Review by Saxy S for Violet Cold - Empire of Love (2021)
Usually when I listen to my folk/pagan inspired atmospheric black metal and blackgaze, there is a certain level of uplifting nature to the music that is to be expected. For a genre that is typically so dark and cold, hearing soaring melodic passages in the guitars or other melodic instruments, it can make black metal sound comforting. Violet Cold starts off Empire of Love with one of the most unapologetically happy black metal tunes I've ever heard with "Pride". The alternating male/female vocals, the warm guitars that are brimming with major key signatures, and a rock solid foundation left me very excited to hear if this artist could maintain that momentum.
Unfortunately they don't. As this album progressed, I started to pick up on a lot of trends and other more recognizable blackgaze names (Alcest, Deafheaven, etc.) that Violet Cold were borrowing from. The major harmonies started to dampen into more minor tones, the vocal timbres started to become less pronounced, and songs in general began to lose their identity. For as much as I did not like the electronic infused percussion of "Be Like Magic", at least it was original and it definitely stood out amongst a crowd. It was also one of only two brief moments where it was used. A further exploration could have made it more memorable, as well as justified their existence if they were to have been implemented into the compositions smoother.
"We Met During The Revolution" has a sweet sounding bridge that includes a melodic guitar passage that sounded like something out of a Plini or Sithu Aye record. Despite the mixing of this lead being very imbalanced, the change of pace was very cool. The banjo lead on the instrumental "Working Class" was cool, as well as being the most black metal song on this entire record. And of course, I would be remised if I didn't mention the Middle Eastern influence, as is evidenced by the moon and star of the Islamic flag, overlaying an LGBT flag on the cover art.
Empire of Love is not a black metal record. Sure, it has occasional blast beats, harsh screams and pretty tremolo picking in the guitars, but these are secondary to the predominant post-rock and shoegaze. And I do think this record is pretty, but it left me wanting more. Violet Cold quickly ran out of ideas with this record and the ebullient opener was proven to be unsustainable. This is an album the promised the world as a new post-metal/blackgaze experience, but couldn't get its influences out of the way.