Axes To Grind Review

By: Axes To Grind
April 6th 2013

VON - Dark Gods: Seven Billion Slaves Album Review

Not sure how many of you caught VON’s last release, Satanic Blood, but it was a dismal collection of blackened extreme that definitely captured my interest.  Not six months later, VON is set to release yet another full-length album, Dark Gods: Seven Billion Slaves.  This is the first in the Dark Gods trilogy, and sets the stage for a tremendous three-part series of bone chilling darkness courtesy of the San Francisco triumvirate.

It is always an interesting conversation…how can you make music sound even more evil?  I think many have pondered this very question since the release of Black Sabbath’s self-titled album in 1970, featuring perhaps the most evil of all riffs on “Black Sabbath.”  VON definitely has a dog in this fight; Dark Gods: Seven Billion Slaves is abysmally dark down to its very foundation.  I can’t think of a more depraved sounding opening track than “Ancient Flesh of The Dark Gods,” a 10-minute cloud of misery that also features none other than Indianapolis blackened sludge marauders Coffinworm.VON is the type of band that delivers unique sound, not just a replication of previous models.

The sounds that permeate from Seven Billion Slaves are often obscure and off-kilter, but packaged together with the vocal prowess of VENIEN, make for a captivating listen.  I use the word “captivating”as I feel it is the best way to explain this album.  This is a full-on listening experience down to the marrow of the bone, and one that kept me interested throughout (the fact that I love blackened doom has a lot to do with that).  Fans of Hellvetron and Faustcoven should check this one out for sure…perhaps not as monumental as Faustcoven’s Hellfire and Funeral Bells, but definitely worth the listen.

(Source: axestogrind.com) *site defunct

VON - Dark Gods: Seven Billion Slaves (Open Edition) (Digital Album)

vVurMzflessshhh Publishing

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Cat/Sku#: VR D0009 Artist: VON Title: Dark Gods: Seven Billion Slaves (Open Edition) (Digital Album) Volume: Dark Gods Vol.I Audio Format: Digital Publisher/Distributor: Von Records (USA) Digital Release Date: 2013 Read more
Cat/Sku#: VR D0009

Artist: VON
Title: Dark Gods: Seven Billion Slaves (Open Edition) (Digital Album)
Volume: Dark Gods Vol.I
Audio Format: Digital
Publisher/Distributor: Von Records (USA)
Digital Release Date: 2013
Illustration: VENIEN

Track-Listing:
01. They Have Come
02. Ancient Flesh of The Dark Gods Feat. D & C (Coffinworm)
03. Hands of Black Death
04. Dark Gods
05. MONSTER!
06. RawRot
07. DevilWhore
08. iAmInHuMan
09. Black Eyes

Recoding Lineup:
Jason Ventura (VENIEN) (vocals | bass)
Jon Gonzalez (Lord Giblete) (guitar)
Charlie Fell (drums)
Special Guests: vocals by D (Coffinworm) & guitar solo by C (Coffinworm)
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  1. 1
    They Have Come (Digital Edition) 3:23
    0:00/3:23
  2. 2
    Ancient Flesh of The Dark Gods Feat. D & C (Coffinworm) (Digital Edition) 10:09
    0:00/10:09
  3. 3
    Hands of Black Death (Digital Edition) 6:14
    0:00/6:14
  4. 4
    Dark Gods (Digital Edition) 2:59
    0:00/2:59
  5. 5
    MONSTER! (Digital Edition) 5:32
    0:00/5:32
  6. 6
    RawRot (Digital Edition) 7:40
    0:00/7:40
  7. 7
    DevilWhore (Digital Edition) 6:02
    0:00/6:02
  8. 8
    iAmInHuman (Digital Edition) 6:03
    0:00/6:03
  9. 9
    Black Eyes (Digital Edition) 6:07
    0:00/6:07