VIOLENTORY – Theory Of Life

The Bulgarian Experimental Metal band ViolentorY mixes Heavy Metal and Progressive Death Metal with Symphonic and Folk Metal elements. They’re a relatively fresh band — they only released their debut EP last year. This year they’re back with their first full length album entitled Theory Of Life.

The basic foundation for ViolentorY’s music is straight Heavy Metal, but it is the blend of the various styles and subgenres that is the band’s strength. Combined with excellent precision, you get a combination that is both unique and rare in the Metal scene today. Vocalist Dimitar Belchev masters both clean vocals, growling, and a harsh Metal voice. This really adds to the band’s versatility.

The album starts off with in-your-face Metal songs before they experiment with various styles. “The Dreamkiller” is a great example. There’s technical and rhythmic riffing that almost goes Djent on you, while the verses and choruses are strictly Heavy Metal with galloping guitars that would make Iron Maiden proud.

Tsvetomir Voynov on lead guitar brings a really nice Oriental-inspired guitar solo to the song “Over You,” while the keyboards, courtesy of Hristoslav Hristov, make the music sound Symphonic at times — for instance in the choruses for “Over You” or most of “Brain Wash.” The latter, along with “Devolution,” are arguably the best songs on the album. “Psychical Decay” is probably the closest ViolentorY ever gets to Death Metal — it’s the song with the most growling on it.

All Metal fans will undoubtedly find something to love on this album. This is an amazing debut from the Bulgarian band and it will be exciting to hear what they can do next!