vdmt-palimpsests-reviews

Review from The Black Planet

Fri, 09 Feb 2018 19:08:07 +0100

From: The Black Planet

Published: February 6, 2018

Original Link

Coming from Kyiv and active since 2007, Vin de Mia Trix started their career with a crushing and extremely dark funeral doom musical approach. Now, after a four-year hiatus since their previous full-length, the band came up with their newest work “Palimpsests”, and they sure live up to this name! A Palimpsest is a manuscript page (made of parchment) from which the text has been removed, so that the page can be used for another document. For this reason, a palimpsest is regarded as a mysterious object that can have more than just one story, more than just one secret. This is what happens with the sonority and narrative of this record. As the band expresses, “Palimpsests is an album about archetypes, the stories and characters that exist deep inside our collective subconsciousness… these stories are told to this day, and here we retell them once again, adding to the eternal cycle”.

Don’t be fooled by the humble amount of tracks in this album (only four), because… each one of them is around 20 minutes long (the longest, “Noe” lasts for 29 minutes and 44 seconds)! This opus is a complete journey, so close your eyes, turn off the lights and make yourself comfortable for this long experience.

This record is introduced with atmospheric sound effects that will give you the feeling that you’re actually diving into a “cosmic form of subconsciousness”. The kind of sound that echoes in our heads when we close our eyes in order to meditate. This relaxing moment continues as we become aware of the presence of soft guitar chords. Suddenly, as if there was an explosion of light in your mind, the drum kicks in and the music builds up.

The sonority of this work is not about dirges and eulogies anymore: it is triumphant. This feeling is particularly reinforced by the vocals and organ arrangements in “Pharmakos”: a complete track with fantastic arrangements, an amazingly flexible vocal performance and omnipresent massive oldschool doom riffs. On the other hand, “Fuimus” with its psychedelic rock and drone innuendos adds a jam feeling to this opus. To finish this odyssey, “Noe” has the effect of a cool down and is the perfect triumphant epitaph to this album. This is the voice that will wake us from this hypnotic state.

“Palimpsest” is a darkly refreshing work that blends together a mash of numberless genres: from the band’s usual funeral doom, to some post-black riffs, psychedelic rock, drone and even blues. This metamorphose is amazing and brings us a highly diversified musical texture in the shape of a super eclectic doom metal album.

Rating: 8/10

Reviewed by: Carolina Ventura

Review from Dutch Metal Maniac

Wed, 24 Jan 2018 19:37:37 +0100

From: Dutch Metal Maniac

Published: January 18, 2018

Original Link

Vocalist Andrew, guitarist Serge (who also takes care of samples), bassist/vocalist/guitarist/pianist Alex and drummer Igor, together they are Vin De Mia Trix. Hailing from Ukraine, Vin De Mia Trix plays a mix of different doom metal styles, but they aren't afraid to cross boundaries with some other subgenres. Since their forming in 2007, they released an EP (El sueño de la razón produce monstruos, 2009), a demo (Promo, 2012), a full-length (Once Hidden From Sight, 2013), a live album (Live In Kharkiv, 2015) and a split with American death/doom metal band Nethermost. Since May 31st they got a second full-length added. It carries the name Palimpsests and it is a double album. Palimpsests consists of only four tracks, but it has a total length of 1 hour and 37 minutes.

The intro of opener Matarisvan sounds a bit dreamy, creepy and hypnotic to get you in some sort of trance for this album. When the instruments of Vin De Mia Trix starts it is soon clear that, mostly, it will be slow, heavy music, like funeral doom, on Palimpsests. Is the musical style of Vin De Mia Trix funeral doom? Yes and no, sometimes it surely can be named as funeral doom, but that isn't the case for their music in general. For example, they let us hear that they can also play very fast in this same track.

These people from Ukraine use a lot of variation within their tracks, but because the tracks are very long, it never gets chaotic. The transitions between the often big differences stay natural and not forced, with closing track Noe as the perfect example. At some point Noe even sounds a bit atmospheric black metal-like which is followed by a relaxed, acoustic guitar-sound with atmospheric, clean vocals. All done very naturally.

