JANVS - Vega

December 6, 2008

Reviewer: Jesse

Every year I stumble upon a band that I have had no previous knowledge of in any way that releases an album that completely captivates and enamors me.  This year that band is Janvs and the album is Vega.  This Italian trio has been around for about 5 years and Vega is their third full length album and it’s a shame that I’m only just now discovering them.

Generically described as black metal by some, Vega is more of a journey through an array of differing metal structures each seeming to evoke to the same emotional response throughout the album.  Even as the album sways in style from song to song, the trademark constant lead riffing never stops.  In fact, there’s almost a complete lack of chords in general leaving room for Matteo to use Vega as a playground of sorts for his superb talent with his guitar.  However, that does not mean that this is some sort of unfocused wank-fest.  It’s in fact quite elegant, relaxing and spiritual in a sense.  The atmospheric, calming air that this album produces is remarkable given that it’s still an aggressive metal album at its core.

The album opens with “Torri De Vetro” which is nice display of prog black metal what with the fast pace and constant guitar licks and harsh vocals.  The slower, spacey moments are dispersed within so as to keep the atmospheric element alive.  “Saphire” follows up next and is clearly the highlight of this album.  Gorgeous and soothing, one of those songs that can stay in your head all day and is one of the best individual songs I’ve heard all year.  Clean vocals are in abundance and the song just washes over you with its somber beauty and even at six and a half minutes, it ends much too soon.

“Tarab” is what you could consider the “contrast” piece on this album as it’s very different from the rest of the album yet the spacey and dream-like style is more defined on here than any other song.  It’s sort of a Middle Eastern, Vedic take on what they do well.  When listening to this song, I imagine a vast desert in the middle of the night under billions of stars.

After a short synth-heavy instrumental, “Mediterraneo” begins the second half of the album in which the last three songs continue the same style as the first two and sort of act as one long song to finish out the album.  Up tempo and aggressive riffing yet the atmospheric synth elements are much more audible as if preparing you for the ending.  There’s even some hushed chanting midway through “Mediterraneo.”  The title track is another melancholic, distant take on the prevailing sentiment on Vega that serves as a prelude to the closing number, “Vesper II” which is nearly as beautiful as “Saphire” but at twelve minutes long, it actually satisfies while part of the allure to “Saphire” is that it leaves you before you’re ready.  That aspect is what makes “Vesper II” the perfect closer to the album and shows that Janvs are fully aware of how piece together an album in a way that serves as a journey which is completely inviting to anyone’s ears.

Vega is a lush and serene take on modern progressive black metal that is as beautiful as it is technically impressive.  It was easy for me to fall in love with this album and every subsequent listen thereafter has been a rewarding and relaxing experience.  Not many albums are able to completely affect my mood therefore I’m going to hold onto this one for a very long time.

Release Date: October, 2008
Label: ATMF Records

TRACK LISTING

1. Torri di Vetro
2. Saphire
3. Tarab
4. Dazed
5. Mediterraneo
6. Vega
7. Vesper II

Total playing time: 49:05

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