Progressive metal has been on a roll for some years now, and interesting projects in the genre are multiplying. Among them, VOLA, from Denmark, are at the top of their game, offering music that is both powerful and introspective. Three years after their studio album Witness, the quartet are back with a new album, and their ambitions have been raised even higher.
Cannibal sets the tone right from the start with an explosive collaboration: the aggressive voice of Anders Fridén (In Flames) blends perfectly with the melodic harmonies of Asger Mygind, and immediately delivers one of the band's best tracks. VOLA's music is characterized by verses whose raw, crushing energy contrasts with more melodic, ethereal choruses. A contrast that reflects their balanced approach, between metallic heaviness and atmospheric ambiences, to offer tracks that are both catchy and emotionally powerful.
More incisive than before, VOLA surrounds itself with more hypnotic electronic elements, such as the heady melody on Break My Lying Tongue or the haunting arpeggiation on Paper Wolf, giving it a psychedelic edge. The guitar riffs are more percussive, and the drumming is also stronger, giving the tracks greater scope and impact. Vocalist Asger Mygind's warm, gentle vocals counterbalance the energetic, almost anxiety-inducing instrumentals. He impresses with his ability to navigate between fragile melodies and powerful vocals, giving each track a strong emotional charge. Mygind sings from the heart, and you can hear it.
The album also ventures into more introspective territory. Glass Mannequin, with its hints of the Interstellar theme, explores human fragility through immersive sounds and poignant lyrics, while closing track Tray offers a contemplative touch, carried by airy synths and a soothing melody. It's also impossible not to be captivated by the gentle melancholy of I Don't Know How We Got Here, or to fall under the spell of We Will Not Disband and its immersive electronic textures. These lulling moments balance out the darker, more intense passages, such as the menacing Bleed Out, with its oppressive electronic influences and percussive crescendos, or Cannibal, whose sheer rage will unhinge a few necks.
With this album, VOLA has established itself as a key player on the prog-metal scene, and Friend of a Phantom is striking proof of their artistic mastery and ability to blend emotion and technicality, the culmination of a recipe full of sincerity that hits the bull's-eye every time. Unquestionably one of the best releases of the year.
