VULTUR – “Corona de Frastimus”
July 10th, 2010
VULTUR – Corona de Frastimus
Full – Length, S’Omu ‘e s’Orku Prod.
October, 2009
Black Metal
8/10
Alongside (very) few others, Vultur are one of my favourite bands from the region I live in (Sardinia), so the arrival of their latest effort and first actual full – length Corona de Frastimus (Sardinian for ‘Crown of Curses’) was a great and welcome surprise. Vultur formed in 2005, and released two demos, an EP and a split release prior to this debut. Their salient trait, beside their music, of course, is their investigation of the most obscure and intrinsic layers of millenary Sardinian culture, history, myth, folklore, tradition and religion. Quite self – explanatory in this respect are the band pictures, with members of the line – up (currently consisting of leader Attalzu on vocals and guitars, Sa Therpe on bass, Chaos Vhall on drums and A. Thrashing Mad on guitars) often depicted in traditional outfit, wearing the typical traditional masks of the Sardinian carnival.
With that out of the way, on to the album: Corona de Frastimus picks up right where the band left off with their previous release, continuing once again down their already well trodden Old School Black Metal path, as always heavily 80’s / early 90’s-influenced, absolutely sincere-sounding,
innervated with a shamanic, nocturnal atmosphere, and dipped in a swathe of raw, organic production. To begin with, we are treated to one of the best intros I’ve ever heard in a while, Frastimmus (a Sutt’e sa Luna Prena), an atmospheric track radiating an ancestral, Mediterranean flare which immediately draws the listener into the forgotten worlds evocated by Vultur. Next comes Priest Bruxiu, presenting all the trademarks of Vultur style: an extremely varied song structure, with tons of riffs and tempo shifts, Attalzu’s menacing, inhuman voice that really brings this album up a notch, and skimming guitar solos occasionally etched over relentless, beastly riffage. Substitute Sacrifice follows in the same line, with a brilliant guitar work, a haunted break and an enjoyable melodic vein. Sleeping into Domus de Janas is a disquieting interlude conveying a creepy, occult atmosphere, preceding the sudden assault of Hecate Sabbath, featuring plenty of frenzied, chaotic guitar riffs centred around maddened tremolo abuse, stop – and – go. Next we find the title track, and Into the Church of Excomunication, one of the best episodes of the album, with a dynamic and varied course ranging from slow, almost doomy moments, through galloping riffs all the way to orgiastic speedfests. After another short ambiental interlude (Sardigna Scurìa), Vultur deliver the coup de grace with the unholy outburst of The Sun of Deads (Moon of Death), another absolute highlight. before taking leave with a worthful outro entitled s’Accabadora. Part of what I love about Vultur, is, actually, their ability to craft sublime and truly evocative intros/outros/interludes without turning them into space – waster tracks as it mostly happens nowadays.
If you have a soft spot for the glorious dirty, bastard Old – School sound and for such bands as Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, Possessed, early Bathory/Kreator/Destruction/Sepultura/MayheM, this is an album that will stay in your CD player and not move any time soon. Sardinian Occult Black Metal!