With metal fans always searching for a fresh sound, The Vision Bleak may just be what they are looking for. Challenging tradition, The Wolves Go Hunt Their Prey channels goth, doom and thrash in a very novel and entertaining way. Being exposed to these elements, they all compliment each other very well. Getting started with a brief introduction "Amala and Kamala", you almost think you are going to hear a black metal recording, but once the thrash/doom of "She Wolf" comes on you hear a concentrated, overdriven guitar sound, combined with a vocal style both composed and finesse laden, not straying to far from Peter Steele territory. The band conjures up interesting arrangements that contain: steady guitar solos, atmospheric/bleak keyboards, grave-ridden growls, chanting style backing vocals all the way to "full-on" speed metal as in the neck-snapping beginning of "The Demon of the Mire". On average, most of the cd is of a thick mid-pace swagger that is full of a thoroughly modern Sabbath style groove. But one of the most interesting and intriguing elements of this cd has to be: The choice to place an eastern flavored mini (3 track) epic "The Black Pharaoh Trilogy" right in the center of the disc. Without ever sounding like other ethnic metallers, they find their way through this snake charmer with stunning dynamic success. They are very careful to maintain an individual sense of identity to each of the 3 parts. Actually, if you were not to look at the cd booklet, you might only ever be dimly aware that there is a connection between them.
This is an excellent offering from this German based melancholic chorus. Convincing and nicely done!
Track Listing
1. Amala and Kamala
2. She-Wolf
3. The Demon of the Mire
The Black Pharaoh Trilogy
4. Introduction
5. The Shining of Trapezohedron
6. The Vault of Nephren-Ka
7. The Eldrich Beguilement
8. Evil is of Old Date
9. By Our Brotherhood With Seth