Time to pack those musical travel bags and head off in the mind at least to Greece. A nice place for sure but as we travel from South to North the narrations at hand are not going to be full of sunshine. We are prepared for this though and have been told clearly by our travel agent to expect “sounds like black noise of doom.” Our tour guide is singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist IdVex and heart and soul have obviously been put into this debut album release. The songs are long, often stretching in excess of the ten-minute mark and many will find them on the harrowing side; here we well and truly embrace the Hellenic darkness.

Opener ‘Alpha Sophia’ sets things up and will help define whether you are going to be comfortable taking this trip. The doom is very much in evidence via long drawn-out notes, the black is a slight misnomer; standard black metal this is not. If you are not expecting vocals of their kind, they will be a surprise and not be for all tastes. The best word to describe them is probably “strident.” They fill every corner of the recording and although not operatic they have the scope to shatter glass and damage optics. Amidst strong bass sounds, wispy theremin and brooding drums they are both austere and not exactly full of joy. One of the main subjects that our muse here likes centring on is her own eventuality and the words “when I die” are oft repeated, almost as though she is looking forward to it and it is the only thing she spends time planning for. I suspect there will be comparisons for her vocals mentioning Diamada Galas as she hits the higher notes as well as Jarboe. Although not strictly correct, her stance and range is as unique and formidable and let’s put cards on the table, it’s a lot closer to them than Nana Mouskouri. After the heart-wrenching doom and gloom of the first number we get some more traditional sounds of ancient Greece on Hearts Of Hades via utilisation of instruments such as the Davul, Kaval and Dahare via guest musicians. This dips right back in time and the bewitching Ancient Greek verse that is also used adds sorcery enticing you to believe they could be delivered by Atropos herself, one of the three Morai and naturally the one choosing the manner of death. Vocals revert to English making this journey with Charon easier to follow and all the more enchanting.

After that fantastic number it’s not long before our morbid soothsayer is asking for her dead body to be lathed and dressed in satin white by her lover and revelling in the time she is set to die again. It’s sheer poetry as ‘Breastfeed Your Delightful Sorrow’ suggests that every day is gloomy in this house but the funeral will at least be planned to the nth degree. Thankfully as we are convinced, there is beauty in this death along with an end of endurance and suffering. It’s impossible not to be affected on listening to it and who knows, it might just put a smile on your face especially when one gets to the wild whoops and wails that would put any professional funeral mourner out of a job. Giving Hecate an Elegy as we continue is also guaranteed to help eventual (it would seem very soon to be) passing as we journey with more songs to take to the tomb with the scope of having even Billie Holiday in tears. Listener’s may however have slit their wrists by now, as I stated this is not going to be for all tastes unless they can wryly contemplate the beauty of it all. With the title track adding violin as a further weapon of tears and ‘Remnants Of Time’ passing like footsteps in its sand with mournful saxophone, there is plenty to keep you occupied for the hour long duration of pain and misery. Like another closer to home artist this talented doomsayer certainly looks at the Darkher side of life and death but you certainly cannot fault either skill or conviction. As a bonus we also get a cover of Bathory ‘Song To Hall Up High’ delivered in her own unique style and guaranteeing open arms awaiting at Valhalla.

In short this really is quite a wonderful album for those who can embrace its death-obsessed caress. Hopefully we will hear more at a later date rather than an obituary and this will not serve as a requiem mass for IdVex.

(8.10 Pete Woods)

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https://ladlo.bandcamp.com/album/narrations-of-a-fallen-soul