VLTIMAS (pronounced ‘uhl-tuh-mas’),the multinational quinet that includes Norwegian guitarist Rune “Blasphemer” Eriksen (ex-MAYHEM, AURA NOIR),American vocalist David Vincent (ex-MORBID ANGEL) and Canadian drummer Flo Mounier (CRYPTOPSY),will launch its second album, “Epic”, on March 15, 2024 by way of Season Of Mist.
The official music video for the LP’s lead single, “Miserere”, might be seen under.
“Miserere” is not simply one other providing on the altar of insanity. “I unfold my distress, biblically developed”, Vincent sings in a baritone that is so monstrous it might summon a military of the lifeless. The drums velocity forward mercilessly, mowing down all onlookers underneath a barrage of surgical blast beats, as riffs hail from all instructions with sufficient firepower to shatter bulletproof glass.
“The world throws us all trials and tribulations consistently,” says VLTIMAS. “We use this angst as a weapon in our artwork to attain the apocalypse”.
“Epic” observe itemizing:
01. Volens Discordant (1:02)
02. Epic (4:35)
03. Miserere (3:51)
04. Exercitus Irae (4:01)
05. Mephisto Manifesto (05:05)
06. Scorcher (03:21)
07. Invictus (5:30)
08. Nature’s Fangs (3:52)
09. Spoils Of Struggle (5:54)
Whole runtime: 37:16
Rounded out by Dutch bassist Ype TVS (ex-DODECAHEDRON) and Portuguese guitarist João Duarte (CORPUS CHRISTII),VLTIMAS fortified its signature with depraved invention, as applauded by Decibel journal, BangerTV, Louder and plenty of others, on their debut, “One thing Depraved Marches In” (2019).
“We wrote each little bit of ‘Epic’ collectively at my ranch in Dime Field, Texas,” gives Vincent. “The writing classes had been as natural as they might be. There have been instances when, on the finish of the evening, Rune would take his guitar and play one thing ridiculous. Flo would play one thing much more ridiculous on prime of it. I would say to the fellows, ‘I have to seize this.’ So, the magic [of VLTIMAS] is being in the identical room collectively, discussing, taking part in, and recording music and every thing else we’re doing collectively. We have now unbelievable camaraderie.”
Whereas the members of VLTIMAS will not be atavists, their most well-liked artistic strategies are time-tested and battle-hardened. Expertise has its place, however the group thrive after they’re collectively, not separated by the world. Eriksen, famend as a riff innovator, is more practical when he is bought a extremely succesful sideman like Vincent or Mounier, whose drumming in CRYPTOPSY and his celebrated educational “Excessive Steel Drumming 101” DVD has confirmed to be a no-limits participant, by his aspect. Whether or not it is the moody, angular assault of “Miserere”, the depraved groove of “Mephisto Manifesto” or the darkish fury of “Nature’s Fangs”, the chemistry and enterprise of VLTIMAS is simple.
“The principle aim [of VLTIMAS] is to be actual,” Eriksen reveals. “To channel the very second, to let true inspiration out. I do not consider I ever set myself a aim on what an album ought to or must sound like earlier than I or we write it as a result of which means I’ve to compromise in the course of the course of. For ‘Epic’, we targeted on extra direct songs, trimming the fats, versus ‘One thing Depraved Marches In’, which had a progressive and ‘playful’ aptitude.”
VLTIMAS was a profane idea — a constellation of riffs towards a modest body — when fashioned by Eriksen in 2015. After departing MAYHEM in 2008 and placing his gothic doom outfit AVA INFERI to relaxation in 2013, the Norwegian’s fingers nonetheless itched with infernal fury. VLTIMAS was his vent, and when Mounier and Vincent joined, he lastly had the cadre of pros to make it a actuality. Collectively, they devised complementary schemes and themes rooted in rightness. In a world gone mad, VLTIMAS had a imaginative and prescient. On “One thing Depraved Marches In”, they commanded consideration with metaphors concerning the apocalypse, the traditional goddess Lilith, and fact. Lyrically, “Epic” spears into the very nucleus of energy by means of Vincent‘s brio of double entendre and intelligent wordsmithing. The songs are designed to be heard, learn, and interpreted — there are not any shortcuts.
“All the things we’re doing and messaging is about energy and honor,” says Vincent. “These are the basics that I incorporate into my life, which I consider in. I wish to share with others, hoping they will incorporate energy and honor into their lives. I would not say I like spelling lyrics out. I exploit loads of double meanings on goal as a result of I wish to encourage the listener to assume. I am not a brief consideration span man, and I do not respect it. ‘Epic’ is holistic and meant to be skilled that means.”
“Epic” was recorded by producer Jaime Gomez Arellano (PARADISE LOST, GRAVE MIASMA) with engineer Jonathan Mazzeo (first fragment, sickening) at Arda Recorders in Porto, Portugal. VLTIMAS tracked the album all through Could 2023. Arellano additionally dealt with the combination and grasp. Like every thing the band does, the principle aim was to be trustworthy. The maxim of no pattern substitute or re-amping — “Epic” was captured on outboard gear — was adhered to and loved by the group. The result’s a sonic expression that feels like nothing else. From the crushing title observe to the epic musicality of nearer “Spoils Of Struggle”, “Epic” is an absolute beast.
“Stress, lengthy walks, an excessive amount of alcohol, but very targeted as soon as within the recording mode,” Eriksen says of the classes. “We booked a month, however by some means, that flew by immediately. We labored up till the very finish. I even added just a few solos at my native Soundscape Studio in Almada, Portugal. Artwork unfolds, and when you assume you’re completed, there’s all the time one other concept popping up.”
VLTIMAS introduced Italian artist Daniele Valeriani (MAYHEM, UNANIMATED) to visualise “Epic”. The aesthetic, as illuminated by music and message, was iconic boldness. The three-eagle head crest with three completely different crowns, accompanied by transfigured symbols of the Ardour and the “unimaginable triangle,” tasks effortlessly. In “Epic”, the group will dominate. There is no escape from “Miserere”, “Mephisto Manifesto”, “Scorcher” and “Invictus”. Collectively, they thrust, by resolve and inventiveness, VLTIMAS into the uppermost echelons of utmost metallic.
“[‘Epic’ is] previous meets modern, a symbiosis of all the nice issues we love about excessive metallic,” gives Eriksen. “All mixed into one album.”
“I wish to be as emotional and trustworthy [with VLTIMAS],” Vincent provides. “I wish to inform tales; I wish to have the themes that attraction to me; I wish to have some messaging that somebody can take away, on this case, energy. ‘Epic’ is energy.”
VLTIMAS is:
David Vincent – Vocals
Rune Blasphemer Eriksen – Guitars
Flo Mounier – Drums
Ype TVS – Bass
João Duarte – Guitars
Photograph credit score: Jolanda Siemonsma (courtesy of Season Of Mist)
