EP Review: For Death is Fate by Voltumna (Self Released)

Italian blackened death metal trio Voltumna will release their brand new EP “For Death Is Fate” on January 19^th 2024.

Voltumna were born in 2009 by the hands of the only original member Haruspex (guitars, vocals), now flanked by Augur Veii (drums) and the main composer Phersu (vocals, bass, programming, production). With a debut EP and 4 full lengths under their belts already, the last release being 2019’s Ciclope, the band have a wealth of experience and have allowed that to help them evolve and grow their blackened death metal sound over time.

Fueled by an ancestral binding with their Etruscan roots, the music and concept of Voltumna aren’t related to any contemporary ideological, cultural and religious movement, focusing instead on a historical and anthropological reinterpretation of the Ancient Wars.

The genre proposed by Voltumna flows into the stream of Polish blackened death metal. A style which partly reflects the sound of Behemoth at their best, but enriched over time by a lot of diverse influences, from Swedish death metal (At The Gates, Dismember) to melodic/symphonic black metal (Dissection, Satyricon, Dimmu Borgir).

Outside music in the strict sense, Voltumna draw inspiration from apocryphal transcripts emerging from the dawn of time. Tales from forgotten civilizations or imaginary legends, handed down through oral tradition and native folklore, but whose symbolic and spiritual significance is more modern than ever.

Voltumna are Haruspex (Michele Valentini) on guitars and vocals, Phersu (Emiliano Natali) on vocals, bass and programming and Augur Veii (Edoardo Di Santo) on drums.

Speaking about the new EP, For Death is Fate, Voltumna’s mastermind Haruspex (Michele Valentini) comments:

‘For Death Is Fate’ is the first step that takes Voltumna along a new path that encompasses all the potential expressed in the previous Albums. A new form, a new principle that releases our deepest feelings and sensations always poised between a glorious ancestral past and a bleak modern end. Also at the compositional level the right amalgam achieved between a primitive Black Metal and a Death Metal with more modern veins constitutes the perfect soundtrack of this new journey that will not end with this EP but already presupposes a continuous…

For Death is Fate brings us 4 new tracks to get stuck into and weighs in at around 16 minutes in total length. The EP gets underway with the song Black Science, a song you can also check the video out for below. Being not massively familiar with Voltumnas, it takes just a few seconds of the song to get a feel for what they are about. Speedy tapping drums, a thick and murky riff that’s quite slowed down. The vocals are harsh and dark. The two vocalists means we get a contrast in tones right from the off, both are heavy as hell though.

It speeds up, of course it does, and while I am enjoying the heavy blast of death metal, it is a sudden change up in the 2nd minute that really grabs my imagination and gives Voltumnas their own clear identity. A slight slow down, an introduction of some melody and then a layer of historical sounding sumphony. I love that and now as we move back into heavier riffs, meatier drums, it all makes more sense thanks to that contrasting moment. That’s a great song to really get people to undersatand what you are about, I think. For Death is Fate is off to a strong start.

Vanth keeps the quality coming starting off with a ripping intensity. Quick drums, dirty vocals come at pace then a layer of lead guitars and the second vocalist join in – I am really loving these layers. It makes for such an interesting listen with so much depth. Vanth brings lots of lead guitar work into the mix. Staying very heavy, very aggressive but just hitting you with moments of contrast, moments that elevate the song and make the heavier sections seem way heavier when they explode back in. We get more of the programming/symphonic change ups too – it’s quite creepy and sinister sounding here but is truly mesmerising and makes the song. Wow.

For Death is Fate could end here and we would have our money’s worth. It doesn’t though, instead we get the shorter, sub 3 minute Sette Contro Tebe. Shorter it may be but it is no less expansive and as entranced as I am by those two starter tracks, this may be my favourite. I love the winding lead guitars that sit behind the harsh and heavy black metal sounds. The two vocal lines are brilliant, moving in multiple directions but working off of each other brilliantly. There is a thick undercurrent of bass and drums in a song that absolutely rips.

We close out For Death is Fate with All’Infinito and get some more fresh ideas from the band. Starting with a sombre and reflective melody, it starts picking up pace a bit then brings in the vocals. This time, one of the vocalists sings in a cleaner style, in the background while the other growls and snarls over the top. What a combination that is! The rhythm of the song, the way it flows is top notch and it closes out an EP where I can honestly say there is not a single moment of fluff, no filler, not moments of boredom. It’s just a non stop, creative and inspiring EP that is going to be getting a ton of playtime from me this year.

Don’t miss out, grab your preorder of For Death is Fate from Voltumna at their Bandcamp page, here.

Voltumna Links

Website – Facebook – Bandcamp – Instagram – Spotify – Apple Music