Nick Vasallo - The Burning

How about a composer who’s actually alive? And one who plays metal? In a band that’s good, to boot? Nick Vasallo is a guitarist for Bay Area death metallers Antagony. He’s also a doctoral student at UC Santa Cruz in music composition. The Burning (Ars Nova Classics, 2007) is an eclectic compilation of his work. Its palette includes choirs, solo piano and harp, and various small ensembles.

The Burning
Lumen et Tenebras
Emergence of the Kraken

Diverse influences are evident – traditional and modern classical, taiko drumming, and, yes, metal (the album is named for a song by El Dopa). Actually, The Burning‘s one track with metal is its only misstep. It’s a mess, albeit a colorful one – think, say, Unexpect. Otherwise, Vasallo shows a talent for strong, dark gestures, regardless of instrumentation. No doubt this comes from years of metal. “Emergence of the Kraken” is particularly interesting, as he wrote it without external reference (e.g., instrument or software). It was just Vasallo, pencil, and paper – deaf Beethoven-style. I envy those who can translate the music inside them this precisely.

Vasallo has been winning awards left and right, and he recently premiered his first orchestral composition. Too bad it wasn’t called “Symphony of Destruction.” (Or “of Sickness.” Or “for the Beaten Down.” Or “X.”) The Burning is currently available for next to nothing from Amie Street. Antagony’s new album, Days of Night, comes out on Deepsend on July 21.

– Cosmo Lee

Buy:
Nick Vasallo (CD)
Amie Street (MP3)