The Vision Bleak is one of those bands that you don't dislike as such, but it is not amongst your favorite. Well, such is my situation at least. So, it was in that state of mind that I started listening this new album Set Sail to Mystery. What do you know, this is very good! Not sure what has happened to this duo, but it sure sounds fine to those ears of mine.
The Vision Bleak is springing back in 2010 in better shape than ever. The narrative epic intro "A Curse of the Grandest Kind" sets the mood for what is to follow. Lots of good, crunchy and heavy riffing and epic keyboards are forming the backbone of this huge sonic structure. Powerful it is, as well as melodic, and I would even add a certain theatrical /dramatic edge on top of it all. The dual vocals (clean vs. rasps) are greatly helping crafting that theatrical edge too. Some of their personalities include: epic, narrative, sick, wicked and even operatic. ON the last couple tracks, they even obtained a little help from a female operatic vocalist. The keyboards often present without becoming overwhelming. Quite the contrary as they contribute nicely in forming the atmosphere and a bit of a haunted feel at the same time. A couple compositions really impressed me: "I Dined With the Swans" and "Mother Nothingness (the Triumph of Ubbo Sathia)". Those are the slower, bone crushing pieces that I found really tasty. This is especially true for the later, since it is the darkest, downtuned number that is very reminiscent to My Dying Bride.
Set Sail to Mystery is, hopefully, marking a turning point in The Vision Bleak's art.
Track listing:
1 – A Curse of the Grandest Kind
2 – Descend Into Maelstrom
3 – I Dined With the Swans
4 – A Romance With the Grave
5 – The Outsider
6 – Mother Nothingness (The Triumph of Ubbo Sathia)
7 – The Foul Within
8 – He Who Paints the Black of Night
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