Vorgrum – ‘Summit of Dreams’ (EP 2024)
Rating: 9/10
Release: 22 September 2024
Label: Independend
Vorgrum is a Argentenian folk metal one-man project and Summit of Dreams is the second EP. Previous also two full-length albums were released, and I binged most of their discography in a single night. It’s/ impressive, and, compared with most of the other albums I’ve reviewed, it’s rash and raw, an older band that still sounds brand new and exciting.
Vorgum’s sound is one of my favorite metal subgenres: guitars, drums, and bass with folky sounds and synthesizers added. There’s absolutely no “cinematic” or “ambient” textures here, and very little in the way of post-production. It sounds rough, but it’s supposed to. This band has found their sound, the sound has a lot of charm to it, and they’re delving in the depths. This album has markedly better melodies than some of their other releases, so it’s a good time to jump into the fantasy world Vorgrum has lyrically painted.
There are four tracks packed behind this awesome album cover: “Summit of Dreams” is an amazing opener. The synthesizer is churning out some accordion sounds, and there are wild and bouncy parts, and a brief spoken word piece, but it does a great job of introducing the band’s gritty sound. “Rebirth” is the best track. It’s a little slower and warmer overall, and a great synth bridge giving way to a very brief spoken word section. There are great juxtapositions and musical counterpoints. “Divine Quest” is the closest thing this album will get to an anthem, and it’s a banger. The end gets a bit messy (even for Vorgrum), but it’s an intensely enjoyable listen. The album ends on the excellently-named “Goblin of the Depths with Eyes of Dew”. It’s another great track, this time with less of the synth and more focus on the vocals.
Because all the vocals are harsh and hard to make out, the band has provided a very nice-looking lyric video (with chapters!) over on YouTube. It helps listeners access the music on a deeper level, and if you like their sound, you should definitely check it out.
All-in-all, this is a magnificent, epic outing for Vorgrum. High fantasy smashes into rough and wild metal in a thoroughly satisfying way. They have an immensely fun sound, and the band has gone to great lengths to make the music easily findable and accessible. Strongly recommended!
Tracklist
- Summit of Dreams
- Rebirth
- IDivine Quest
- The Goblin of the Depths, With Eyes of Dew