Review: Vemod’s Long-Awaited The Deepening is Beautifully Executed
When it drops on January 19, Vemod’s long-awaited The Deepening is bound to earn critical acclaim. Formed in Namsos and currently based in Trondheim, Vemod is known as one of black metal’s more stylistically adventurous outfits. This innovative band has only released one other album, Venter på stormene (2012). Nevertheless, they have garnered a solid fanbase. On The Deepening, Vemod delivers something much different from their debut, but no less excellent.
The Deepening features ex-One Tail, One Head’s Jan Even Åsli, the group’s founder, on lead and rhythm guitars, clean vocals, and synths. It is nothing short of mind-boggling to think that Åsli composed all of the music himself. The record reflects a real clarity of vision. The Deepening is majestic yet formidable, lofty yet brutal, traditional yet pioneering, powerful yet delicate in the right places. As those familiar with Åsli’s work expect, this veteran artist has crafted an experience that is both transcendent and transfiguring.
Åsli is a scholar, and The Deepening seems geared toward an elite type of listener. Granted, this complicated and varied offering should be able to charm just about anyone. The lyrics, also penned by Even, are both cerebral and poetic. They stimulate the mind and imagination.
On The Deepening, Spellemann / “Norwegian Grammy”-winner Eskil Blix delivers sublime performances on drums and harsh vocals. Revered as an exemplary frontman for his output with the likes of Djevel and Mare, Blix brings total authenticity and top-notch artistry to this release. His low voice, overflowing with aggression and strength, provides an ideal contrast to Åsli’s vocals, which often radiate a spectral and almost heavenly quality. Meanwhile, bassist Espen Kalstad also delivers flawless performances.
The Deepening is utterly spellbinding from start to finish. The miraculous atmospheres are reminiscent of the wonderous landscapes of Namsos in all of their rugged and divine glory. The Deepening begins with a minimalistic yet lovely instrumental piece, “Mot oss, en ild,” before giving way to the album’s first single, “Der guder dør.” This epic, roughly 13-minute song perfectly combines beauty with savage backbone. The philosophical text here is simply breathtaking, painting stunning pictures with metaphors. “Der guder dør” contains a word that Even has stated could have become the album title, “virvelhimmelen.” Thus, it is not surprising that this is the pick that will most closely align with listeners’ expectations.
We are immediately swept away as icy riffs and percussion entwine with Blix’s authoritative vocals. Yet, this song glistens with plenty of warmth. It features pleasing shifts and soaring guitar work that lifts us to vertiginous heights. Military-like drums kick in before the eight-minute mark and continue for what proves to be the right duration. “Der guder dør” is accented by Åsli’s otherworldly chanting, which takes on a diaphanous quality. Ultimately, this opus ends as something quite different from how it began, transporting us to a new realm.
The third track, “True North Beckons,” is an English-language gem. Although it is delightfully fierce, it is not without a very special type of splendor in places. Again, this song treats us to surprising transitions. For roughly three minutes of this opus, we lose Blix’s vocals. Yet, the charisma and allure remain regardless. With its exotic chanting and ambient atmosphere, the fourth number, “Fra drømmenes bok I,” gives us the feeling of ascending into soft sunlight. This fairly brief selection gives way to the unexpectedly vibrant “Inn i lysande natt,” the penultimate track. “Inn i lysande natt” is playful, seductive, smoldering, and groovy. It successfully conjures intoxicating retro vibes and has a bluesy feel. “Inn i lysande natt“ definitely seems more “American” than the rest of the album. Although this is a mostly instrumental song, some chanting kicks in shortly after the 5-minute mark.
“The Deepening,” a sixteen-plus-minute victory, fuses progressive rock with extreme metal in yet a new way. It begins with strong clean vocals by Åsli, but, of course, the song also includes Blix’s voice. There is much juxtaposition between Blix’s menacing delivery and the content of his words, which were, again, written by Jan Even.
“The Deepening” fades out very slowly over a matter of minutes with a long stream of gentle ambient ear candy. As soon as it ends, you will most certainly be compelled to repeat this profound experience.
In the past, Vemod has been described as “Ethereal Dark Metal.” However, as Vemod continues to explore new musical horizons, it becomes increasingly apparent that no linguistic term can do this individualistic band justice, as we noted in the intro. Just as Åsli’s very different project One Tail, One Head was described differently by each spectator, so too does Vemod provide a journey that listeners will just have to embark upon without preconceptions. Nevertheless, we should all be able to agree that The Deepening is an intensely magical and meaningful masterpiece that will stand the test of time.
Vemod’s The Deepening is set to drop on January 19 via Prophecy Productions. Pre-order the album here.
