Vysion - 2024 - Master of Laws

(25:13; M&O Music)




















Track list:
1. Origins 4:03
2. Dimension 7:04
3. Master of Laws 5:10
4. To Be King 4:55
5. The Prophecy 4:01

Line-up:
Nico Darklight - guitars, vocals
Phil Nuke - drums, vocals
Lö - bass, vocals
Val Silmë - vocals

Belgian band Vysion was formed back in 2019, at least if the information I can find on the internet can be trusted in that regard. Following a few years of preparations the foursome are now out with their initial EP. The name of this production is "Master of Laws", and has been released by French label M&O Music.

It is a quite powerful take on metal we get from this band, and the recurring use of galloping riff and rhythm elements will probably see them placed inside of the power metal category by default. The songs on this EP see them mainly explore midpaced songs of that variety, and with a bit more of an old school take on this tradition unless I'm much mistaken. At least the busy and hectic high pace drum patterns I'm used to hearing from many contemporary bands of this category are few and far between on this album. A bit more dynamic and with a bit more restraint applied to the rhythm department you might say.

What the band does make use of are big sounds though. Orchestral inspired textures combined with tight rhythms and suitably beefy guitars create majestic moods and atmospheres of the kind that brings an automatic tension to these landscapes, and with alternating clean female lead vocals and distorted male vocals we get some nicely functioning contrast elements in that department that emphasize the tension. With backing vocal chants adding a little bit of a tribal feel to these landscapes to boot. In addition I do believe there may be just a little bit of a folk music influx in some of the melody lines, although that impression may be just an accidental one. But what the band have pulled off rather successfully is to add a bit of an ancient feel to these escapades by some manner or other, at least as I experience these songs.

I do find that the opening three songs makes a greater impression for me than the following two songs though. Where 'To Be King' for me sounds just a little bit different from the rest of the songs in terms of mix and production, while the concluding 'The Prophecy' lacked just a little bit of those aspects that elevated the opening three songs on to a higher level as far as my personal taste in music goes.

All in all this is a promising debut EP by Vysion though, where the first three songs in particular impress me with what I'd describe as a blend of a more restrained and possibly old school variety of power metal and symphonic inspired keyboard textures explored in a majestic manner with a little bit of a tribal and ancient feel applied to the mood and atmospheres. With the second track 'Dimension' probably being my personal favorite from this production.

Olav M. Björnsen, September 2024

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Vysionbandofficial
https://www.m-o-music.com/

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