ALBUM REVIEW: Ancient VVisdom - "33"

By: Ernesto Aguilar

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 13/10/2017

Label: Argonauta Records (CD) |

Magic Bullet Records (DD) |

DHU Records (LP)

Like the morning star it praises, Ancient VVisdom is more deceptive than you realize. It heralds that section of the genre that is far darker than even the loudest bands while doing a style you don't recognize is nearly this cursed. "33" is going to live on for quite some time.

“33” CD//DD//LP track listing

1. Ascending Eternally

2. Light of Lucifer

3. In the Name of Satan

4. True Will

5. The Infernal One

6. Summoning Eternal Light

7. Rise Fallen Angel

8. 33

9. The Great Beast

10. Lux

11. Dispelling Darkness

The Review:

Metal music has since its dawn been preoccupied with the visage of Beelzebub. Whether it was Ozzy Osbourne conjuring the idea of Satan's love in "N.I.B." or mainstream heavy rock like Ghost calling out to the "old one, master," Satan has been that ultimate taboo in music. For metal, the Devil has also been the totem of rejecting all convention. And though there have been many incursions into popular culture, it would seem metal music's fixation with the sinister and demons may always be part.

So when a recording comes across that embodies some of that dark spirit, it almost feels like splitting hairs to argue how it qualifies as metal. In Ancient VVisdom's case, it indubitably does.

The Austin-based trio formed in 2009 and have three releases – 2011's "A Godlike Inferno”, 2013's "Deathlike" and 2014's "Sacrificial" – as well as a rather infamous 2010 split disc with incarcerated mass murderer Charles Manson on their resume. Its first full length in three years, "33," is alternately inspired by a variety of meanings for the number, including the birth year that Jesus Christ was crucified. The horrific vibe never quite goes away from there.

If you have not heard the group prior, Ancient VVisdom is metal in the first-wave death rock or the folkloric styles you may recall rose to prominence in metal in the early 2000s. "33" is thus largely rooted in acoustic music, without drum and sparing electric guitar. The focus of Ancient VVisdom is Nathan Opposition, vocalist and songwriter. He's crucial, because Ancient VVisdom is nothing if not a lyrical act whose songs and stories are its reason for being.

To be clear, Ancient VVisdom has magnificent instrumentation. Whether it is the guitar, synths or hints of percussion, the minimal nature of "33" means all of it has to count even more than the average band. However, Ancient VVisdom's Satanic verses drive the music for the most part. Indeed Nathan Opposition's vocals set up much of the art that is here. "Ascending Eternally" opens like a hymn, while "Light of Lucifer" begins the release smoothly out of that hymn into a chord that you might hear around the fire at a church's summer camp. However, this is no revival.

Songs like "Summoning Eternal Light" and "The Great Beast" musically deliver the crunch you might more expect from metal, whereas "Rise Fallen Angel" is Ancient VVisdom's closest foray into heavy rock. These selections and a handful of others are not ultraviolent songs. They're musically savvy, but as with other cuts, the imagery of the occult, Lucifer and the great unknown are the true canvas.

Like the morning star it praises, Ancient VVisdom is more deceptive than you realize. It heralds that section of the genre that is far darker than even the loudest bands while doing a style you don't recognize is nearly this cursed. "33" is going to live on for quite some time.

"33" is available digitally here, CD here and eventually on vinyl here

Band info: facebook || bandcamp

Ancient VVisdom - Sacrificial (Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 28/10/2014

Label: Magic Bullet Records

‘Sacrificial’ CD/DD/LP track listing:

1. Rise of an Ancient Evil
2. Chaos Will Reign
3. Blood Offering
4. Devils Work
5. Blind Leading The Blind
6. Worm Ridden Skull
7. I Am Your Sacrifice
8. City of Stone
9. We Are Damnation
10. Higher Into the Black Flames

Bio:

On Sacrificial, ANCIENT VVISDOM delivers ten tracks that continue to push the boundaries of both death rock and neo-folklore while retaining the memorable simplicity and melodic catchiness present on their previous, critically-lauded manifestations. Produced by founding vocalist Nathan Opposition, engineered by Travis Bonner at The Diamond Factory Studios in Austin and mastered by Paul Logus (Anthrax, Clutch, Hellyeah, Shadows Fall et al) at Taloowa Mastering in New York, Sacrificial fuses all the prime qualities of the likes of Black Sabbath, Metallica, and Quicksand, into a wholly anthemic album of dark and light.
 

Thematically, Sacrificial delves further into singer Nathan Opposition’s personal ascent into the unanticipated enlightenment of exploring humanity’s universal darkness. Whereas traditional lore dealing with the occult, paganism, and Satan tends to be heavy-handed (and often synonymous with a proverbial descent away from any sort of positive self-affirmation), Sacrificial spins a slant wherein “down” becomes “up.” In Opposition’s world, confronting one’s own demons and humanity’s primordial penchant toward chaos and destructive ritual will ultimately pass each seeker through a threshold unto which deeper knowledge, sage wisdom, and self-realization envelop one’s consciousness.
 

Comments Opposition, “Where there is chaos you will find us. Where there is disorder, others find discomfort yet I find salvation. Lead me not unto anything. I am my own. This album will enlighten the fools and give the enlightened something to listen to.”
 

Musically, Opposition and his brother, Michael the Dark Angel, continue to accomplish what countless musicians frustratingly attempt to conquer in their song writing: simple, memorable riffs and melodies that stand the test of time. Each hymn comprising Sacrificial is hummable and infectious. Like the best practitioners in any field, the brothers make it look and sound easy to the point where everyone listening thinks they can do it (spoiler alert: very few can ever do it). New addition Mitch Keith Morris wastes no time in making his mark on Sacrificial, channelling deep primitive and tribal percussive influences into the empowering sound that is unmistakably ANCIENT VVISDOM

Review:

The prolific Austin troupe Ancient VVisdom have just released their third album in as many years, entitled ‘Sacrificial’. 

If the first two Ancient VVisdom albums didn't float your boat, then 'Sacrificial' is unlikely to sway you. Yet fans that were sold on their brand of endtimes neo-folk will undoubtedly lap this up, as it contains all the hallmarks of what make Ancient VVisdom ace - post-AIC vocal melodies, anthemic choruses and dynamic song writing. Opener "Chaos Will Reign" is as good a song as they have written, and "Blood Offering" and "Worm Ridden Skull" have all of the hallmarks of classic heavy metal / hard rock, processed through a satanic-grunge filter. 

The obvious difference with 'Sacrificial' is that they have adopted a less folky, more electric approach. This manifests itself in two ways - traditional metal sludge-trudge in the aforementioned "Chaos Will Reign", and alt-rock-as-hell "The Devils Work". It works well for the music (indeed one might say branching out was what Ancient VVisdom needed to do) but there is less dual guitars than before, which makes things a bit more one dimensional.

In addition, one has to wonder how much longer they can go pondering such lyrical topics, as they haven’t really differed from their debut. Indeed, "Blind Leading the Blind" is pretty tiring and weak, and its message seems throwaway and pretentous. Yet Ancient VVisdom has accomplished another album of great hooks and infectious melodies, and their odd mixture of pop sensibilities and occult lyrics will not fade from memory any time soon. 

Words by: Jack Taylor

You can pick up a copy here

For more information:

http://www.facebook.com/AVVFB
http://www.magicbulletrecords.com
http://www.facebook.com/magicbulletrecords?fref=ts