Ah, so many vortices out there in the Metal Multiverse. It’s a fascinating choice for a band name, as you never know where you will end up once the vortex sucks you into its terrible embrace. And theories are legion out there, with the most likely outcome that you will simply die if the thing is lethal enough. No mystery there.
So, this here Vortex is the Canadian pendant from Quebec. A band born back in 1998 with a penchant for Melodic, Symphonic, and Blackened Death Metal and an urge to discover uncomfortable Alien Realms. And would there be trouble brewing lightyears away? Quite.
Welcome to the world of Fleshgod Apocalypse without the typical and very baroque Italian flair. Instead, you get a rougher and equally overloaded Canadian version with a taste for Brutal and – yes – Technical Death Metal with the speed problem one Archspire displayed earlier this decade. In addition, the band displays an affinity for melodic and symphonic excursions, bordering on urges to cover sugary Disney-like realms that should probably serve as Proof ov Abject Symphonic Geekery. Or something. If only they’d keep the orchestration tightly in sync with the band’s metal musings. At times, the production goes all off-kilter. But it’s still small potatoes in this here Death Metal alien nirvana.
In other words, Vortex‘s metal is full of brutal beatz imbibed with thunderous drum work. Roasted by unclean vocals that abruptly oscillate between Death Metal growls and blackened rasps. And the Disney part? Well, it’s way out there in the green fields where garishly colored flowers loudly sing to pink-clad girls in strange dresses. Alien Realms in the true sense. Slightly strange and inhumanly cruel. There you go.
And if EPs are a window of what’s coming next, we can’t wait for Vortex‘s upcoming full-length. This blurb was a tad short to really matter. So, keep ’em coming, band.
Label: Self-Released | Web: Official Band Site
Release Date: 11 April 2025