Vaura - Sables

This is not what I expected from Vaura, the post metal cum new wave super group. Featuring members of Kayo Dot, Tombs, Azar Swan, Gorgut and Dysrhythmia, Vaura is a truly 'different' act. This latest offering Sables was six years in the making and produced by the legendary Peter Walsh. Whereas previous releases from the band were very much heavy post metal affairs, this record seems to owe more to Talk Talk. For me personally this is a truly potent and thrilling release. It speaks to the greatness of the band and seems to continually push the band to new heights.

I am deeply in love with the massive sonic landscapes painted here and the groups dedication to overarching and potent soundworlds. The glorious poetry of these arrangements is fascinating and drives me ever deeper into the underground. This is a band who don't seem to limit themselves to the standard tropes of the genre but who instead embrace its inherent madness. Sables is a truly beautiful record and one that seems very aware of its own internal twists and turns. The more you dig into what Vaura are about here the more you will become enamored. This is a band who truly understand the power of their music and want to double down on what makes them fascinating.

Sables is the sort of thing that you are pretty much guaranteed to get lost in. They are a band who seem to constantly push for new horizons and who fascinate the listener. There is something that is undeniable delightful about Vaura here - this is musicians at the top of their game putting together some truly next level stuff. Sables speaks to their ability to keep moving forward, expand their sound and work together to become true masters of their craft. This is a hard one to not be fascinated by and it reminds us there is growth from this barren earth.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/VAURAofficial/

Decade and Inter Arma in Philadelphia

Another night, another house show, this time in perhaps the sketchiest neighborhood I've visited yet. But that didn't keep it from being an awesome time for everyone involved. This is the kind of house show that speaks to the magic of the scene, loud and brash music from the crypt, meant to stay underground. With an opener that didn't at all seem to reflect the headliner (although both were good bands) this was another wonderful evening spent with my growing crop of Philadelphia metal buddies. Decade and Inter Arma both put on a great show, and on a rainy night like this, what more could you want?

Now, I had never previously heard of Decade, but funnily enough, I had seen their guitarists other band, Backslider, just a few days before. They play an interesting brand of new wave meets psych rock that you don't easily forget. Their set is transcendent and strange using electronic instruments to accentuate the vocals, bass, and guitar. In some ways, especially with the keyboardists strange stage persona, they remind me of Kraftwerk. The bands vocalist who seems to be a petite college girl is a master of ethereal wails that kind of give the entire sound a bizarre and beautiful twist. These guys have a very unique sound and I hope to see them again and delve deeper into it.

Then it was time for Inter Arma, oh Lord, Inter Arma. Now THIS is a band who know how to put on a show, regardless of venue, be it a large hall like the first time I saw them, or a tiny basement like tonight. They grooved and rocked from top to bottom and added far more improvisation than I have ever seen them do before. In particular the track Survival Fires was treated to a beautiful re-imagining as it soared out onto the crowd. And as always, Mike was wonderfully insane, his eyes bulging and throat roaring to achieve a triumphant effect, proving Inter Arma may be the doom metal band who carry us to nirvana.

Asides from a nailbiter of a ride home, I have to say, the evening went extremely well. Decade made a really good impression on me, their sound is truly innovative and unique. Sure, I get what some of their influences might be, but I love the way they are crafting their own path. As for Inter Arma, they put on a truly unique show, and the amount of improvisation and the extremely intimate venue made for a concert that I think no one in tonights' audience will soon forget. Now I can only twiddle my thumbs and wait for the next great doom adventure.

Find the bands on Bandcamp and Facebook!

Decade: https://decadephilly.bandcamp.com/track/paper-wings

Inter Arma: https://www.facebook.com/INTERARMA