WRVTH, formerly Wrath of Vesuvius, may hail from California, but there is nothing sun and beaches about their third album, self-titled WRVTH. Says the band,
“We get a lot of inspiration from the experience of just being in a band. All the conflicts and resolutions throughout the years have all molded the way we approach our songs. We’ve always been the type of musicians that take the next step to further our skill but collectively and as an entity we strive to convey the jaded sense of growing older into our music. Like Revelation, there is a melodic and lyrical progression that all leads up to cathartic resolution. It takes you on a journey of emotional high points ranging from the good, bad and unforgiveable.”Lovely post rock instrumentals give way to frenetic mathcore; with alternating post-hardcore and death metal vocals. The resulting effect conjures loving memories of one of my favorite underground bands: The Number 12 Looks Like You. Like the now-defunct group from New Jersey, Wrvth employ use of genre jumping that is a bit wild, but always catchy.
”Harrowing Winds” sets the stage for this multifaceted journey. It soothes, kicks, and impresses before settling into a satisfying head bob. As the album continues on, the bar is repeatedly raised with a series of bliss-inducing guitar solos. But to call the result “happy” would be inaccurate. The clean guitar breaks and rumbly bass lines keep the aesthetic quite melancholy, and even feel a touch ominous. Like a lurking entity just out of view, or some repressed trauma. Song titles like “Malaise” are appropriate descriptors.
This consistent sound and atmosphere also lends itself to a strong progressive element. It can be difficult to tell where one song ends and another begins. Even so, the compositions themselves each have something unique to offer. Tracks like "Ongoing Dissension" overlay groovy chord structures with distorted delay riffs. The dream-like sax on “Lured by Knaves” and “Amber Glow” plays up the already present jazz influences while also invoking David Lynch films and detective noir.
”Forlorn” is a delightful build from light effects-laden indie tones to a deluge of squealing solos, cathartic shouting, and accomplished drumming. And I absolutely love the backtracking at the end. Guitar notes bounce around like pinballs in a particularly mazelike machine. But it is at the zenith of “Into Bloom” that everything comes beautifully crashing down in a blaze of Sikth-style riffage and conviction. The djenty bass serves as a perfect containment rather than carrying the song into boring binary. This only bleeds further into the rapturous conclusion of "Cease to Exist."
As the band stated, this album is a journey. There is plenty of emotional turmoil to be found along the way, but it seems as if there is a strong resolution by the time it is over. You can stream the whole experience for yourself OVER HERE and then soon after order either the CD or Digital Copy.