Maximum Metal Rating Legend

So, this album is all about ever changing soundscapes and it's apparent from the start what you will get on this album. The opening track is a beautiful instrumental that really pulls you in before the album's first black metal inspired track kicks in the door on your meditative moment. Swirling, buzzing guitars and pained, emotive vocals complement this track and other tracks throughout the album.

While each track tends to follow the same formula of heavy into more soothing sounds and then back to the BM sound, you can still thoroughly enjoy each track as they are all part of a musical journey through nature that the album was crafted around. The lyrics are more positive which is what constitutes Vials falling in to the unblack genre. Lyrics like "When death's cold hand takes mine may it be in such a time make my grave upon the highest mount" aren't what you would find on a traditional black metal release. The unblack genre takes the music and atmosphere of black metal and then adds a little positivity in to the lyrics to break away from the more occult/despondent imagery used in the way black metal artists tend to.

Overall, this album is a really intriguing, deep listen that will constantly allow you to find nuances you had missed in previous listens. If you're looking for something a litlte more introspective but that still has that appeal of black metal, you couldn't go wrong in taking a listen to 'Days Without Names' by Vials of Wrath.