CoC : Vrolok - Resurgence II: Where the Dying Meet the Dead : Review

Vrolok - _Resurgence II: Where the Dying Meet the Dead_
(Alpha Draconis Records, 2004)
by: Aaron McKay (3 out of 10)

Jumping in mid-stream here, maybe I missed something... This is the second of a three part "Resurgence" musical voyage. While Vrolok is "on hold" and focusing attention elsewhere, I may have a while to wait until this "tale of the abyss" reaches fruition in any form somewhere along the way. That said, Vrolok arguably harbors somewhat of a fondness for the likes of Kreig, possibly Pest and/or Nargaroth with their subterranean black metal texture found on _Resurgence II: Where the Dying Meet the Dead_. Unlike the overt message to "strive for the inner funeral", Vrolok's six tracks of abyssal abominable atrocity grate subtly from track to track and ultimately wind up coming across as hampered and very muzzled. The band's two participants include founding member Lord Perosus Diabolus Vrolok, whose duties include everything from vocals to keyboards to skull and antler percussion, and Lurker, a recent recruit having joined in 2003 to add his influence in the area of drums and percussion. Not overly wrapped in the whole "Satan or bust" mentality, Vrolok's lyrics on this second offering of the trilogy focus on a personal voyage -- albeit this voyage is through a "compressed hell" of sorts, but what could one expect? At the very least _RII:WtDMtD_ seems to avoid the tired "Devil this, Beelzebub that and Lucifer the other thing" approach to songwriting. Nonetheless for black metal, this effort comes across as inhibited. What's more, it may be under-produced by choice, but the degree this album is done with that in mind is mostly harsh and musically noisy. To make matters worse, the font on the album cover, including the band's moniker, is highly unreadable. Personally, I have never understood the whole thought-process behind trying to create a certain atmosphere with descriptors on a CD if the damn thing isn't comprehendible at all -- what does that accomplish? Enough of my soapbox tirade. In closing, the vocals in some places on the album and samples on this effort are pretty well a plus, but Vrolok has some gigantic steps to embark upon during their exploration of the abyss in order to be taken seriously above ground with the rest of us in the world of extreme music.

Contact: http://vrolokofficial.cjb.net

(article published 19/4/2004)

ALBUMS
15/8/2007	Q Kalis	9	Vrolok - Void: the Divine Abortion