Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
Votum
Title
Metafiction
Type
LP/EP
Company
Mystic Productions
YOR
2009
Style
Progressive
8/18/2011 - Review by: Greg Watson

Votum
Metafiction

Company: Mystic Productions/Armoury Records
Release: 2009
Genre: Progressive
Reviewer: ChaosLord

  • A very aural experience



  • Votum is a band that had slipped through the cracks for me. They are a Polish sextet that is said to be similar to Opeth. I read that and thought, man, that's a tall order to fill. I went in with a bit of trepidation not expecting much and was pleasantly surprised. Listening through this album I am blown away by the depth that Votum has. Each song is flowing and lengthy, but keeps you interested throughout. The melodies in each song are haunting and very eerie at times.

    From the opening track "Falling Dreams" to the final track "December 20th", Votum delivers a very introspective and surprising CD. Now before I get into too much more detail let me state that Votum is not your typical metal in the fact that there is hardly any heavy riffing or crazy vocals going on. It's a lot of clean vocals and clean guitar tones with some atmospheric keyboards all blended together in a nice mixture of laid back, chilled out music. Singer Maciej Kosinski can really be very reminiscent of Mikael Akerfeldt at times but has his own voice that shines through. It is very emotional and moving listening to him sing.

    Guitarists Adam Kaczmarek and Aleksander Salamonik do minimal guitar work but what they do provide matches the songs perfectly and they even bust out a few heavier riffs on songs like "Home" and "Stranger Than Fiction". Who would have thought that subtle would have worked so perfectly in metal. The band is rounded out by Bartek Turkowski on bass, Adam Lukaszek on drums and Zbigniew Szatkowski on keyboards. Together they tie each song together seamlessly and provide some nice filler for the laid back sounds this band creates.

    The production is very crisp and allows each member to have their talents shine through and merge together in perfect harmony creating a very aural experience. This is not for the headbanging metal fan. This is a good album to spin if you're stuck inside on a rainy day, out for a drive or just having one of those days that seems pretty bad. I haven't taken this out of rotation since listening to it and don't anticipate it coming out anytime soon at all. So go out bangers and pick up something to calm the bashing that goes on and give yourself a chance to delve into "Metafiction".


    • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
      4.5 :AVE RATING

    ALL REVIEWS FOR: VOTUM
    TITLE
    DOR
    COMPANY
    REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
    Metafiction
    2009
    Mystic Productions
    Greg Watson8/18/2011
    4.5

    ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: VOTUM
    INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


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