Album Review: Valcata – Valcata (Self Released)

Valcata is a diverse love letter to metal’s most melodic and bombastic power — a new independent symphonic metal opera featuring a staggering ensemble of eight lead singers (four female and four male), each portraying a unique character through the lyrics.

The album was produced online in its entirety and features musicians from around the globe, including both emerging and established artists. The album is the passion project of composer Oha Cade who is based in Brooklyn, New York. Taking a fresh approach to the genre in 2019, Valcata is an elaborate work that exhibits a superabundance of influences while sustaining a sharp and ferocious energy.

The planet Valcata has suffered mass extinction from a heatwave that has escalated over the last century. Special teams have been deployed into the galaxies in search of salvation. Earth is one of many possible destinations.

The album will be released on digital streaming services such as Bandcamp, Spotify, Amazon and Google Play on October 18th 2019.

Even before hitting play and experiencing the airy and light intro of Stars, it’s clear this is going to be an epic. An epic album of symphonic metal, the worldwide status of the project is realised as each track takes us on a trip of wonderful sights and sounds. All in this impressive operatic style that makes it feel like a stage performance.

The larger then life vocal performances are the main selling point but don’t let that trick you. Valcata is a metal project as the likes of Our Quest, The Turning and The Termination shows with chunky riffing and depth to the percussion.

The clean sound doesn’t just allow the vocals to soar or the metal to hammer hard, it also allows the intricacies of the symphonic elements to come through clearly. There are so many to experience and truth be told, this is an album that requires multiple listens to really get it all. A track like 3-2-1 alone is layered so deeply, it’s astonishing.

The track of the album though is Beyond and that it is followed by a frantic showcase of violin just makes the latter part of the release so damn good. The effort and time that has gone into this release is clear and it pays off.

Valcata – Valcata Full Track Listing:

1. Stars
2. Our Quest
3. The Turning
4. Horror Machine
5. Life and A Million
6. 3-2-1
7. Beyond
8. Escalade
9. The Termination
10. Valcata

Links

Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube