Welcome to the Boolin Tunes Staff Spotlight, a special segment on the site in which we dive deep into a classic or simply personally beloved album to shine a light on releases that we feel deserve a second glance.
If I could point to any one person and say “that is the person who influenced me the most, I would not be doing what I do today without them”, it would be Volumes guitarist Diego Farias. The very first time I heard the infectious bounce on “Wormholes“, it was like a revelation. Suddenly, the ‘sound in my head’ that I had never truly found or realized had materialized before my ears. In turn, the guitar work on “Wormholes“, and across Via as a whole, is what would lead me to pick up guitar and truly engage with my passion for music like never before.
It probably goes without saying, given all of that, that I hold Via very close to my heart. Not only being insanely influential on me as a musician, but further being one of the few albums that’s stuck with me throughout so many different points in my life. So, as we approach the album’s 10th anniversary this September, let’s dive deep into what makes this album so special to me; what separates it from the herd of early 2010s djent albums.
Opener “Paid In Full” sets the tone right away, with Farias’ iconic syncopated chugs, paired with the eerie ambience of the track’s lead work. Further, the dual vocal setup of Michael Barr and Gus Farias is established here as well. The trade-off between two vocalists has always been at the very core of Volumes’ sound, but on Via it feels particularly strong. The uniquely piercing timbre of Barr, contrasted by the more breathy and unhinged style of Farias add a level of energy to Via, and its 2014 follow-up No Sleep, that I’ve never found quite as engaging elsewhere.
Aforementioned track “Wormholes” follows, with its iconic groove, strange lyricism, and odd melodic sensibilities—featuring a sick atonal guitar solo. It’s a djent classic, and one of the most dense and infectiously groovy tracks I’ve had the pleasure of listening to. Further, as discussed previously, this song was my awakening of sorts; the very reason I picked up a seven-string guitar and gained as huge a passion for progressive and tech metal as I do now.
Tracks like “Serenity“, “Edge of the Earth” and title track/closer “Via” lean further into more melodic sensibilities with fantastic results. The uplifting melodies contrasted by the downright dirty breakdowns create an engagingly dynamic experience in “Serenity“. “Edge of the Earth’s” soaring, crowd-chanter chorus—being one of only two songs on the record containing clean vocals, proves to be one of the most engaging moments across all of Via. Clean vocals would eventually become a sizable part of the Volumes sound, but their more scarce nature here helps give those moments an effective sense of release. Further, late album track “Intake” showcases the group at possibly their most personal and vulnerable across the entirety of Via, delving into topics of loss and addiction. It’s all presented in an abstract way lyrically, but there’s a tangibly emotional tone throughout.
Diego Farias sadly passed away early last year at 27 shortly after announcing his departure from the group, citing a waning passion for metal music. News of his death reverberated through the progressive metal community at large, and it really can’t be overstated just how talented and influential he was in his time. I think back to Architects’ Tom Searle when I think of artists being taken before their time, and Farias, a musician so deeply influential to me and many others being added to the dishearteningly long list of late artists in truly saddening.
However, in spite of everything, Volumes appear to be going strong, channeling their grief into creative energy. Having just finished their fourth studio album, due for release later this year via Fearless Records, the future looks bright for the California quartet. Check back later this year for a full review on the project when it releases, but in any case check back next week for another retrospective from the team.