Vocal-wise Palimpsests varies between clean vocals, low grunts and hellish screams, all perfectly executed. At some point in Noe there are 2 vocal lines to be heard right behind each other, which gives it a bit of orchestral effect. The guitars on Palimpsests are sounding shoegaze-like in the more melodic, dreamy parts while they sound very massive in the heavier parts. There is also a part in Fuimus which gives us a bit of experimenting with the guitarsound including lots of shredding.

All together, Palimpsests is a great album on which Vin De Mia Trix let us hear that they are comfortable with many different musical styles. Of course, Palimpsests, with its long duration, isn't an album you listen to between other activities. Palimpsests is an album you have to sit down for and give it the time it needs. Then you'll hear how great Palimpsests is. Definitely recommended!

Reviewed by: Tim van Velthuysen

Review from Aristocrazia Webzine

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 04:45:40 +0100

From: Aristocraiza Webzine

Published: July 31, 2017

Original Link

È la terza volta che incontriamo i Vin De Mia Trix, in passato Dope Fiend scrisse rispettivamente dell'ep "El Sueno De La Razon Produce Monstruos" (2010) e del debutto su lunga distanza "Once Hidden From Sight" (2013). Adesso tocca al sottoscritto confrontarsi con il loro secondo lavoro, "Palimpsests", rilasciato in collaborazione dall'etichetta canadese Hypnotic Dirge Records e dalla statunitense Cimmerian Shade Recordings.

Ci rendemmo conto dello stato di maturazione del quartetto ucraino già col primo lavoro su lunga distanza, che ripartiva dalle solide e classiche basi doom-death metal dell'ep, migliorando l'offerta sia per ciò che concerne l'aspetto atmosferico, sia per quanto riguarda la composizione dei pezzi. Oggi però la band ha oltrepassato — e di molto — quella piacevolissima canonicità, mostrando di saper giostrare e sfruttare un numero di influenze elevato, rendendole funzionali allo sviluppo della storia che hanno deciso di raccontare.

«Palimpsests» («palinsesto») è un termine che deriva del greco, riferito a una pagina manoscritta, rotolo di pergamena o libro che è stata scritta, cancellata e riutilizzata. Il disco affronta un percorso in cui mitologia, misticismo, religione e vita si fondono, mentre il titolo di ogni singolo pezzo (scritto con un differente alfabeto: sanscrito, greco, romano e glagolitico) rappresenta una differente tappa dello stesso tragitto. Forse più che in molti altri, esso dovrebbe essere accompagnato dalla lettura dei testi, per essere seguito al meglio.

La prestazione del gruppo è varia e affascinante, l'animo doom-death metal che da sempre la sostiene è tuttora percettibile, ma avviluppato e impreziosito da un tessuto pregiato di influenze che giungono dall'area progressiva, ambientale, funerea e dal panorama post-rock e post-metal. Questi influssi rendono magico, meno classico nello stampo, più elaborato ed esploratore il suono, tuttavia non per questo meno malinconico e dolente di quanto non fosse in passato. I lunghissimi episodi (il più breve sfiora i venti minuti, mentre il più esteso quasi i trenta) non solo raffigurano con eleganza le tematiche dei testi, riescono anche a modellare un paesaggio sonoro unico, affidandosi a toni tutt'altro che forzatamente opprimenti; in più di una circostanza una luce eterea difatti trapela, permettendo all'ascoltatore di apprezzare le molteplici sfaccettature dei Vin De Mia Trix.

Un altro elemento che spicca considerevolmente è la voce, pulita e non, così come è doveroso menzionare l'ottimo compito svolto in fase di produzione da Damon Good (Mournful Congregation, Cauldron Black Ram, Martire, Misery's Omen e StarGazer), che ha garantito un'esposizione strumentale equilibrata; è a dir poco stupendo poter ascoltare in maniera distinta il basso di Alex Vynogradoff.

