Review Summary: Count Dracula has risen from his long slumber.
A lot of the time the most beautiful music out there has some type of “rawness” to it. Whether it be the vocals, the way the instruments are mixed or just the production in general, that extra grit usually makes for something special. Velvet Cross is a brand new black metal band formed by members of Saidan and Vampirska and their debut EP
Blood Consumer is just over 20 minutes of bloodsucking theatrics.
When I say theatrics I don’t mean that this is some bombastic, symphonic affair. It really comes down to sick heavy metal influenced riffage, demon shrieks from the nearest vampire’s coffin and a hauntingly gothic 1800s inspired atmosphere. Ghostly howls tear through the (often times) lightning speed riffs and trems and bludgeoning blast beats while the romantically seductive keys slash apart your soul.
Each track here feels like a love note to Nosfetatu. Female vocals make multiple appearances to give a nice contrast to the black metal chaos. The entire last track is a lustful acoustic piece with the female cleans serenading you to sleep, only to be bitten on the neck moments later.
Blood Consumer is clearly influenced by
The Principle of Evil Made Flesh era Cradle with the gruff lofi production and reverb laden buzzsaw riffs yet also an eerie softness that can catch you off your toes.
If this is the taste of what’s to come from Velvet Cross then we’re definitely in for a treat in the future. I haven’t heard a band mix raw, melodic black metal with haunting Victorian gothic influences this well in a very long time. That feeling of vampyric magic is evident in every riff, every keyboard note and every ghastly shriek that blurts out. I’m sure everyone that is smart enough to jam this EP will be waiting anxiously for even more new material from Velvet Cross!
