“Seeking solace in a wave of broken fading ghosts.”
Named after a land in Patrick Rothfuss’ Kingkiller Chronicles, it is no surprise that VINTAS’ blend of ambience and often literature-inspired lyricism leans on the fantastical. The track narratives, laid overtop intricate, downtuned riffs, make for a meaningful and impactful listen, weaving together neat storylines with a healthy dose of allegory. While progressive veins of metalcore have always strayed lyrically towards the more sophisticated, VINTAS should be especially applauded for contrasting the tired tropes and clichéd lines that plagues most of the genre (though admittedly even they fell prey to being ‘lost in the undertow’ on their previous record).
LUNAR explodes into life with the opening track, “Haze”, throwing the listener headfirst into the sheer dissonance and ambience which forms the core of the quartet’s sound. Dripping in atmosphere, tantalising guitar lines and frenetic percussion guide the way down a wandering path. “Dead on the forest bed, the floor flooded with purple and red.” Instrumentally, there is a lot going on, but the layers never clash and are always perfectly coherent, never feeling dense in the way a Sentinels release such as Collapse By Design does (and is supposed to). “Haze” is organised chaos. The soaring cleans of vocalist cut through the noise, somewhere between Marcus Bridge and The Dark Pool-era Jacob Charlton. Though their first appearance, approaching the minute mark, is a little jarring, I respect VINTAS‘ attempt to transition in a unique way. The track’s moody fadeout leads into the first of two interludes, “Moonrise”, which facilitates the record’s fantastical atmosphere through a mixture of light keys and soft beats.
Even a cursory glance at VINTAS’ discography will make clear the care and passion which has gone into constructing the project; while lines such as “Deep in the Ash and Oak” throughout refer to previous songs, LUNAR’s formula of five tracks interspersed with a pair of interludes mirrors last year’s SOLAR. Lead single “Nightbloom” instantly hooked me. I have followed VINTAS on and off over the years, but the track cemented my interest, showcasing the group’s continual improvement. With an ornate chorus that perfectly juxtaposes the track’s ferocious instrumental, it’s the perfect encapsulation of their sound – fresher and more balanced than anything that has come before. It’s perfect in the context of the record, bookended by the two gentle interludes, with the closing lines, “The Nightbloom is the key you sought, An Offering is what you brought,” leading through “Moonfall” into the closer.
Continuing the parallels with SOLAR, VINTAS have saved the best and longest track for last. “An Offering” leads with a flurry of blast beats against a backdrop of tremolo ambience. The rapid percussion across the track is truly splendid. Much like “Nightbloom”’s chorus, the layering of clean vocals overtop the screams provides a phenomenal effect, lending the music further depth and maintaining the ire which underscores the EP. As a whole, the release relies on the (admittedly masterful) uncleans more than contemporaries such as Revaira and Revoid, making for an uncompromising love letter to progressive metalcore.
The closer highlights the band’s ability to juggle the various elements of their sound, from floaty cleans to crushingly downtuned riffs, and in balancing aggression with vulnerable melody journeys towards the EP’s cathartic conclusion. It culminates in an airy, open breakdown. Where many bands would cover the canvas with high-speed chugs and eccentric guitar noises (which certainly have their merit), VINTAS use the space to create particularly impactful moments when the chugs hit. Twinkling keys sign off their best release yet.
LUNAR is simultaneously pummelling and delicate in a way few bands achieve. Really, my only criticism is that it isn’t longer, which would allow for more experimentation. The self-production on the record is wonderful, leaving the mix feeling weighty without the lower frequencies overpowering the airier elements which lend VINTAS’ soundscape such a fanciful accent. LUNAR’s sound is not entirely unique – it certainly channels the likes of Invent Animate’s Stillworld – but the execution is superb. The group’s love of storytelling drips from every note and line, immersing the listener fully into the environment of the record. LUNAR is a short, potent gem of an EP which sees VINTAS further explore their sonic palette.
8.5/10
LUNAR is set for independent release this Friday, October 27th.