The Vision Bleak is one of those bands that gets me. Or, I get them? Whatever. This German, Goth outfit has been delivering haunting concept albums ranging from Lovecraftian characters to Edgar Allan Poe themes for twenty years. Even going as far as coining their unique brand of music as “horror metal.” Utilizing Type O Negative-esque booming vocals, surprisingly heavy riffs, and bombastic key-driven atmospheres, every The Vision Bleak album is Gothic metal goodness that’ll leave your skin crawling, hands bloody, and eyes leaking. Funny enough, 2016’s The Unknown was the first time any album I reviewed was chosen as the RotM. These eight long years have been quiet, undoubtedly due to the band brewing their next horrific release. Now it’s here and it’s like nothing they’ve ever done before.
For those diehard fans, there’s nothing to be concerned about when listening to this year’s Weird Tales. Musically, all is safe and sound. Nothing on Weird Tales is concerning. Well, minus the lyrical content and unsettling, beautiful, and devastating passages created as a tribute to the magazine of the same name. No, what’s so unique about this release compared to the band’s previous material is that it’s a single song. That’s right, The Vision Bleak has ventured into territories where few have succeeded and many have failed. Thankfully, Weird Tales sits happily next to greats like Green Carnation’s Light of Day, Day of Darkness and Edge of Sanity’s Crimson. As intended, it’s an album that cannot be experienced in pieces but must be cherished as a whole. But, how do you even review an album whose sections can only be measured in time? Thankfully, The Vision Bleak was kind enough to not only identify where the changes occurred but also title each of these twelve passages.
Weird Tales by The Vision Bleak
After opening the album in classic instrumental fashion, “Chapter II: In Rue d’Auseil” gets things moving with a Gothy groove and smooth vocals. A minute in, it transitions to an addictive chug that eventually sprouts wings and takes off like a demon hellbent on the pearly gates. Not that it’s new for the band, but kicking the album off with such a strong chorus does wonders for the rest of the album, encouraging me to dive in and never leave. “Chapter IV: Once I Was a Flower” is another chapter in the story that grips me tight and never lets me go. Opening with a gentle piano and acoustic guitar, the band borrows from the likes of Moonspell to drive the song with a charging rhythm and perfectly arranged vocal delivery. When those beautiful strings surface, this melodic beauty guides you into a hopeless graveyard where you’ll lie and cry forever.
“Chapter VIII: The Undying One” also has moments of utter sadness, made stronger by the combination of pained cleans and acoustic guitars. However, this rollercoaster ride goes further, taking you up and down in emotional mind-fucking segments. After beginning with a slithering riff engulfed in ghostly keys, the vocals arrive, bound in a cloak of hard-hitting riffage. After passing through a heart-wrenching interlude, the vocals and drums come screaming out of the mist, pushing hard on the wind. When you think the storm can’t get worse, the clouds split with a thunderous ruckus as the band unleashes the most badass riff on the record. “Chapter XI: Canticle” blends seamlessly with its former chapter to deliver a maddening frenzy of guitars and growls as the patient rips free from his straight jacket. After a short lull, a new lead emerges, growing into a snarling vocal performance and massive climb. For all its maniacal characteristics, it sheds the jacket and soars to new heights, pushing into the stratosphere with one of the most powerful choruses on the album.
Not surprisingly, The Vision Bleak has delivered on an album concept that rarely works. But, honestly, I didn’t think it would work as well as it did—most likely because I’m used to the song separation on their albums, typically finding myself targeting those song-of-the-year tracks the most when I return to one of their albums. So, it did take a couple of spins to absorb everything. But, with a few spins, you’ll also recognize and accept Weird Tales’ segments, transitions, and seamless characteristics. Due to its unique construction, it’s difficult to determine its place in the hierarchy of The Vision Bleak output. But, it has everything—growls and cleans, pianos and strings, acoustic and distorted guitars, orchestrations, and hard-hitting riffs that even go as far as the thrashy, Sodom-like qualities of “Chapter IX: Evil Dreams Run Deep.” But, nothing will prepare you for the heartbreaking and somewhat Amon Amarthian closer. So, enjoy.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Prophecy Productions | Bandcamp
Website: facebook.com/thevisionbleak.official
Releases Worldwide: April 12th, 2024
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