Velnias are a project from Colorado, given birth to in 2006 and especially known as live act (recently they toured around Europe in support of Kampfar). They initially released Sovereign Nocturnal in 2008 via God Is Myth Records, and in mean time there were a couple of re-issues (Vendetta Records, for example, did the vinyl-edition, Eternal Warfare the cassette-one). Since this re-issued version does not contain new or previously unreleased bonus material either, I do not really clearly understand why there is a new re-release once again… The only reason I can think off is to give this material a proper worldwide distribution, so let’s not philosophise about it anymore…
Sovereign Nocturnal was, and still is, a three-song creation that lasts for more than forty minutes. The record opens with Into Arms Of Oak, which starts droning, yet the melodic way, almost Funeral Doom-alike. It slowly transforms in a bleak and grim mixture of Doom (indeed the Funeral way, with accents of the atmospheric yet utterly obscure Doom-Death scene) and Black Metal; the latter rather of the semi-melancholic and depressive kind. It is melodic and atmospheric, yet with a core of obscurity, mysticism and grimness. The composition (and this counts as well for the others) varies throughout its continuation, with inclusion of semi-folkish and / or depressive-melancholic acoustic passages, Pagan / Viking-alike riffs, and a Post-Rock alike attitude. But I am never completely blown away; it’s like I am waiting for something that did not seem to appear. The second track, Risen Of The Moor, is comparable in structure (i.e. the different passages and influences), and it is slightly more heavy and powerful than the opening track. Risen Of The Moor is more adventurous and intense, and in general it sounds much more hypnotic too. I was quite surprised to hear a passage, somewhere in the middle, that did remind me enormously to Neurosis’ Given To The Rising (the riffing especially), but here too the Wolves In The Throne Room elements are more prominent. The grande finale of this track, by the way, is pretty intense and energetic with those ritual war-drum patterns. The album ends with the title track, which evidently goes on in the vein of both former ones. Still filled with tremolo riffs, a profound and slowed-down rhythm section, a couple of melancholic leads, creepy grunts and, of course, an integer, introvert acoustic intermezzo, Sovereign Nocturnal brings back to mind the ritual / spiritual passage through a next level of organic mindfulness and consciousness. It might be, at the same time, the most epic track out of three.
Within this specific sub-genre, Velnias aren’t the most impressing act. Their follow-up, RuneEater, was (is) somewhat more intense and powered, and I am pretty sure their next effort, in case there will be one, can become one of the most interesting ones within the Post / Doom / Black-scene. But one cannot ignore the best intentions once created under the moniker of Sovereign Nocturnal. Worth giving it a try…
For fans of: Wolves In the Throne Room, Agalloch, Pelican, Oranssi Pazuzu and Year Of No Light, and even Primordial, Opeth and the likes…