UPDATE: listen to Vhol on Bandcamp! Yeah!
Before I heard a second of music from Vhol, I knew their album was a must-have. Any time a group of musicians like this gets together, I think it's worth at least a cursory listen. And even though they're all involved in underground bands, this band evokes a "supergroup" in the classic sense.
Usually, supergroups are disappointing. With so much expectation behind what they'll sound like and how great they'll be, it's no wonder. Vhol sidesteps the expectations by going back to their roots instead of trying to build on what came before. Instead of trying to write The Tenant 2.0 or make blackened doom (or some such combination of Ludicra and YOB's aesthetics), the band goes back to basics while adding elements of crust and melodic guitar playing heard in Hammers of Misfortune.
After nearly 90 listens, I feel like I have a handle on Vhol. The music is generally fast-paced, with tremolo lines alternating with melodic leads. Mike Scheidt's vocals are often doubled with an emphasis on low growls and higher-pitched shouts/screams. These often occur simultaneously, much like Chris Cornell's vocals on Superunknown.
The standout tracks are "Grace" and "Arising". Upon first listen, "Grace" didn't really grab me. Of course, hearing the song in context is different. A common thread between both tracks is that they are even more aggressive than the rest of the record (no small feat, itself).
Still, despite those great songs, and a generally strong album overall, I feel like Vhol have merely scratched the surface. Yes, this is a great album, and one of the best of 2013. I feel like they can do more and do it better.
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