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"A judicious balance of pop and metal, “Friends Of A Phantom” is almost flawless and places Vola among the most interesting modern metal bands of recent years."
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4/5
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“Friends Of A Phantom” is the fourth album from Denmark's Vola, who have only gone from strength to strength since their 2016 debut. Successfully blending pop choruses with metal verses, their music has always been difficult to classify, often landing in the progressive metal genre, which is a bit of a catch-all. And let's face it, this new album won't change that.
With 'Cannibal', “Friends Of A Phantom” could hardly have got off to a better start. All the expertise Vola have developed over the last ten years is reflected in this track, which oozes intelligence. It's a clever piece of writing, avoiding caricature by striking a judicious balance between walls of guitars and breaths, between classical rhythms and syncopated, djent-like rhythms. Group intelligence: the four musicians are perfectly placed, delivering a perfect performance despite a sometimes complex score, and no instrument takes precedence over another. Finally, melodic intelligence, with Asger Mygind's clear, ultra-melodic vocals counterbalancing the furious howls of In Flames' Anders Friden, who lends his voice for the occasion, and synthesizer lines softening the more extreme aspects of the track. In a similar style, we find the more radical 'Break My Lying Tongue' or 'Paper Wolf', more pop and luminous but just as successful.
Vola is also about gentleness, as they've proved in the past with their many power ballads. “Friends Of A Phantom” is no exception, taking us into lighter moods with ‘We Will Not Disband’ and ‘I Don't Know How We Got Here’, and even into the totally intimate, stripped-down atmosphere of ‘Glass Mannequin’. Beware, slowing down the pace is not synonymous with ease for the Danes; you only have to pay attention to the different bass and drum patterns to realize this. Without falling into demonstration or offering asymmetrical measures (surprising as it may seem, this is 4/4), the work on the rhythmic base remains quite exceptional.
With the exception of the last two tracks, which don't add much to the album, “Friends Of A Phantom” is almost flawless, and places Vola among the most interesting modern metal bands of recent years. In particular, it could be an alternative for those disappointed by the evolution of Leprous. To be discovered! - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Cannibal 02. Break My Lying Tongue 03. We Will Not Disband 04. Glass Mannequin 05. Bleed Out 06. Paper Wolf 07. I Don't Know How We Got Here 08. Hollow Kid 09. Tray
LINEUP:
Adam Janzi: Batterie Asger Mygind: Chant / Guitares Martin Werner: Claviers Nicolai Mogensen: Basse Anders Fridén: Chant / Invité
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(0) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
3.7/5 (3 view(s))
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STAFF:
3.7/5 (3 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH VOLA
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LAST INTERVIEW
VOLA (NOVEMBER 21ST, 2024)
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A few hours before his Paris concert, we caught up with Asger Mygind, who looks back on VOLA's faultless career...
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT VOLA
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