"Palimpsests" ha superato di molto le mie aspettative: mi attendevo un buon album, ma non quasi cento minuti di musica che funzionassero alla grande. Si tratta di un lavoro in grado di fare la differenza e capace di affermare con certezza che voglia di mettersi in gioco e bravura sono entrambe qualità in possesso dei Vin De Mia Trix. Finalmente nel 2017 la formazione si guadagna un posto — e con merito — fra quelle che dovreste necessariamente inserire in lista acquisti.

Review from Infernal Masquerade

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 05:50:41 +0100

From: Infernal Masquerade Webzine

Published: July 26, 2017

Original Link

Unleashing one of the most monumental Funeral/Epic Doom Metal releases of the last few years, today we have Ukraine’s Vin de Mia Trix and the double LP “Palimpsests”. Featuring over 90 minutes of highly melancholic music, this release is a fourth part aural exploration that traverses through many different styles and influences. Highly recommended for fans of bands ranging from Skepticism, My Dying Bride, to the likes of Candlemass and Ahab.

Opening with the 27-minute beast of a song “Matarisvan”, the band slowly builds up a punishing atmosphere that is perfectly elevated as soon as the My Dying Bride-esque weeping guitars make their mark. The vocals vary from harsh growls to some very solid clean singing that reminds us a bit of Epic Doom Metal outfits, and provides enough diversity to keep things fresh and interesting.

The first CD closes with the emotional “Pharmakos”, a ‘short’ 21-minute piece that features some lush ethereal atmospheric passages mixed in between some crushing Doom riffs. This track features more potent and demoralizing growls and killer Funeral Doom passages that will rattle your speakers. The release continues with “Fuimis” a faster paced track filled with desolate soundscapes crafted with powerful riffs and very well-timed drum patterns. The band excels at crafting unique tempo changes and very atmospheric passages to keep this track free-flowing and effective.

The album comes to a close with another mobster 29-minute piece that shows that the band was holding out to unleash the best at the end. Filled with weeping guitars and enigmatic passages, this track perfectly balances the atmospheric and the aggressive sides of “Palimpsets” is the most exhilarating piece of the album. Overall, the band does a great job in transporting the listener with powerful soundscapes that greatly vary in terms of intensity. We are quite blown away that a 90-minute release went by so quickly and had us wanting to hear it over once more. This is definitely one of the best releases of the genre in 2017, so be sure to pick up the lush digipack that Hypnotic Dirge and Cimmerian Shade have put together.

Rating: 92/100

Reviewed by: Dark Emperor

Review from Wings of Death

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 05:49:36 +0100

From: Wings of Death

Published: July 22, 2017

Original Link

Ok, ik weet inmiddels wel uit ervaring dat wanneer ik vier titels zie, dat niet automatisch hoeft te betekenen dat ik een EP voorgeschoteld krijg. Zeker in de doomende of postrock/metal-genres zijn lange tracks geen uitzondering. Maar Vin De Mia Trix uit Oekraïne maakt het wel heel bont: hun tweede album Palimpsests is een dubbelalbum geworden met een totale speelduur van bijna 98 minuten!

Dat de voorgeschotelde muziek doom metal betreft zal dan ook geen verrassing zijn. De lange tracks neigen naar (uiteraard zou ik bijna zeggen) funeral doom, maar er zijn ook raakvlakken hoorbaar met doomdeath / death metal en heel voorzichtig wat post-genres. Over het geheel genomen is de doom enorm sfeervol en met een melodieuze insteek. Tempoversnellingen zijn te verwaarlozen; de zang is overwegend clean, maar daarnaast komt zo af en toe ook eens een ferme grunt voorbij. We horen heel veel cleane melodieuze gitaarlijnen, vergezeld van een lekkere zware bas en slome maar harde trommelslagen.

