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LOCH VOSTOK
From These Waters

ViciSolum Productions (2015)
Rating: 6/10

Swedish metalheads Loch Vostok formed out of the ashes of Maydome in 2001, and this sixth studio album From These Waters features a line-up of Teddy Möller (lead vocals / guitar), Niklas Kupper (guitar / backing vocals), Jimmy Mattsson (bass / backing vocals), Lawrence Dinamarca (drums) and Fredrik Klingwall (keyboards).

For those who are not familiar with the guys, I can best describe it as progressive extreme metal but one which dabbles in many styles.

Opening track ‘Like Poison To The Stars’ has so many ingredients thrown into the mix that it takes a few spins to really appreciate what the band is about, because although it’s in no way inaccessible, there is such a kaleidoscope of styles ranging from traditional metal to a more symphonic grandiose statement, and yet the next moment I’m hearing hints of Faith No More and then dramatic, polished black metal. For that reason, this is very much one tough cookie to crack.

With traces of contemporary death metal and wafts of modern thrash added for good measure, I have a feeling that Loch Vostok is an acquired taste but no doubt popular within those crowds who seek more progressive, experimental metal. The vocals shift between clear Mike Patton-esque croons to thrashing, spitting yelps and dry, sneering rasps and to complement them the music alters accordingly. Am I a fan? I’m still not so sure, but ‘Like Poison To The Stars’ is certainly a mighty fine track once those juxtapositions lock in.

‘I Implode’ begins at a more brooding pace; the sound is very much a contemporary charge with the rattling, clicking drum and rumbling guitar tone, but on this occasion the vocals remain a clear, booming command laced with the alternative distant growls, and it’s a racket that for me pretty much sums up as to why I don’t always go for metal of contemporary design.

I’m not really sure if these amalgamations of sound really work and at times there’s just too much going on for my palate to settle, but when it does it’s with segments like the title track which begins with an awkwardly melted together abrasive jarring and the very impressive chuggernaut that is ‘Sentiment’. However, for the most part album number six by this talented bunch loiters in that Devin Townsend sort of nonsense which seems to be something one will either love or hate.

Loch Vostok is very much a case of new nu-metal; typifying that fancy, progressive alt-rock metal madness which is bewilderingly popular and yet quite icy on the ears. While seemingly epic by nature, tracks such as ‘Dead Sea Trolls’ are just too uncool for my school, bringing with them a seemingly volatile but all too well-designed framework which incorporates heaviness and yet wears quickly with its experimental messiness.

To me, it doesn’t matter how much these guys spread their wings, I’m just never going to be moved by their technical prowess. I’m just left so blood cold rather than confused, and it’s going to take more than those vocal variations and multi-layered outburst to warm my cockles. Voivod were never this dull through creativity, so what’s the excuse here?

Neil Arnold

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