Varaha - 'Varaha' (EP Premiere)
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Chicago’s biggest slow, pretty and morose metal export is probably November’s Doom, but by week’s end they’ll have competition. Varaha also carry the torch of the Peaceville Three, blending gothic rock and slow death metal, but their approach skews atmospheric and subtle. Guitarist and vocalist Fabio Brienza, a veteran of Italian alt rock outfit Klimt 1918 predecessors Another Day, isn’t afraid to let his guitar lines sparkle while the rhythm section pounds, but neither is he unwilling to gun it, as on the finale of “It Takes a Ghost To Kill A Ghost”. After a fifteen-year break from the metal scene, Brienza has returned with a fine ear for melody. Engineering and production from Russian Circles and Car Seat Headrest production team members keeps things silky smooth; the guest saxophone by Bruce Lamont blends seamlessly into the textures of the record. Three songs into their career, and Varaha are already lining up dates with Amorphis and Abigail Williams, which could indicate more material waiting in the wings. At least I hope so. Their self-titled EP, streaming below and for sale this Friday 12/16 via Bandcamp, has my interest piqued.
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Catch Varaha Live in 2017
March 26th Amorphis / Swallow the Sun / Earthen @ Reggie’s
Follow Varaha on Facebook.
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