My favorite thing about reviewing albums, aside from occasionally offending overly sensitive music fans or band members, is being unexpectedly surprised by an album that I otherwise may have missed. The description for Vilagvege on Rorcal’s website includes a line that initially peaked my interest. “When Doom turns into Black, you can't expect anything but chaos.” While it is a very fitting declaration, it leaves out the important fact that there is an inherent beauty to this bedlam.
Instead of throwing us right into the thick of the madness, Rorcal take their time slowly building the tension with the first two tracks. The simple, ominous slow burn of “I" gently leads into the doom-fueled drone of “D.” These two tracks successfully set the tone for the bleak yet engaging journey that is Vilagvege. The second track also introduces vocalist Christophe Grannet’s haunting high-pitched scream, which comes across more like a whisper within the chaos.
Just as the band have seemingly pummelled the second track into submission, a blast-beat abruptly kicks off the third track, “II.” The song quickly shifts into a massive half-time black metal dirge that serves as the defining moment of Vilagvege. It’s this cacophonous mixture of doom and black metal that makes the album so appealing. Rorcal seem intent on squeezing every last bit of life from each riff, beat, and word. They are lovingly embracing metal while utterly destroying it. “V” continues this theme and concludes with the albums first moment of respite as a choir ominously escort us into the album’s second half.
The remaining half of Vilagvege offers few variations but proceeds with an urgency that propels the album to its doom drenched conclusion. There are similarities between certain riffs and arrangements that could easily be considered flaws, but it seems more appropriate to view this album as one continuous piece of music divided into eight sections. It’s also possible that Rorcal have quite simply unleashed a monster that defies explanation.
The amalgamation of doom and black metal has been attempted before, but never with such unwavering conviction. Rorcal have created a metal album that is as passionate as it is heavy. Vilagvege is physically only available on vinyl at this point, but can be downloaded for free from the band’s website. So, not only is it a great album, it’s an album that you have no excuse to miss.
