Published: January 18, 2018 

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!