Album Review: Lord Vigo – Danse De Noir (High Roller Records)

Carl Fisher 2 min read

Even as a dyed-in-the-wool heavy metal band, you can only go that far with historical or fantasy lyrics. For this very reason Lord Vigo – named after Lord Vigo von Homburg Deutschendorf from the movie Ghostbusters II – changed tack when it came to writing and recording “Danse de Noir” by moving away from traditional sword and sorcery subject matter in favour of retro science fiction with a tinge of film noir.

The Germans’ fourth release turned out to be a true concept album with countless narrative segments and interludes in between songs that each represent ‘a memory implanted into the mind of our female protagonist Nihlai, a replicant within the Blade Runner universe.’

While far from the first or the last band to be inspired by the sci-fi universe of Blade Runner, Lord Vigo at least craft a memorable tale with their offering. A story told across 10 tracks played out with the band’s unending sense of epic that is a little doomy, a little melodic and a lot of heavy.

After setting the mind ablaze with thick riffs, echoing percussion and commanding vocals on the title track, Lord Vigo electrify even more so with The Verge of Time. A track that embodies the sci-fi process that Lord Vigo is going for. Dark, a little bit twisted but very catchy with a synthy vibe.

Interlocked with short spoken word segments (the first half at least), the feeling of being part of a unique experience is palatable. Especially as the album has varying tempos with Lord Vigo throwing out pacier numbers, And Then the Planets Will Align and Between Despair and Ecstasy.

The effort of telling such a detailed tale certainly isn’t taking its toll on Lord Vigo although it might begin to on the listener. The penultimate chapter, As Silence Grows Old has the blaze begin to lose some of its lustre. Before one final burst of doomy electricity is jolted into the album to ensure Memento Mori ends things in a meaningful way.

Lord Vigo – Danse de Noir Full Track Listing:

1. The Voight Kampff Situation
2. Danse De Noir
3. Are You Human
4. The Verge of Time
5. Fiery The Angels Fell
6. Shoulder of Orion
7. And Then the Planets Will Align
8. Between Despair and Ecstasy
9. As Silence Grows Old
10. Memento Mori

 

 

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | High Roller Records




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Lord Vigo - Danse De Noir (High Roller Records)
  • The Final Score - 7.5/10
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