(V.E.G.A)- CocaineLocated in Italy and Norway, (V.E.G.A) has released its only album "Cocaine" in 2002 and is composing new material for a 2008 album although no details exist yet. "Cocaine" was intended as a one off project, but evolved into a band after the sucess of their debut album.
Cocaine at its heart is a one shot album where the band gives its comment on Black Metal. Cocaine is a powerful, neck breakingly fast, trip through the dark places of yourself you don't want to see, and as the name suggests, addiction. The album starts ominously, a blood curdling screech of electronics that send a shiver down your spine. Most tracks are a swirling maelstrom of power and sound that drags you in against your will, much like being addicted to the drug the album is named for. Many tracks also contain a buildup from a slow beginning with doom metal influences to the chatic parts that threaten to careen off into oblivion. Songs like "Insex Infect" and "Kill Me" demonstrate this formula perfectly. This album is far from a one trick pony however as keyboards in the background enhance the mood of the album and tend to play along with the guitars note for note. Spoken word parts in "Beton #1" and "Burning In My Own Dream Of Life", the gloomy drone of "Vacuum Era Gellid Atmosphere" and "Beton #2" or the chanting of small children in "Lilja.." offer a break from the madness to catch your breath, only to hurl you into the darkening maelstrom once again. "Consumed Seclusion" moves from prog rock beginnings into a swirling kaleidescope of sound into the furious darkness and madness that consists of the Black Metal elements of the album. Cocaine ends on a strange note, after around 3 minutes of silence after the final track the ghost track "Cocaine" begins. The ghost track seems to be a giant middle finger at black metal as a whole starting with a few minutes of...Euro Techno beats. This shows a sense of humor if I have ever seen one. In summary "Cocaine" grabs and, holding you against your will, mercilessly subjects you to the pain, anguish and darkness of the human subconscious in thrall to addiction or obsession. Overall a great record from the Italian group.
I Had to include this quote from Metal Maniacs, it describes this album perfectly:
“A jackhammer mind-rape from black metal's parallel universe, as
belligerent as it is bizarre, as asylum-riot violent as it is mentally
intriguing”
belligerent as it is bizarre, as asylum-riot violent as it is mentally
intriguing”
Remember, Mayhem comes on friday, BE PREPARED!
The Lord Of Entropy
1 comment:
Thanks for your nice review, i just need to correct you about the keyboards thing... i didn't use any keyboards on the album apart from the ghost track "Cocaine". Everything else is a mix of 8 guitars, a bass and human played drums(since there's still people who thinks we used a drum machine). Just to clarify.
Ravèz
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