VVARP - First Levitations

Key Facts

Country: 🇦🇺

Genre: Stoner/Doom Metal

Release Date: 31st August 2020

Record Label(s): Immonium Records

Band Members

Claudia Sullivan - Bass, Vocals

John Bollen - Guitars, Vocals

Scott - Drums

VVARP - Sommarsolståndet

Review 

Rating (out of 5🤘): 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

Favourite Track(s): Sommarsolståndet, Wizard Sister, Flames At Dusk, Hypnototum, Time Is Running Out Of Space

A dark and brooding force has come booming out of the depths of Melbourne. Although I've never got the appeal of styling a W as VV, it is insignificant as soon as that first riff comes thundering down your ear canals. From the very first second, I was entranced and gripped by the mystic fuzz that the coats this album in a purple and black hazed aura. An equally entrancing and hypnotic experience of an album that brings all sorts of imagery into your mind through swirling, optical illusion discs (as depicted on the album artwork) and kaleidoscopic transitions. With a blend of classic, old school riffage with modern, ethereal, occult style mysticism, this is certainly and album that will capture any listener in its spell! 

Musically, I'm brought towards the slow, chugging riff influence of Electric Wizard. Bass heavy, fuzz filled and brooding riffs that have a weight heavier than the heaviest thing in the universe. It's a dark and brooding atmosphere that is created as a result, but it is equally mysterious and intriguing. The thing that I really love about the album is the spacey, ethereal duet of male and female vocals, just sitting on top of the wall of fuzz. They almost seem to have a floating quality to them, that aid in the entrancement of your mind as the rest of the music washes over you. Hypnototum is the best example of this phenomenon, it almost feels like you are part of a ritual of some sorts and the chanting, haunting vocals are hymns to a doom metal god, giving you a projection to a higher plain of existence. There is a Medieval Cathedral style grandness to this album that I really love, ornate and elegant yet raw and powerful. The main, primordial groove that appears in abundance throughout the album and resonates through the void, helps melt the album together into one flowing masterpiece that the listener can get totally and utterly absorbed in. Album closer, Time Is Running Out Of Space, is a haunting and stunning fusion of heavy riffs and masterful retro metal melodic leads and consolidates everything that I heard previously into one thunderous album closer. As far as debut efforts go, VVARP have set themselves a high benchmark to follow, First Levitations has everything I look for and more in a doom album. My outright favourite track, Wizard Sister, has a magical majesty to it that I can't help but love, creating a distinct image in my mind of a black magic style haunting but also a liberation of some sorts of a female protagonist. Overall, the album has captured and bonded me in it's fuzzy haze, a well written and deeply atmospheric composition. 

The production is exactly what you'd expect. Bass heavy, fuzz laden, huge dark and brooding. The most obvious thing is it doesn't sound as muddy as some other doom records. When there is a lot of low end involved notes can become indistinguishable but whilst containing a primordial rawness, the lower frequencies have been kept clean and have been given the space they require. The bass tone is the stand out though, the distortion is dialled in perfectly so that the instrument has a voice and character of its own whilst supporting the mid range riffing of the guitar. The guitar takes on a more atmospheric role through out this album, whilst its tone is distinguished from the bass, by using the neck pick up it has a thicker sound, which augments the bass instead of being stand out, which is refreshening for me. The kick has a real girth thump to it, whilst the snare has a subtle snap that I really enjoy as it helps keep the album hypnotic because it's not like a shotgun. The cymbals cut through the fuzz and glimmer through the songs. Overall, an incredibly well mixed album. 

If you fancy some Australian doom, I highly recommend VVARP! Get your First Levitations happening today!

VVARP - First Levitations