(Power/Folk Metal) [CD] Vexillum - Дискография - 2011-2015, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

For better or for worse, I was absolutely obsessed with finding Vexillum's debut album after I first discovered it (which I did by using the Metal Archive's Discordance, a fantastic tool!). The picturesque album art admittedly appealed to the fantasy reader in me, with its depiction of a rowdy tavern. With drinks being served, band playing, and bar patrons chatting, it was an idyllic and irresistible piece of cover art. After not being able to find the album available on hardcopy anywhere, I've bought it digitally from Amazon for the time being (though I now see that it has leaked).

I was surprised to see such an unknown band on the ticket for the recent Rhapsody of Fire/Visions of Atlantis tour in Europe, but figured that this could only bode well. As you might well guess, Vexillum plays a pretty similar style of fast paced, Italian flavored European power metal. I was nodding my head and smiling pretty quickly, since Vexillum follows the oh-so-successful and familiar blueprint that many bands before them have established. Example: “Neverending Quest” begins with a sweeping acoustic intro which bursts into an explosive and dramatically held scream from the vocalist that gradually fades into a coursing run of guitar and drum. Nothing new or experimental here, just the type of power metal that you and I know and love.

What IS novel about The Wandering Notes is, as the title might partially imply, the tendency of the songs to convey motion. The intro and outro of almost every song features footsteps (coming and going from the building before the first track and after the last), music, laughter, and voices. To me, it seems that the band is recreating a visitor's time at the tavern and his movement between tables, experiencing the stories, tales, and music that each bar regular has to offer. Despite not being the most original, I've never heard this concept taken so far as to fill a whole album, and it makes for a fun and interesting listen.

Musically, Vexillum has their stuff in pretty tight order. Dario Valesi has a very high and distinctly Italian voice (minus the powerful accent), but sometimes comes off as yelling a bit rather than singing. This tendency isn't too overpowering, though it might hang some listeners up. There are some catchy choruses floating around the album to be sure; it couldn't be power metal without them. The guitarists are pretty talented and have some really cool riffing going on, which is probably the band's single strongest point. In general, I feel that Vexillum has got a handle on their own style which, when all elements are combined, stands out from most of their contemporaries. In fact, their addition of light symphonic elements, the background noise of the tavern, a couple of guest vocal appearances, and a violin appearance all combine to make this a clever and well-conceived debut. Songs like “Neverending Quest”, “Avalon”, and “The Wood of Chances” remind me of why I love this genre so much, and the younger, less mature attitude of bands like Vexillum becomes almost refreshing rather than irritating and amateur.

There is a clear need for maturity on The Wandering Notes: the vocals could be tightened and improved and the mixing could be a bit more bass-heavy. On the band's next album, they'll have to cut out the gimmick (however effective it may be) and really deliver their own sound, or they won't be contending. However, there's plenty of rocking power metal and adept musicianship here to keep fans of the genre interested. Grab yourself a pint, take a seat, and let the cares of the modern world drift away, if just for a short time.

Review written by The Protagonist.

Pisa is primarily known for its leaning tower. But for Heavy Metal? No, no civic points have been awarded for that until now. VEXILLUM want to change that. With their second album "The Bivouac" the band has an opulent piece of Heavy Metal in their hands. Although the general term "Heavy Metal" is a misnomer. The Italians create their own style. Dashing Euro-Power Metal interwoven with Celtic-/ Nordic-/Folk ingredients is not exactly a common or garden variety and has, as far as we know, has hardly ever been mentioned in articles of the worldwide metal press. VEXILLUM, the name for the legionary banner of the Roman army which, carried before the troops, proudly bore the legion's name, will also surely lead the field with this album which bears their realisation of hmynic Heavy Metal with an unmistakable stampe of their own. Compared with its predecessor, the musical advancement of "The Bivouac" is enormous and the band's concentrated work on its own identity is beginning to bear fruit.

The band was founded in Pisa in 2004 by Michael Gasparri under the name of "SHADOW VEXILLUM". The founding was followed by several line-up changes before they became a stable group in 2005. In that year the band recorded their first demo CD entitled "Tales" which already showed a musical uniqueness: the combination of Celtic-Nordic-Folk influences with fast, melodic Power Metal elements. The band underlined the sound optically at live shows by appearing on stage in Scottish kilts - and still do so today. In 2006 Dario Vallesi joined SHADOW VEXILLUM as its new singer and still puts his own unique stamp of style and sound on the band. 2006 also saw the beginning of the work on the album, "Neverending Quest", and during the same period the Italians changed the band's name from SHADOW VEXILLUM to VEXILLUM, once again changing some band members in order to form the best possible conditions for the planned EP. Musical support was gained by the two VISION DIVINE musicians Alessio Lucatti and Federico Puleri, who made guest appearances on "Rising From The Ruins". The EP was released in 2007 and received good to very good reviews from all over the world. Their first important shows were played with bands such as ELDRITCH. In 2010 the band began work on their first album, which kept them busy all through the summer before releasing "The Wandering Notes" on the Italian label My Graveyard Productions at the beginning of 2011. The lads' style had made enormous progress and the international press pricked up their ears in interest. Positive reviews confirmed that VEXILLUM had done everything right. The album had again given the band the chance to work with friends from other bands, such as Fabio Lione (VISION DEVINE, RHAPSODY OF FIRE) and Alessio Lucatti (VISION DIVINE). As a result of the excellent reaction of the press VEXILLUM went on their first European tour in February 2011 supporting RHAPSODY OF FIRE. When the tour ended, they needed to find a new drummer at short notice and it was in the new formation that the quintet sat down to write the songs for the successor to "The Wandering Notes". From May until July 2012 the highly motivated Italians worked on "The Bivouac", which was to appear on the shop shelves under the label of Limb Music. The band stayed on track musically and thematically and so one once again meets up with many of the same figures in the stories. Stylistically the band has taken yet another step forwards in order to avoid being mistaken for any other band, and, with "The Bivouac" they have a true ace up their sleeves.

