The deepening | CD | Vemod

Digipak

VEMOD is anything but an average band. The Norwegians exist in musical and lyrical borderlands. The trio's second Album, 'The Deepening', is carved from the same tonal granite that the predecessor 'Venter på stormene' was hewn from over a decade ago. The sonic foundation is based in Namsos, where VEMOD was founded as a lifelong project of musical passion by a then 12-year-old Jan Even Åsli around the turn of the century. The nearest major city is Trondheim, where the idiosyncratic local Nidrosian black metal scene, named after the city's original name, provided the initial musical reference points for VEMOD - as clearly shown by the first demo, 'Kringom fjell og skog' (2004).

When the Norwegians resurfaced seven years later with the track 'Moestæ Qverelæ' on a split single and the demo 'Vinterilden' in 2011, they had undergone significant changes. The trio had strengthened elements that were already present: a touch of grandeur reminiscent of early IN THE WOODS..., a dash of melancholy, and a touch of introverted contemplation amidst a wide range of emotional and dark-colored soundscapes. VEMOD's musical evolution parallels the development of the French kindred spirits, ALCEST, although there was no direct influence in either direction. In retrospect, the Norwegians can be seen as pioneers for currently popular styles such as blackgaze and post-black metal, although they have never embraced either genre. With their debut Album, 'Venter på stormene,' VEMOD opened up their music to new places in 2012. A memorable performance at the renowned Beyond the Gates Festival in Bergen in 2013 was followed by the legendary show at the Vigeland Mausoleum during the Oslo Inferno Festival, which a year later cemented VEMOD's excellent reputation even beyond the Atlantic Ocean.

'The Deepening' now comes with an altered production that creates a new sonic picture, without detaching from the band's roots. Stylistically, the Norwegians also venture down new paths by adding additional elements to their sound. The lyrical themes running through 'The Deepening' tell tales of change, transience, transformation, and growth. 'The Deepening' aims to provide the opportunity to overcome long-held beliefs and comforting illusions. Truth can be painful. And one truth is that at the crossroads reached by VEMOD's second Album, a deepened understanding of their musical world awaits.