Before I begin, I’d like to quickly mention that this is my first encounter with the band, and I'm grateful to Marco Gargiulo for sending me this album for review. As a quick sidenote, I won’t be dissecting every track on the album. Instead, I’ll focus on a few of my favorite songs and some key highlights that occurred.
Track 1: "Preludium"
Track one's ambient beginning provided a captivating introduction to the album. As a fan of atmospheric black metal, I love seeing what bands can create in terms of passages that don't heavily involve instruments. The way the howling slowly fades into the second track, seamlessly transitioning without the slight "pause" often heard between tracks on other albums, worked wonders. It was a great start.
Track 2: "Carmen ad Noctem"
Track 2 starts very "in your face," immediately introducing blast beats and a razor-sharp, repeatedly played chord. I love the small tremolo-picked line on the guitar just before the chaos re-enters your ears. This visceral sound is incredibly catchy, and the vocals are truly authentic to the black metal sound—anguish-driven and nihilistic.
Another part of this song that I really liked occurred at the 2:47 mark, initiated by a shrieking scream that perfectly fades into nothingness. This section ismusically intense, feeling like a relentless onslaught of black metal richness. The guitars in this part go back and forth on two power chords, creating a perfect sound. However, it's the 3:25 mark that elevates it: the music shifts from super-fast black metal, gradually fading into a melancholy passage met with some beautiful, alternate-picked guitar chords that ring clearly through the mix. This song truly demonstrated that this band has delivered an album I'm sure I'll be revisiting many more times in the future.
Track 4: "Mors Triumphans"
This track's introduction was, to be honest, one of my favourites. I really appreciate the slower, more devilish side of this band, especially in the guitar work. I also particularly like the prominent note played between the chords and tremolo-picked lines. This note, as quick and sudden as it is, adds a super cool, punchy feel to the song. I believe it’s a great musical touch, expertly executed. The general atmosphere of this song is very anguish-driven, summoning a truly dark and foreboding sound. I loved the screams that occur over the super high-pitched guitar lines at the 2:12 mark. The band's ability to maintain a consistent bleak and raw atmosphere, is a quality perfectly exemplified in this track's potent, sinister aura.
Track 6: "Inverno, È Stato"
As I mentioned in a previous song breakdown, I'm a massive fan of Atratus's guitar work, specifically how he transitions from super-fast picking of simple chord progressions straight into quick tremolo patterns. This introduction is a perfect showcasing of that skill. The first couple of minutes of this song also feature a super precise, punctual, and great-sounding drummer. Some of the drum fills are absolutely insane, sounding like a roll of thunder on a stormy night. The 2:30 mark is a part I'm really fond of: the tempo completely changes, playing three to four long, drawn-out chords before re-entering the mix with a completely new melody, accompanied by a solid double-bass pattern. This part truly made me groove a bit, a welcome change from the relentless characteristics displayed in previous songs. Then, at 4:27, it seamlessly changes again, bringing a more glassy and ringing guitar tone while maintaining the same atmosphere. Quick shout-out to the brilliant string-sliding part in the closing minute of the track; it sounded so cool and was an awesome layer to add in, conjuring a very hell-driven and sinister feel!
Track 8: "Vacuum Coeli"
The title track was indeed a very intriguing song—a true breath of fresh air. It presents a very different approach from the other tracks in terms of its opening and pacing for the first two minutes. I'm a really big fan of how this part sounded, and I'm genuinely keen to hear what a whole track in this style would be like.
As the track kicks in and everything is at full force, the subtle usage of harmonic/angelic voices was a nice touch in the background. One of my overall top moments from the album occurs on this song, precisely at 3:35. This part introduces the next segment of the song, but the way it's executed is super interesting and sounds so cool. The guitars are very resonant, and the drums are nice and slow, building up with the initiation of a quick rolling drum fill. Then, boom! You're smacked back in the face with crisp, punchy blasts and shrieking vocals, introducing high-pitched notes. What’s even cooler is that they reintroduce it at the 5:06 mark, actually expanding on the idea. This song is truly a chef's kiss, and a massive congratulations on how it turned out.
Check the video here
Vacuum Coeli is a potent and uncompromising black metal offering that truly shines in its execution. The album consistently delivers a visceral and captivating experience, from the razor-sharp chords and relentless blast beats to the melancholy passages and intricate guitar work. The band masterfully shifts between fast-paced aggression and more atmospheric, devilish sounds, showcasing their musical depth. Both the precise, thunderous drums and the solid, thudding bass provide an unyielding foundation. The guitars are exceptionally skilled, demonstrating a keen sense of when to employ various techniques for maximum impact. Crucially, the vocals are top-tier, delivering anguish-driven black metal screams with striking authenticity. Even the title track offers a refreshing change of pace, proving the band's versatility without compromising its dark essence. Ultimately, Vacuum Coeli perfectly captures the raw, bleak heart of black metal, making it an album that demands revisits. It confidently earns an 8.5/10 for its exceptional musicianship and compelling songwriting.
9-10: Exceptional
7-8: Good, Great
5-6: Average, Decent
3-4: Fair, Mediocre
1-2: Poor, Subpar
Grading system.
Click for Bandcamp