"The Bivouac" is certainly an album which will cause much discussion but isn't that the whole point of music? To shake things up, eliminate narrow-mindedness, tear out barriers? Their style can be compared to bands such as RHAPSODY OF FIRE, LABYRINTH, HEIMDALL and VISION DIVINE, without, however, copying them. The album, recorded in the "Wanna Rock" studios, is melodic but has an edgy sound and Darrio Vallesi's voice imresses the listener more and more with his unmistakeable style. Most of the up-tempo songs begin with sound fragments, which imparts the mood of a story before flipping over to galloping, furiously driving riff attacks. Built primarily on hymn-like melodies, bombastic themes are the soul and body of every song. "The Oak And Lady Flame" could easily be used as background music for a battle scene. One of the highlights of the album is The Marketsquare Of Dooley" which impresses by its abrupt change of pace, a driving rhythm and perfectly incorporated storyboard parts. "The Hunt" has such an enormous speed that it almost borders on the limit of melodic Speed Metal, yet here too melodies and harmonic parts dominate the scene. "The Bivouac" is an absolute must-have for fans of the genre, because every possible wish of fans of the style is fulfilled. And the tremendous production by the band, plus the mastering by R.D. Liapakis & C. Schmid (Mystic Prophecy, Devils Train, Orden Ogan) has brought out the quality of these speed tracks even more, making the eleven songs truly a metallic dream. VEXILLUM's diary already shows two tours confirmed for 2013.

One thing I like about Metal music is that it can be used to tell a story and often at times you can picture what is going on in your head. Some bands go one step further and enlist the help of some big names in Rock and Metal to aid them in the recording process and these roles are usually that of vocals if there are multiple characters such as the Genius Rock Opera trilogy by Daniele Liverani and the band featured in this review are one of those. Their name is VEXILLUM and they are an Italian Folk Power Metal band; I've never been too sure about Italy and Metal Music as I thought it never really worked with them, but maybe Folk Power Metal is a genre they can do some good in. Let us find out shall we?

VEXILLUM are a quintet of Italian musicians from Pisa in Italy and so far they have three studio albums under their belt which include their new one “Unum” and that is the focus of this review. Having formed in 2004, their original name was SHADOW VEXILLUM but in 2007, the first word of their band name was dropped and they became VEXILLUM.

“Unum” is an album which uses elements of both the Folk and Power Metal genres and you can identify bits of each as you listen to this and there are some bagpipes as well here and there which I must admit I’m not too keen on as I’m not a fan of that instrument. The guest singers enlisted for this include Chris Bay (FREEDOM CALL), Hansi Kürsch (BLIND GUARDIAN), Maxi Nil (JADED STAR) and Mark Boals (RING OF FIRE) who each take on the role of a character in this tale. If that wasn’t enough, we get two covers to close off the album including “Spunta La Luna Dal Monte” by Italian band TAZENDA and “Run Run Away” by British band SLADE.

So how does this album stack up? The answer is very well as I like music that tells a story especially if it’s in the Metal genre and this is one album I did find myself liking. The fusion of both Folk and Power Metal is a nice touch as is the addition of the guest singers as well as that adds a bit more power to this already heavy album. The first seven songs on this album is all original material by the band which is the tale that “Unum” tells and the last two songs are covers with the first being performed entirely in their native language of Italian and the latter being arranged in a Folk and Power Metal type fashion which I found to be a bit unusual but at the same time it was very enjoyable.

Anything to nitpick or moan about? There is but they’re only small things and one of them is that I think at times the guitars do overshadow the vocals at times which is not bad by any means, but sometimes it can be hard to make out the words. Fortunately, it’s not really present all that often so it’s easily forgiven and the second niggle I have is with the inclusion of bagpipes. I get why they were used as they add to the Folk music element of this album but it’s not something I’m all that keen on.

Overall verdict now and I’m happy to say that this is the first Italian album I have heard in the Metal genre which I found myself liking. I think the reason I do is because the band have really focused on making the genre their own while adding in their own little unique touch and that I think is what made it enjoyable despite any little niggles I may have pointed out. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes Power Metal, Folk music or a combination of both and I also recommend it if you like music that tells a story.

Review written by MarcusTheRocker