Review: Malokarpatan – Vertumnus Caesar

Style: medieval black metal, heavy metal, prog rock (harsh vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Black Sabbath, Enslaved, Premiata Forneria Marconi, Majesties, Rush
Review by: Andy
Country: Slovakia
Release date: 27 October, 2023

Experimental black metal can seem intentionally abstruse with a frustratingly high-bar for entrance, and even many of the most experienced prog metal fans balk at the prospect of listening to an avant-garde black metal album. However, Slovakia’s Malokarpatan are the antithesis to that, proof that black metal can be both alluringly experimental and eminently accessible. 

Malokarpatan play an unusual blend of heavy metal and black metal, and Vertumnus Caesar convincingly sounds like blackened Sabbath Bloody Sabbath with a medieval black metal tinge. From the onset of “Kočár Postupuje Temnomodrymi Dálabami Na Juhozápad” (man the Slovak titles are difficult to type), a veritable heavy metal riff that’s catchy as all get out parades forward while an Iron Maiden drum gallop propels the track. The track culminates in a phenomenal guitar solo, too, melodically epic and a tad unwieldy. The axe-work across Vertumnus Caesar is really something to behold with another highlight solo on “Vovnútri Chlácholivého Útočišta Kunstkamru” over the top of some arpeggiated synths—it’s heavy metal bliss.  

The retro production helps push a 70’s prog vibe throughout the album, especially leaning toward RPI (rock progressivo italiano) with the synth sounds—and the awesome flute and synth of “Panstvo Salamandrov Jest V Kavernách Zeme” are a perfect love-letter to Rush. However, this warm, old-school production also has an unfortunately poor drum sound that’s much more 90s black metal in aesthetic than anything else. The drum parts are largely unmemorable, but they stand out really loudly in the mix, and they’re a distraction considering they aren’t particularly agreeable for my taste. 

The songwriting on Vertumnus Caesar is unabashedly fun, the heavy metal parts having some extreme swagger approaching Havukruunu-levels; tonally, though, Malokarpatan may be closer to Esoctrilihum, but unlike the latter, Malokarpatan know how to self edit and are much more willing to get weird in a prog rock way than an inscrutable one. The random breakouts into full-blown medieval black metal riffage like Véhémence are also some of the album’s strongest moments, and I appreciate that they switch the riffs between that style and the trad heavy style enough that neither ever becomes bland. In fact, the only track on the album that doesn’t easily grab hold of me is “Mnohoraké Útrapy Milostpána Kelleyho,” and that’s precisely because it’s pretty much standard black metal until a spooky middle section that doesn’t hit because it’s just slowed pace. 

Malokarpatan do play things a little safe, not committing too fully to black metal or experimentalism, and I fear they may lose out on the trve kvlt people but also not be proggy enough for the narrow-minded prog fans. While I think they’re absolutely effective at both aspects of their sound, Vertumnus Caesar works best when the black metal is made weird, which it isn’t as often as I’d like. Several sections rely on traditional trem picks, spoken word, and blast beats without that sweet sweet trad guitar. While the blend is great, throwing themselves just one step further into prog could make the next Malokarpatan album an essential album.

Recommended tracks: Kočár Postupuje Temnomodrymi Dálabami Na Juhozápad, Panstvo Salamandrov Jest V Kavernách Zeme
You may also like: Esoctrilihum, Véhémence, Passiesme, Numenor
Final verdict: 7/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Metal-Archives page

Label: Invictus Productions – Bandcamp | Facebook | Official Website

Malokarpatan is:
– As (guitars, backing vocals)
– mHV (vocals)

– Peter (bass)
– Axel Johansson (drums)