Germany’s Vorga burst into the scene about 6 years ago and released an EP, but Striving Toward Oblivion is their debut full length album and showcases a trailblazing style of black metal. Opening this 8 song 45 minute album is “Starless Sky” and what an opening ripper of a lead off song. Massive blasting equipped with a unique black metal guitar tone that’s clear and precise, but never cold.  Excellent melodies with quite a catchy main riff. This riff repeats throughout the song at various times and it’s emotive, melodic, but also razor sharp.  Killer raspy vocals with monstrous blast beats and the rhythm section sounding on point during those blasts.

“Comet” is up next and is more mid-paced and ethereal in feel.  There are some death metal vocals at points on this song as well. There’s some atmospheric and melodic moments on this song and allows the listener to catch their breath… that’s until “Disgust” erupts with pulverizing blasts and another incredible main guitar riff. The more I listen to this band I start thinking Vallendusk, due to the highly brutal black metal approach but all wrapped and interwoven with emotive, melodic and memorable moments.  Some slower moments creep up with a phase shifter effect on the guitar.

I encourage you to listen to this with AirPods or headphone’s. You’ll hear what I’m saying. Super cool moments and then more blasting with that ethereal and razor sharp brutal yet melodic guitar tone. Again; very similar to Vallendusk.

“Taken” is the longest song at over 6 1/2 minutes starts with a double pounding drum beat with excellent guitars and terrific drum rolls and great sounding toms.  Great vocals-mean sounding black metal vocals.  Really vicious sounding. The slow down at the 1.10 section is sooooo damn killer. The song traverses into a mid-paced part with destructive double bass drums bent on collapsing you and your families chest cavities. This song gets slower, then faster and tempo shifts are abound. This is a very strong track.

Vorga’s Striving Toward Oblivion is a killer debut album on one of the best labels out there. Last year the Imperialist album, also on Transcending Obscurity Records, did not fly under my radar. Zenith was a killer album and Vorga’s sound is a bit similar but I do notice a heavy Vallendusk influence but Vorga stand on their own 2 feet as well. There’s so many memorable moments with the catchy riffing, killer album production, great rhythm section and song structures.  The album cover is eye-catching and is nostalgic for me, as it emulates the Nocturnus album, Thresholds. One of the plusses about writing with a great bunch of writers are the recommendations we throw back and forth to one another.  Mainman, Erik, stated the album has some similarities to now defunct symphonic black metal band, SiriuS, who were from Portugal.  I had never heard that band prior, but now they’re in my digital collection-thanks again Erik.

Regardless this is a great debut album. Check them out at once.

[Visit the band's website]

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