Throw Up Your Horns Review

By: Michael Salemi
July 22nd 2013

VON - Dark Gods: Seven Billion Slaves Album Review

The most recent full length by VON and part 1 of their trilogy, Dark Gods: Seven Billion Slaves, follows the band’s tried and true formula of simple, direct, well-written, very intense and dark music. The difference is that this modern version of the group adds a few more elements into the formula. In VON’s words: “we still play within the parameters of VON, but we move around a little more within those parameters now”. There are touches of Doom Metal, touches of Punk Rock, better musicianship, better tones, and an overall better production sound. Where the old songs would be 2 or 3 minutes long and consist of 1 or 2 riffs repeated for the duration, many of these new tracks run between 4 to 6 minutes and are more involved, with more riffs and more changes, but maintain the trance-inducing sound and evil atmospheres of old.After an intro “They Have Come”, designed to tune your brain to the proper frequency and dial you in to the VON sound, comes the epic “Ancient Flesh of The Dark Gods" (featuring Coffinworm). This incredible track clocks in at 10 minutes and covers everything the reformed band is about. It has a thick, dark sound and an eerie atmosphere. It goes from a slow crawl to an intense blast beat propelled ripper and back again as you find yourself drawn completely into the world of VON and your surroundings fall away. It sets you into the right frame of mind for the journey through the rest of the CD. As with a few of the cuts on this album, it is hypnotic.

Speaking of hypnotic, that brings me to another standout track “RawRot”. Toward the ending this one alternates between two unique riffs that repeat again and again, the result is a building of dramatic tension that climbs in intensity as it goes on. A great example of the use of subtle dynamics in a song.

Dark Gods is a fast and pounding feral beast of a song reminiscent of classic old VON. It has short lines of verse barked in a deep deathly growl and clocks in at 3 minutes. The bass guitar anchors the rhythm while the guitar is used mainly for eerie sound effects, atmospherics, and one or two-note fast-strummed melodies with a fair amount of reverb on it.

MONSTER! Is a heavy-as-fuck slab of Black Metal. Its sound is thick and uses huge, no bullshit power chords. There are some guitar overdubs here in the background that are interesting, mostly adding bizarre scary sound effects. This is another one that drops out slow then picks up again, then drops again, which I like as it gives the songs a lot of power as well as keeps them interesting.

This entire CD kills, as does the single. I find myself listening to them again and again. I think VON fans will definitely appreciate these releases, perhaps even more than the last one, Satanic Blood, which was the official release of all those old songs that have been floating around the underground on bootleg demos forever. On Dark Gods: Seven Billion Slaves, they have put a little more into the songwriting and made the arrangements a bit more unpredictable. The playing is a bit better, as well, but I appreciate that they’ve held onto the basic style of VON pioneered in the late 1980’s. I love VON’s style, I love their sound, and their songs. I must also make mention of VENIEN’s terrific artwork. He is the bassist/songwriter/vocalist and does the covers and poster art. It is incredible. If you like Black Metal find this and buy it!!!

(Source: throwupyourhorns.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: vVurMzflessshhh Publishing (USA) Digital Release Read more

1

They Have Come (Digital Edition) 3:23

0:00/3:23
2

Ancient Flesh of The Dark Gods Feat. D & C (Coffinworm) (Digital Edition) 10:09

0:00/10:09
3

Hands of Black Death (Digital Edition) 6:14

0:00/6:14
4

Dark Gods (Digital Edition) 2:59

0:00/2:59
5

MONSTER! (Digital Edition) 5:32

0:00/5:32
6

RawRot (Digital Edition) 7:40

0:00/7:40
7

DevilWhore (Digital Edition) 6:02

0:00/6:02
8

iAmInHuman (Digital Edition) 6:03

0:00/6:03
9

Black Eyes (Digital Edition) 6:07

0:00/6:07

vvurmzflessshhh publishing

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

vVurMzflessshhh Publishing