Virial is an Italian death metal band formed in 2010, and their latest full-length, entitled “Transhumanism” is one to keep an eye on.
A very well-written album, mixing a lot of influences, and not lacking any aspect of what a death metal album requires. It has quite technical parts in it, executed with surgical precision, as well as progressive elements in the sense that the approach to compose the album is unorthodox, it has an identity of its own, and unlike modern tech-death bands, it doesn’t follow the same gimmicks of a successful Canadian technical death metal band (Beyond Creation per se).
You sense a technical mastery to each instrument as the musicians know their range of capabilities and play well within it, no risks taken, no overdone technical flexing, just a raw and visceral display of face-melting metal with melodic interludes and tasty guitar leads, and overall, a trip to the future in a very modern fashion, deeply rooted in the filthy history of death metal.
The production doesn’t stand out of the crowd: it’s decent, clean, and balanced, but it’s not anything special or never done before, fits the genre’s standards without being really memorable.
Virial: Facebook
Release Year: 2021
Label: Vicious Instinct Records
Category: Album
Country: Italy / Austria
Reviewed by Oussama EL OUADIE
