Void-of-Sleep-–-Tales-Between-Reality-and-MadnessItaly really seems to be coming into its own these days as a country where metal thrives. There is a huge and bewildering wealth of talent springing from every corner of this nation, which was unimaginable not too many years ago. Void of Sleep are one such group of talented and creative individuals, whose musical vision is not only powerful and crushing, but also diverse, hypnotic and truly creative without being self-indulgent

I will start by saying this: Void of Sleep have more groove than a circular slab of black vinyl 20 miles wide. That is the first thing that hits you when their incredible debut album blasts out of the speakers. This album should come with a health warning; `May induce cranial damage and/or seizures due to violent head-banging’. A lot of the so called sludge/stoner rock bands I’ve heard have sounded limp and uninspired; not so this band, who positively rage and pound for all they are worth. The riffs are fat, enormous, blues-drenched beasts, pulling solid, weighty, crushing rhythms aplenty.

Yes, this band really does rock, but it does other things just as well. Void of Sleep really enjoy mixing things up and adding a whole load of diverse influences which launches their music into inner space. Did I mention prog? This is no simple heavy blues fest; Void of Sleep have a panoramic musical vision which they will kick into your eardrums. Occasionally there are the harsh, dissonant, jazz inspired moments inspired by Voivod via King Crimson. At other times there are huge, psychedelic, drifting, dream-like passages which add an eerie majesty to the proceedings. Beautiful, harmonised vocal passages add shafts of light to the rolling darkness. Amid the mighty rock, Void of Sleep manage to be insanely catchy as well, with vocal melodies you will be humming for days.

Burdo’s expressive and charismatic vocal performance seems to be all things to all men; at times a roaring metal leviathan pouring out his soul, at other times entwining the listener in sweet, hypnotic melodies. Some of the harmonised vocals remind me of classic Alice in Chains, at other times I can hear Opeth.

Topped off with a wonderfully organic production, this album really is a gem, and in some ways the antithesis of modern metal. The band have written music to their own specifications instead of following someone else’s trend, and have created a fantastically enjoyable and unique debut album, with touches of Tool, Black Sabbath, Solitude Aeturnus, King Crimson, Monster Magnet, Opeth and whole lot more. I urge you to delve deep into this particular madness.

(8.5/10 Jon Butlin)

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