Op zich bevat elk van de vier tracks genoeg afwisseling en dynamiek om te blijven boeien. Ik vind ze echt elk voor zich zeer interessant en onderhoudend; ze klinken mij in de oren als enorm verhalende tracks. Waarbij ik me haast te zeggen dat ik me niet heb verdiept in thematiek of teksten. Maar ruim anderhalf uur is en blijft een hele zit, en het gehele album in een keer uitluisteren lukt me dus ook echt niet. Waarbij ik absoluut wil benadrukken dat dat niet aan de muziek zelf ligt. De beloning van het doorzetten is er namelijk wel degelijk in de vorm van het pure genieten van elk van de vier nummers hier.

Vooral Pharmakos maakt indruk, net als de wel heel lange afsluiter Noe - die laatste duurt al zowat een half uur! En toch, en dat vind ik al knap genoeg, hebben die nummers zoveel afwisseling en kracht in zich dat je blijft luisteren. Ik raad de liefhebber van zowel melodieuze doomdeath als funeral doom dan ook zeker aan om Vin De Mia Trix eens te checken. Begin maar eens met een nummer, en luister van daar uit maar verder. Echt, je zult niet teleurgesteld worden!

Reviewed by: Chris van der Aa

Review from Muzmapa

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 05:48:06 +0100

From: Muzmapa

Published: July 19, 2017

Original Link

Квартет Vin de Mia Trix выпустил свой второй альбом Palimpsests почти два месяца назад, но едва ли отечественная музжурналистика обратила на этот факт внимание. Дело даже не в том, что очередное высказывание Вани Дорна или новый клип группы «Грибы» априори важнее какого-то там альбома какой-то там дум-метал-группы. Дело в том, что этот самый альбом продолжительностью в 100 (!) минут разделен всего лишь на четыре (!!!) трека! Но это, пожалуй, его единственный, хоть и серьезный недочет.

Базирующийся в Киеве коллектив, которому скоро стукнет десяток годков, никогда не искал легких путей. Дебютный ЕР «Сон разума рождает чудовищ» (2009) с одноименным офортом Гойи на обложке показал, что музыканты неравнодушны к творчеству культовых My Dying Bride, но не более. Продолжения банкета пришлось ждать целых четыре года — на полноформатном альбоме Once Hidden From Sight (2013) уже слышались влияния пост-метала и необычный подход к мелодической составляющей материала. И вот еще каких-то четыре года спустя на уши благодарных слушателей обрушивается полуторачасовой двухдисковый бегемот о четырех палимпсестах, который высидеть за один раз решительно невозможно.

Что интересно, сентенция о благодарных слушателях вовсе не высосана из пальца: как это часто бывает, за границей у группы немало фанатов, а иностранные рецензии на свежий релиз как на подбор положительные. В Украине же группа играет в основном на ежегодных фестивалях Doom Over Kiev для скромной, но преданной аудитории, едва втискивая два трека в часовой сет. Обидно, что ситуация едва ли изменится в ближайшее будущее: дум-метал так и не стал хайповым жанром — как блэк-метал или стонер/психоделик-рок, — по крайней мере, на наших просторах. И пока американцы вроде Pallbearer собирают полные залы в европейских турах, Vin de Mia Trix с их гораздо более интересным материалом собирают только восторженные отзывы музыкальных критиков.

А восторгаться есть чем. Каждый из четырех треков, продолжительностью от 20 до 30 минут, состоит из множества переплетенных взаимосвязанных частей, и пуристов от жанра ждет немало сюрпризов. Квартет редко поддается искушению потянуть даже самый вкусный рифф лишнюю минуту, нет, «главы» композиций сменяют друг дружку почти с прог-роковой частотой. Влияние главных прогрессивщиков от андеграундного метала, шведов Opeth, сквозит и в нестандартной мелодике, и в частом использовании акустических гитар, и в выразительных партиях баса. Однако если сейчас Миша Акерфельдт озаботился косплеем хард-рока 70-х, то Vin de Mia Trix звучат свежо и актуально. Безусловно, и «майдаинбрайдовским» мотивам нашлось место в новом материале группы (например, гитарное соло в последней трети финального эпика начинается с тех же нот, что и культовое интро The Cry of Mankind), но они вызывают скорее теплое ностальгическое чувство, нежели желание обвинить авторов в подражательстве.

