Welcome to the V-Lodge. Founded over 100 years ago in Victorian times, this was a place all about decadence when visual beauty was an aesthetic that had to be followed by anyone with serious notions about joining the aristocracy, well that and vampirism! This is the main theme behind the imagery of Polish band Victorians and although they have only been around since 2010 (their ancestors no doubt are still practicing immortality) it is a very striking one and has been conveyed very nicely throughout all the aspects of their work that I have seen. There are plenty of things to discover about them on their website even if I did slightly regret clicking on their Halloween video which is a very interesting cover of Ghostbusters, which will now be going around in my head for bloody days. I like the fact that live it looks like their flamboyance spills out onto the stage too and they dress in somewhat neo-gothic, authentic costume.
Before we go any further I should point out that the band play symphonic metal with a female operatic singer at the helm. That way you can choose whether to read the rest of the review. It took me a few listens but the grand eloquence and power of the songs here, although not instantly hooking, certainly did once they had been given time. This is an incredibly strong debut and although the band are currently in self-release status I am sure that it will not be long before they are signed and this re-surfaces on a proper label.
Neo-classical strains and strings take us into ‘Descent Of Your Destiny’ and this is immediately strong in its filmic approach (yeah you could be cruel and call it Disney metal). A warbling harmonic appears but it is only when the song gets going properly that you really hear the power behind Eydis vocals. They are very natural sounding, not too over the top but incredibly defined and composed, you could easily see her taking part in a real opera. The music is enchanting with plenty of melody and dramatic flair about it, the orchestration draws you in and again does its job with plenty of grace without coming across as over the top and pompous. A bit of a ballad next ‘In The End (Love Me Now) is a little on the cheesy side, you can see lighters coming out and this takes in everyone from Nightwish and Doro as it has you tapping your feet along, the chorus is strong and somewhat familiar, it certainly will be after a couple of listens.
There are plenty of stirring and evocative numbers here amongst the ten on the album. Those who are into the aforementioned as well as the likes of Within Temptation and our own Pythia should find themselves a new favourite band here. The only problem I have really found with this strong album is choosing a favourite track. We get glittery fantasy passages that sparkle and glisten with an icy fairy tale like feel as we go into the stomping waft of ‘Siren’ and the track title is certainly a good descriptor of the vocal call which is impossible not to be taken in by. ‘Servants Of Beauty’ is one of the steamier, bodice ripping numbers with a killer chorus and galloping mind-set. The big surprise comes in Juliet’s Tale which is another passionate one and it is in the form of some sudden male vocals which are incredibly theatrical and sound like a Cossack or someone has suddenly charged in on the scene. Capping it all off with ‘Creed’ you are really left wondering what the strongest number is and the album is one of those that sets itself up and demands another listen to try and get you to decide.
All in all, Victorians have the scope to be pretty big in their field. Now who is it that’s going to step on up and put a label behind them?
(7.5/10 Pete Woods)
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