There are very few instances where I would ever label a band as underrated simply because I know how often the term gets thrown around. It really gets annoying sometimes, but if there is any single act out there that I feel deserves the term it has to be Veldes. This one-man band has been constantly improving his take on atmospheric black metal with me becoming more amazed by each entry, but it’s with this brand new EP that Veldes soars to new heights.
After doing something for over five years at a consistent rate with no signs of slowing down, you would think that you’d be getting pretty fucking good at doing whatever it is. That statement rings true for Veldes for this band has, as you might’ve guessed by now, been making tasty atmospheric black metal for five years now with a good number of releases under his belt. And just when I think the man behind Veldes may have reached his peak with last year’s “The Bitterness Prophecy”, I was proven wrong yet again with the glory that is “Storm Borrower”. Sometimes a band can make more of an impact with a small collection of songs in the form of an EP versus a full-length album, and “Storm Borrower” is a glorious presentation of such with this three-track marvel showing yet another increase in skill, capability, and tastiness. Simply put, the whole of “Storm Borrower”, from its flavorful instrumentation that’s a staple for the style to the haunting piano work, is yet another masterwork for this Slovenian musician who clearly understands his subject and then follows suit in stunning the listener with grand quality. It’s another rollercoaster of an experience that takes us through everything that’s great about the genre while simultaneously bringing to the light, yet again, how truly talented Veldes is. The whole EP is a euphoric cacophony that’s brought together through sheer skill and an unparalleled sense of musicianship, understanding of the style, and immaculate execution to make what’s the seventh piece of material we’ve gotten from Veldes a true marvel by all accounts.
Works like this renew my interest in the style at hand literally every single time. Each time I come crawling back to Veldes, I find something new to love and a reinvigorated desire for crispy atmospheric black metal that I can eat right up. “Storm Borrower” is a quiet yet deadly EP amongst the scene as a whole but I will likely remain steadfast throughout the year and dare to proclaim that Veldes is yet again the most underrated act the scene as of yet to give the proper respect.
LISTEN to “Storm Borrower” on Bandcamp here.
LIKE Veldes on Facebook here.
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