WARLOCK A.D.
"Book II: The
Valley Of Vâgené" (Rockshots Records;
2024)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Warlock A.D.'s continuation of the tale of Whiteacre the Nomad continues in this sequel to the previous album, "Book I: The Resurrection." I have to confess I haven't heard the predecessor, but—if "Book II" is any indication—"Book I" must be pretty freaking incredible.
From the very first track, "Book II: The Valley of Vâgené" is a raging cacophony of music that swirls around your mind, bumping off the rounded corners of your skull and reverberating around inside there, while still managing to tell the next chapter in Whiteacre's story. It's pretty impressive, stuff. Challenging. With its blast beats, bullet train rhythms, soaring vocals, character vocal segments, keyboards/synthesizers and myriad guitars, it takes a few tracks in to figure out what the band's sound is all about but, by then, you're all in anyway. Buckled up and ready for the ride.
There's hardly time to pause for a breath, at least until the penultimate track, "The Sword of Kuhm," which is more like a spoken word introduction to the mammoth closing number, "The Rising Flames of the Eternal Golden Empire Rise," clocking in at a stunning 14:11 minutes, and closes the album out with an appropriately gigantic way.
Not everyone will love the wall-to-wall sound blast that is "Book II: The Valley of Vâgené." Some may find it overwhelming, and sometimes it is. Overall, however, this is one powerful release, especially impressive in that its the second part in a concept album series that manages to tell its tale so clearly.
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Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
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Copyright © 2024 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
