| Promo cd (Demo comp.) | 2001 | No label |
The songs are catchy, heavy and slow with the necessary groove and you can really hear how much fun the bandmembers had during this recording, because they do their job with a lot of conviction and enthousiasm. The production is very good (for Greek standards) but I miss that typical obscure, underground feel of the doom bands twenty years ago. In my opinion, traditional doom played in the old-fashioned way, works best with that typical old-fashioned production.
Another point of criticm are the vocals on the first demo on this promo cd, which sound a bit colourless at times, but there is clearly improvement in the second demo (although it's apparently still the same vocalist). Tracks like 'Vanquished emotion' from the first demo and 'Nunny song' or 'A sun that never shines (the second is my favorite song on this promo cd) from the second demo, can easily stand the comparison with the big traditional doom icons.Some tranquil, acoustic tracks like 'Wisdom blades (cut deepest)' add extra colour to the music.
Apparently, this promo cd granted this band a label deal (which they certainly deserve), so we are going to hear from those guys in the future, that's for sure!
Rush hour of lust
1. Eerie Passion
2. Alysia
3. Travelling of souls
4. Vanquished emotion
5. Rush hour of lust
6. Final plea (for saviour)
Indulge in reverie
7. Intro
8. Nunny song
9. A sun that never shines
10. Wisdom blades (cut deepest)
11. Secrets
12. Indulge in reverie
13. Planet caravan
Approx. 60 minutes
| Live at Ston Aera Wednesday 18/04/01 (live tape) | 2001 | No label |
Complaints in past reviews have centered on the vocals of bassist St. Spirius, but his clean, vibrato-laden vocals on this cassette show how far he has come in recent years-no complaints now! And the twin guitar attack leaves little doubt as to who's at the top of the heap in influence for Violet Vortex-St. Vitus' Dave Chandler. You'd swear that Dave was back from obscurity and playing on the club circuit in Greece. And if there was any doubt as to the Vitus influence, one has only to check the song credits-3, count 'em, 3 Vitus covers, along with a respectful cover of Pentagram's 'Forever My Queen'.
The originals, such as "Nunny Song," sound great and fit comfortably into the old-school doom style pioneered by such greats as Obsessed, Unorthodox, and Trouble. They round the tape out with the studio cut of "C.O.D.," from the St. Vitus Tribute, and a good and faithful version it is.
It's my understanding that there are only 50 or so copies of this cassette, available for the near giveaway price of $5 US. You can't go wrong! http://www.geocities.com/violetvortex_gr/.
1. Trouble
2. Nunny Song
3. Alysia
4. Forever My Queen
5. Riding Forever Free
6. Luv
7. Secrets
8. Living Backwards
9. Marsyas, the Satyr
10. Dying Inside
11. C.O.D. *
* from the Saint Vitus Tribute
Approx. 60 minutes
| Lure Elegant (CD) | 2001 | Secret Port |
Arguably the best band out of Greece since the legendary 70's cult band Socrates, Violet Vortex formed in 1993 and generally plays underground old-school doom in the vein of big-name trad. bands such as Black Sabbath, Candlemass and Saint Vitus, but are particularly hard to pigeonhole because of their innovative touches. Their sound is characterised by its slow, thick riffs, a typically heavy atmosphere and Sabbathesque vox.
The tracks on 'Lure Elegant' swing between heavy, yet up-tempo rock beats, to epic doom pieces reminiscent of Dawn of Winter, all executed with brilliant precision between the strong drumming on one hand and the fantastic double guitars on the other. The music is technical and well structured throughout, with lots of innovative guitar experimentation, giving the overall sound a thick and syrupy feel. The vocals are mid-ranged and often highly melodic. The combined effect is a toss-up between the groovy bluesy rock sounds of Badlands - a la "Trouble" - and traditional doom vibes of Black Sabbath, reflected particularly in track 7, 'Blind Truth'.
In short, this album successfully recreates that haunting 70's trad-doom atmosphere, with obvious influences from bands such as Pentagram, Trouble and Obsessed, whilst forcing their own musical personality through, particularly by way of the intense rhythm section.
The production on the first couple of demos leaves quite a lot to be desired owing to time constraints but has improved in leaps and bounds with 'Lure Elegant' having been produced, recorded and mixed at Reflection Studios by Violet Vortex and Stathis Pavlandis.
The only criticism that's easily levelled is at the vocals which, in comparison to the trademark technicality of the music and lengthy but interesting solos, seem bland and colourless. Having said this, Spyros' vox have shown steady improvement since the first demo, 'Rush Hour of Lust', so don't let this deter you!
The band has future plans for the release of a live videotape limited to just 100 copies, set to contain the show that took place at "Ston Aera" club in April 2001, as well as plans to release a split 7" with Finnish doomsters Reverend Bizarre, so watch this space!
What can I say? Modern-day Black Sabs? Definitely! All in all, this is some very catchy stuff; slow, heavy, with just the right amount of groove and originality, finished off with some fantastic artwork inspired by John Tsakonas and the band members themselves. For further information, you can contact the band at vortexgr@hotmail.com.
1. Trouble
2. Luv
3. Bitter Love
4. Riding Forever Free
5. Ultraviolet Dreams
6. Marsyas, the Satyr
7. Blind truth
8. Lure of Visage Elegant
Approx. 44 minutes