Основным автором же является басист коллектива Алекс, чья увлеченность античной литературой и древними мифами и послужила вдохновением для текстов альбома. Его же глубокий чистый вокал часто поддерживает партии основного вокалиста группы Андрея. И в эти моменты меньше всего хочется искать какие-то аналоги музыке Vin de Mia Trix, потому что такого ваш покорный в дум-метале точно еще не слышал, при всем своем опыте! И хотя двухдисковый формат гигантского альбома подразумевает сравнения в первую очередь с Esoteric и Evoken, Palimpsests таят в себе гораздо больше, чем даже самый необычный фьюнерал-думовый альбом. Это очередной серьезный шаг для отечественного тяжелого андеграунда, традиционно игнорируемого здесь и воспеваемого там.

P. S. И все-таки позволю себе дать ребятам небольшой совет: ну распилите этих четырех монстров на movements, хотя бы на «Бэндкемпе»! Понятно, что концепт важен, но сколько свежей публики можно привлечь, которая кликнет, скажем, на середину «Фармакоса», вынесенную в отдельный трек… Хоть насколько автор этих строк привык к проговым эпикам, но в данном случае есть риск потерять всю концентрацию на первой же дроун-интерлюдии.

Rating: A

Reviewed by: Ігор Сидоренко

Review from Lords of Metal

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 05:47:24 +0100

From: Lords of Metal

Published: July 1, 2017

Original Link

*Dutch version available here

What the fuck is this? A double CD clocking in at 97 minutes spread over four songs. If that won’t turn into a long ride I am not sure what will. Well that long ride seemed a lot shorter. The 97 minutes are over before you notice it. Vin De Mia Trix possesses the art of keeping longs songs interesting. The band operates in the realm of melodic death doom metal. Musically they remind me quite a bit of Officium Triste, Mourning Beloveth and Saturnus, but then quite a bit more tranquil and subdued, almost post rock like. Hence also reminding me of Kauan. Which in itself is not strange given the fact Alex Vynogradoff is also part of Kauan and plays the bass and acoustic guitar here and also does the vocals.

Fans of the aforementioned bands will do well to give ‘Palimpsests’ a chance.

Rating: 79/100

Reviewed by: Marcel H

Review from IYE Zine

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 05:24:50 +0100

From: IYE Zine

Published: July 9, 2017

Original Link

Una buona annata, il 2017, per le sonorità doom e funeral doom!

Dopo l’opera molto valida dei Funeralium e quella eccellente dei Fuoco Fatuo, senza dimenticare altre belle cose (Facade, Mourning Dawn, etc), arriva del tutto inatteso il secondo full dei Vin de Mia Trix, quartetto ucraino attivo dal 2009, autore di una buona prima prova nel 2013 per Solitude Productions; ora la band realmente esplode con un enorme opus doppio, di soli quattro brani per la canadese Hypnotic Dirge; stupisce che l’etichetta russa Solitude Production si sia lasciata sfuggire questa gemma di grande musica dove si fondono in modo naturale e fluido derive funeral, aromi death doom, meraviglie doom adagiate su partiture ambient e post metal. Mettetevi comodi perché le tracce sono lunghissime, come deve essere un suono funeral che si rispetti, ma come dicevo sono anche molto naturali e non ci sono forzature e difficoltà nell’ascolto.

La band ha grandi capacità di songwriting e riesce ad amalgamare in modo sopraffino tante influenze creando qualcosa di abbastanza unico; l’ascolto è stimolante, ci sono sempre idee che mantengono vivo l’ interesse e in pezzi della durata media di oltre 20′ non è per niente facile.

Il suono elaborato dalle due chitarre è semplicemente maestoso, deciso, possente ma anche fortemente dolente e melanconico, sempre alla ricerca della atmosfera particolare; la band con questo concept intende tramandare, riscrivendole, le storie e gli archetipi che sono presenti nell’inconscio collettivo e nelle varie culture e mitologie di molti popoli.

