The Bottom Line
Pros
- Huge riffs with majestic power.
- Subtle touches of melody well integrated into the music.
- A thick production enhances the music's inherent power.
Cons
- One or two of the later tracks are not as strong.
Description
- Released July 20th, 2010, on Bloody Mountain Records.
- Valdur hail from Mammoth Lakes, California.
- Album title taken from an earlier song that appeared on a well-regarded split with Lightning Swords of Death.
Guide Review - Valdur - 'Raven God Amongst Us'
Raven God Amongst Us begins with an intro of a recording of an avalanche, setting the stage for Valdur personifying the stark, forbidding beauty of the eastern Sierras. Quickly segueing into “Wound Fires in the Afterlife” and “Great Abyss Unfold,” Valdur hit their signature combination of speed, riffs, and melody, an approach that continues throughout Raven God Amongst Us.
Alternating blasts with powerful, mid-paced tempos, drummer Lord Sxuperion provides the backbone to the huge, lightning fast riffs and melodies supplied by Thor. Thor’s vocals are a muted, deep rasp in the background, and a few vocal effects enhance the atmosphere, giving the music a majestic tone. William’s bass is a very heavy, cascading force that deeply resonates throughout, so much so that Valdur become one of those rare trios that just drip with power.
I must admit that I find very little to fault in Raven God Amongst Us, although there is a weaker track or two towards the conclusion. However, after many listens over the past week, the album gets better and better as the sense of majesty is heightened with each listen. Will Raven God Amongst Us end up in my year-end top ten list? A distinct possibility.
