They may have only played their first gig in June of last year, but they’ve hit the ground running and this, their second EP, showcases their eclectic brand of progressive metal that draws on the likes of Dillinger Escape Plan and Periphery.
Hints of Oceansize filter through on the first track, ‘Lyra’, on account of the expensive sound and attention to melody. There’s a real energy about it, too, which breaks into a tempest of growling metal under a deluge if guitars and kinetic drumming. It’s immediately apparent that there’s not only a lot going on, but that V/Vega have a complete mastery over tight structures and big crescendos.
‘The Grand Declaration’ is more overtly DEP, with a dash of Deftones and early Korn in the heavy mix. It certainly packs a punch, but there’s still a tune to be found, carried in the vocals, and in the quieter sections, delicate guitar ripples over a strolling bass.
‘Wanderer’ boasts some of the most savage riffery of all the tracks on the EP, a turbulent maelstrom of guitars, chugging bass and guttural vocals, but again, there are some melodic sections deftly woven in. They’re one of the few bands around who manage to juxtapose such contrasting sections together without it sounding remotely forced, and without the lighter parts undermining the power of the heavy ones.
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It’s not simply about the hard / soft / loud / quiet dynamics, either: there’s meticulous attention to detail, and some extremely intricate playing to be found here.
Closer ‘Reaching Eden’ is a powerful miniature epic, packing in crunching metal and expansive sonic vistas into a mere four and a half minutes.
It’s impressive stuff. ‘Leaving Lyra’ is undeniably the work of a band who’ve got something special to offer, not to mention major league potential.
V / VEGA Online
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