PILGRIMAGE

In my experience with extreme metal, Eastern Europe has been a minefield as far as obscure bands and albums go. As is true with virtually every style of music and every regional scene, there is plenty of run-of-the-mill, or even mediocre material to sift through, but it is always worth finding the bands and albums like this; the ones that stick with me past the average. Vuvr is a band that sadly only came out with one album before disbanding some years ago, and it is a real shame that these Czechs never came out with anything else, because on their record 'Pilgrimages', they show alot of potential. One part classic death metal and another part jazz fusion, Vuvr distinguish themselves from their peers, although I'm sure they would have gotten much better had they decided to stick around.

Vuvr's debut is a very promising album that does what a few metal bands have already done in the past; merging jazz music with metal music, in this case; death metal. The contrast between jazzy clean toned guitars and pummeling riffage is already something that had been done across the Atlantic by the likes of bands such as Atheist and Cynic, but what really surprised me with Vuvr's sound is that there are parts here that truly do sound like jazz fusion. By that, I mean that it sounds like its a real fusion band playing, not a rock or metal band that is trying out a new genre. This feeling is brought across mostly by the fact that there is just as much jazz, if not more, than metal on 'Pilgrimage'. I mean, there is still death metal here, but perhaps not enough to actually call it a death metal album. 'Pilgrimage' starts out much in the vein of a band like Atheist, although perhaps not as impressive on the metal end. As the album goes on, the jazzy element devours much of the death metal, and eventually you're hearing jazz instruments like saxophones playing in tandem with the guitars and drums. It was a bit shocking at first, and towards the latter half of the album, I was constantly on edge, trying to anticipate when Vuvr would change their sound back.

The jazz element is certainly Vuvr's best aspect, and the death metal here is quite good, although not excellent. As far as the death metal goes, they are above average when it comes to the strength of their riffs and the sense of direction, but when I will remember 'Pilgrimage' and Vuvr in the future, it will be the brilliant transition to jazz that I remember, and not so much the heavier side of things.

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