Album Review: Wilderun - Veil Of Imagination
Reviewed by Tim Finch
Wilderun are a band that may not be on the tip over everyone’s tongues, especially here in the UK. Slowly over a number of years and across three independently released studio albums they have been growing a following, building a foundation from which to launch themselves. The initial release of ‘Veil of Imagination’ in 2019 brought them to the attention of Century Media, who have now signed the band and this week re-release ‘Veil of Imagination’. Giving the band greater worldwide exposure and bringing their brand of music to the masses in Europe for the first time.
‘Veil of Imagination’ is not like any album you have ever heard before. The Berklee College of Music graduates bring something completely different to the table, initially a mix of folk rock and death metal, but the album expands into so much more.
Yes you read that correctly, Wilderun meld together the essence of folk rock with lashings of death metal aggression. It may sound like a strange mix, but just a single listen to the album will reveal just how good this juxtaposition of styles is.
Kicking off with a fourteen minute epic of a song in ‘The Unimaginable Zero Summer’ the group set their stall out early. The sound is huge, perfectly produced and delivered to the listeners ears like an orchestral movie score. Beginning the tale they weave softly, the progressive folk rock elements seep forth building to crescendo as the barrage of death metal riffs and snarling vocals roars come rolling in.
The album continues in the same vein melodic, softly spoken easy listening of folk intertwined with the beastly death metal sound. No songs go on to top the fourteen minute epic of an opener, only one song on the album dips below the five minute mark as the band stretch their metaphorical progressive legs mixing their folk and metal styles to near perfection.
The mix of styles may be a hard sell to your regular heavy metal fan, but given the chance this recording has enough to offer something for everyone. Just one single listen can win even the most ardent naysayer over. Given the chance the album and the band can be huge. I encourage you all to spend some time with this, as you will not regret it.
