I have been putting this review on hold for quite some time and I was actually hoping one of the other writers on the Ech(((o)))es and Dust team would pick this release for reviewing instead. Then I decided to give it a go myself after all as I feel this album deserves a review it being one of the most interesting releases for me this year, so here it is. The main reason I've been putting this of is probably the difficulty to describe the exact genre Vaura falls in. There are bits of black metal, post-punk, progressive metal and darkwave, and the band combines it all effortlessly.
When I first listened to their new release The Missing it completely hit me out of leftfield. Where the opening title track kicks off with fast gnarly guitar playing and high tempo drumming you’re thinking this is just another black metal release. Then it all slows down to big pounding drums and with vocals that hit you with a deep, baritone voice singing very clearly and the whole song takes a complete turn. This is good stuff and it definitely hooks you from the word go. The rest of the song jumps back and forth between these faster black metal and slower new wave elements. The second track ‘Incomplete Burning’ is what created the being hit out of leftfield element to me. Where you expect the band to continue on this fast, slightly different and contemporary black metal style, they completely turn around and offer the listener a mellower, very 80’s sounding new wave influenced dark piece of music.
When you look at Vaura’s line-up it actually comes as no surprise that this band mixed various musical genres and elements. With bassist Toby Driver from Kayo Dot and Maudlin Of The Well and guitarist Kevin Hufnagel from progressive death metal band Gorguts, Dysrhythmia and his interesting solo work you have some of the more genre boundaries pushing musicians in the world of heavy music genre in your team.
On The Missing they definitely incorporate a lot of older new wave and post-punk influences into their blend of at times blackish metal. ‘Mare of the Snake’ for example is one of the most 80’s sounding songs I’ve ever heard, the majority of the 80’s back catalogue included. Listen to that bass sound, the drum rhythm, the vocals, it reminds me of Depeche Mode in their best period. You’ll find yourself humming along with the chorus before you know it.
What really stands out for me is Josh Strawn’s vocals on this release. He sings beautifully and the echoey production again draw that 80’s new wave comparison. At times Josh sounds like David Gahan, at other times he has a more Ian Curtis feeling to his voice and the deeper, darker singing parts even draw parallels with The National’s Matt Berninger. It makes an interesting combination on the faster black metal and post-punk sounding tracks, although these are limited to the opening track and ‘The Fire’ as the rest of 10 tracks that make up The Missing are more slower, focussing on the darkwave elements.
There are a lot of old references I can think of the more I listen to The Missing. From the already mentioned Depeche Mode, Joy Division, The National, the lead guitar even has that The Edge sound to it, the way the higher chords are played over some nice delay. It is quite clear what these guys grew up listening to and perhaps still listen to. If Ian Curtis would be reincarnated and join a progressive black metal band, this is what it would sound like. Final track ‘Putting Flesh To Bone’ brings all the mentioned elements together, ending this album perfectly.
If you want something different or you grew up in the 80’s like I did, then I would totally recommend Vaura’s The Missing. This is another great release by Profound Lore Records’ vastly growing musical output, again demonstrating why this label is one of the most interesting smaller metal labels around at the moment.
