Album Review: Sepulcros – Vazio
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
Portugal is a country I associate with goods times, sun, and relaxation. Even in the depths of winter, bright blue skies brightened my visits. It’s unlikely however, that those memories will be stirred by this dark and subterranean release by the quintet under the name Sepulcros. A new band on the underground scene, ‘Vazio’ is raw, harrowing, and demonic.
Four tracks of bone-crushing death/doom metal are bookended by an intro and outro. The music is stifling, enveloping everything, slow and measured in parts and then frenetic, explosive, and uncontrollable for quick segments before the funereal pace returns. The changes in tempo ensure that there is no time to get comfortable. This is a challenging, sometimes disturbing listen.
Everything about ‘Vazio’ is unsettling. From the unearthly growls that permeate through the thick, cavernous riffs, to the overall sonic disturbances that are emitted. The darkness suffocates, the stench of decay lingering, the haunting echoes demanding.
Listening to this music requires appropriate aesthetics. It’s not for bright sunny times but for misery, rain, and dampness. A darkened room with a single candle; the eyes closed to absorb the shape shifting cacophony. In summary, an album of the night.
