Album Review: VOLA – Friend Of A Phantom (Mascot Records)

VOLA, the Danish-Swedish progressive metal quartet will release their new studio album ‘Friend of a Phantom,’ on November 1st, 2024, via Mascot Records.

It’s a bloody big start, one that sets out the ambitious plans of VOLA on this record, as Cannibal arrives with an exciting layer of ethereal melody wrapped around a thick and robust heavy rhythm. The playfulness of some of the guitar tones is particularly enamouring, and the bonus of In Flames’ Anders Fridén adding some growl and playing off the smooth clean vocals of Asger Mygind is very welcome.

It’s an opener that thrills, but VOLA are only getting started and showcase a ton of creativity with the volatile eccentricities of Break My Lying Tongue. The manic effects that lay over a track with emphatic energy and spiralling melody is quite something. Whereas We Will Not Disband and Glass Mannequin showcase an equal amount of heartfelt harmonisation, exciting effects, dramatic atmosphere, and imposing intensity, but from unique angles. The first half of the album is all the proof anyone needs that VOLA have crafted something exceptional here. Yet, there is still so much greatness to come.

It’s hard to pinpoint any one specific track that might be more elaborate than any other, but a good shout for one that might be considered in the conversation is Bleed Out. With this one VOLA’s imagination goes a bit wild and into polarising territories. The introduction having an industrial vibe, developing a melodious vibe, before getting rampantly heavy near the end.

Such brilliance, and then along comes Paper Wolf with its effective starry vibes and I Don’t Know How We Got Here lays on the ethereal feeling strongly. Both tracks having plenty of hardy instrumentals and dreamy vocals too.

Having been able to relax the mind, body, and soul, it’s time for a wake-up call though and VOLA get a bit groovier with the excitable heavy intensity of Hollow Kid. Coming at the right time to deliver an injection of vitality, the chunkier rhythm is very welcome but it’s still layered with tons of VOLA weirdness. The kind that continues to make this album so compelling even as it comes to an end with Tray. A finale that ups the sense of drama to even greater heights, delivers movingly melodies, and eases the listener out even as it delivers a little bit more thickness.

A band that embodies the word ‘greatness’, few could have expected VOLA to return with such a strong release, but here it is. Friend of a Phantom is a must listen for all fans of progressive music.

VOLA – Friend of a Phantom Track Listing:

1. Cannibal (ft. Anders Fridén of In Flames)
2. Break My Lying Tongue
3. We Will Not Disband
4. Glass Mannequin
5. Bleed Out
6. Paper Wolf
7. I Don’t Know How We Got Here
8. Hollow Kid
9. Tray

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