Now here's a prog rock/metal album where music plays a much more important part than musical show-off. Votum (means prayer where a sacrifice is offered) come from Poland and 'Metafiction' is their second full length album. The band's debut album 'Time Must Have a Stop' (2008) has been praised by those few who've heard it. I haven't.

Votum build strong atmospheres. Their compositions follow feelings and not any typical formulas to write music. So, anything can follow after a part in a song. Opener 'Falling Dream' is a perfect example of this; a song that follows emotions and builds itself through the musicians. 'Metafiction' is still about heavy emotions, even though they are represented in more like observing terms, not in violently exploding ways. The music is mostly very calm, but still it has a goal, which keeps it interesting. 'Stranger than Fiction' is the only full-on metal song, some others have metal bits in them. Fantastic, memorable guitar work with quite a lot of lead guitar playing, together with awe-inspiring soft-ish singing are the major chauffeurs. Keyboards leave assumption, that they are just backing up the guitars and the vocals, but there's more to them. Bass and drums create the essential pulse. Instrumental work is simple, if compared to majority of highly technical "music academy" prog bands, but it also feels true. It all has edge.

The band says, that their art is binding music, lyrics and visual artwork together. The promo copy leaves the experience incomplete... The lyrics seem to be about man ruining himself, losing everything he loves. The lyrics tell a story, but it's left for a listener to finish it.

Fine compositional work, good production and excellent performances. Feelings above technicality. Votum have released an interesting album, that basically sounds easy, but holds a lot of listening experiences for a long time. Experience it.

Rating: 7½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
03/23/2010 18:05