VRSA – Saltwater Circadian
Origin: USA
Release: 30.03.2024
Label: in-house production
Duration: 39:42
Genre: Doom / Sludge / Post Metal
Founded in 2007 TRAP, Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, from New Haven in Connecticut are currently releasing their new album Saltwater Circadian out, which deals with nautical myths inspired by the coast of Long Island and draws the listener down into the darkest shallows of the sea with heavy riffs.
The record was owned by the band Last Bastion Studios recorded by Paul Paul mixed, from Alan Showers in the West Westside Music mastered and is accompanied by a painting by Michael Miglietta adorned.
The title track Saltwater Circadian HERE starts the album with fat, scratchy doom riffs, then pulls away TRAP the tempo increases a little and throaty growls scream from the abyss of the deep sea straight into your face. But brighter vocals are also used and the dreamy middle part with its great solo brings variety to the piece.
Of storms, the Nautilus and the sons of the sea
Doesn’t start at all in keeping with its title Hurricane Song with slow acoustic guitars and gentle deep vocals, maybe it’s just the calm before the storm? A little later, deep guitar riffs and growls join in. Although the song comes across as powerful, you’re a little disappointed that the storm doesn’t break out and the tempo gets a little quicker, but that’s complaining at a high level.
Shellbacks impresses with cool riffs and melodies, interesting lyrics, nautical myths like that Nautilus or Davy Jones picks up, and the vocals alternate between harsh screaming and brighter, more melodic parts. The piece is loosened up by spherical acoustic parts with two-part clear vocals and tension-building drums, and in the middle part the prog club is even unpacked, accompanied by aggressive growls, with bass and guitar playing out intricate parts that make it impossible to hear or see.
This brilliant song ends with the sound of the sea and the cries of seagulls TRAP then score in Thirst especially through the vocal parts and an interplay of ominous calm and uninhibited aggression.
To the bottom of the ocean
The longest song at just over nine minutes Born on the Tide It starts off doomy, slow and dreamy with a spaced-out solo and acoustic guitars, before a bright, rough voice enters that reminds me a little of the old days Amorphis to Elegy / Underworld times remembered. The vocal parts here are really extremely well done, and despite its length, the song is nicely varied and not at all boring. Finally, come along Ocean Floor a beautiful doom ballad that ends this great album perfectly.
Conclusion
TRAP have with Saltwater Circadian released a small masterpiece of nautical doom that provides variety with some sludge parts, but also atmospheric, dreamy moments. Genre fans can access this without hesitation! 8 / 10
Line Up
Joshua – vocals, guitar
Andrius – Guitar
Matt – bass, vocals
Walt – drums
Tracklist
01. Saltwater Circadian
02. Hurricane Song
03. Shellbacks
04. Thirst
05. Born on the Tide
06. Ocean Floor
Links
Facebook VRSA
VRSA Bandcamp
Also on Soundmagnet.eu
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