Anche i titoli dei quattro brani hanno un sapore misterioso (Matarisvan, Pharmakos, Fuimus e Noe) e gli inizi ambient dei primi due brani non fanno che offrire un substrato particolare al tutto e la buonissima produzione con tutti gli strumenti ben equilibrati confeziona un “lavoro” veramente notevole; tutti i brani sono un lungo viaggio in cui tutti gli ingredienti sono magicamente fusi: ad esempio in Matarisvan, il primo brano, l’introspettivo incipit ambient si modula in atmosfere death doom e post rock debitrici del suono delle migliori band in questo settore.

Non vi è nulla di opprimente nel suono dei Vin De Mia Trix, e l’alternarsi di clean e harsh vocal (black e death) daà un ulteriore quid al tutto: questa forma d’arte, che sia doom, funeral o death doom ha sempre la capacità, quando viene manipolata da band dotate di sensibilità fuori dal comune, di scrivere pagine incommensurabili ed emozionanti.

Rating: 9/10
Reviewed by: Massimo Pagliaro

Review from Metal Wani

Sat, 08 Jul 2017 22:58:20 +0100

From: Metal Wani

Published: July 6, 2017

Original Link

Ukranian Death/Doom metal band Vin De Mia Trix returns with their sophomore album ‘Palimpsests’ which is a huge improvement from their debut effort. This album is a long one at almost 100 minutes but it is a grand intricate concept album of 4 tracks each around the 20 minute mark of great soundscapes and lethargic Death/Doom with an atmospheric emphasis. Check this one out but make sure you have enough time to listen to whole thing.

Reviewed by: Yidu Sun

Review from Gorger's Metal Reviews

Tue, 20 Jun 2017 18:46:44 +0100

From: Gorger's Metal Reviews

Published: June 20, 2017

Original Link

Vin de Mia Trix from Kyiv in Ukraine play progressive funeral doom, offering one of the year's longest albums.

Palimpsests* is a concept based on multicultural commonalities; Stories, legends and tales, as well as shared customs and practices that appear to be similar despite various beliefs or geographical, cultural, and ethnic differences. A duration of about 1 hour and 38 minutes makes Palimpsests just short of 100 minutes.

If that sounds insurmountable, the physical edition is naturally a double-album, where each part lasts for about 49 minutes.

Expand/Collapse

The music is mostly calm and fluid like a peaceful stream of clean water. A trickling mountain stream reflecting the shining rays of sun from a bright blue sky and the deep green lush vegetation along the river bank. The river winds, though, creating turbulent currents and swirls, nuances that distort and wipe out the reflections. It strikes rocky obstacles unable to hinder the flow, but that throws the water masses around and shuffle the composition and relative location of each water particle.

Especially Pharmatos and Noe offers a bit of drama, but despite a few harder sequences and sporadic guttural vocals, Palimpsests is a rather calm and pleasant work. It contains a relatively high quantity of clean vocals, plus clear bass strokes and sequences of acoustic plucking among other that help prevent everything from sounding like a steady stream. Although the brook floats calmly, it doesn't just hiss in a hushing manner. It burbles and gurgles comfortably.

Among the quartet's members, there are two seemingly fresh names, in addition to vocalist Andrew Tkachenko from wonderful Human Collapse and bassist, second vocalist and acoustic guitarist Alex Vynogradoff from Kauan.

Damon Good from Mournful Congregation and StarGazer has been responsible for mixing and mastering, and the sound is in line with Vin de Mia Trix' high ambitions, helping to enhance Palimpsests' meditative impact. The album is available at an optional price and is recommended whether you want a one and a half hour time-out in the hammock under the shady groves, whether you're a traveller hiking forests and peaks, or you're a fairly ordinary sofa lover that lets five minutes on the couch grow into a hundred.

Rating: 4+

Reviewed by: Gorger