tracks make them very similar to studio recordings, but good to have nonetheless. That still leaves 25 minutes of new material that form a satisfying, self-contained listening experience. If you have any interest in symphonic metal or Russian folk-tinged music, Voland will not disappoint… except for wishing there was a full-length, of course.
Recommended tracks: Terza Roma, Suite Russe
Recommended for fans of: Therion, Turisas, Haggard
Final verdict: 8/10
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Metal-Archives page
Label: Xenoglossy Productions – Bandcamp | Website | Facebook
Voland is:
– Haiwas (all instruments)
– Rimmon (vocals)
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