You wake up somewhere in the 1970s. A dark room, the only light being a flickering candle that sits in each corner of the room. The sorcerer appears and throws a mesmerizing mist over you which will put you in a daze and leave you sitting back on your throne as you take in the psychedelic drift that is bouncing around you. This is Vinum Sabbatum with their debut full length 'Bacchanale Premiere'.
Yes, a time warp is the first thing you get as a vault must have been opened to reveal an old demo tape from a mystery band of the past. Not the case. The production has made this appear to feel very old school. Maybe a bit too organic. I would have liked it to be a bit cleaner as it sounds a little reserved or smothered. But anyways, a very minor gripe, but what this does is only help describe the above introduction and old feel.
I find the organ and keyboards dark and haunting. Sure it oozes the psychedelic edge, but it feels unpleasant, in a good way. The way it rides along in 'Tombstone Rider' for example is eerie as fuck. When it isn't bouncing around like it does in 'Gospel Of Mary', it is hovering in a subtle way in a song like 'In And Out Of Faith'. How about the way it tip toes around so creepy like in 'The Devil's Cradle'? That is cool.
The riffs are really catchy. A bass like and distorted tone that will send a vibration through the entire dark room. A very old Sabbath like feel to them and when they are not meandering around like they do in 'Earthrise', they trip and boogie out like in 'The Devil's Cradle' and 'In And Out Of Faith'. I like how when the leads flip out, it isn't in your face and more sits in the background and when it plays a more rhythmic role, the bass lines and keyboard/organ have their chance to take the lead. The droning finale comes at 'Vinum Sabbatum'. A moment where all the instruments come together in one huge dark orchestration and each instrument breaks out on its own at different points but maintaining that streaming daze before boogieing out again.
A rich tone in the vocals and the subtle wails that hit out with the echo effect backing provide this eerie edge to them. It almost feels as though the sorcerer is pleading with you to come join them in an occult ritual. He seems mysterious as his notes hold and swivel out or begin deep and branch out high. Again, very old school. Are we sure this is from the 21st century?
With this growth in 'occult' bands in recent years, 'Bacchanale Premiere' is an album that sounds like it sits firmly with the likes of Black Widow and Coven instead of being placed with the modern ones. That is how old school this album feels. More of a trip, much darker, more ritual like. And it grows too which means it will only get better in time.
When I attended Roadburn for the first time in 2010, my friends and I would always come across the same small group of people each day when waiting for the shuttle bus at the safari park to take us to the festival. We never spoke to the group other than maybe a 'hello', then again, my friends and I spent more time stirring one another than anything else (it's what Australians do.. more than others haha) which I am sure kept some of these people amused and confused at our sense of humour (we Australians tend to do that too hehe). Anyhow, a few months later, while conversing in emails with the owner of Northern Silence/Eyes Like Snow, he told me to check out Vinum Sabbatum as he was about to release their mini album. Of course, I liked it and when I came across the bands photos, I recognized some of the band members as being part of this group we would catch the shuttle bus to Roadburn with each day. Small world.
Point from that story is.. I am sure in time, eventually they wont be attending Roadburn again to just be part of the audience. I'm sure the Bat Cave will have a spot waiting for them soon...
Ikil
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