Adversvm – Vama Marga

Adversvm is a German doom metal band, founded in 2015, which currently consists of Sascha Borchard (guitar/vocals), Fabian Guschlbauer (guitar), Jörg Uken (drums) and Don Zaros (keyboards). In 2023 this quartet released their highly anticipated third full-length album entitled Vama Marga.

This being my first encounter with Adversvm’ sound, I was very open-minded and ready for a surprise. Vama Marga contains 10 lengthy tracks, quite suitable having in mind that we’re dealing with a mix of funeral doom and death/black/progressive metal parts. Thus, their third offering is a very dynamic hybrid of mostly doom and death metal where it sees the progression and evolution in the band’s sound, moving slightly away from traditional funeral doom to a mix of funeral doom and death metal. The addition of Don Zaros and his keyboard work on this album adds more atmosphere esp. with those creeping, dark and atmospheric interludes. While listening to Vama Marga for third time now, I’m still getting surprised by different layers in their sound, with each new listening always reveling something new that I didn’t notice before.

“Exordium” is the opening track, with some enchanting tones setting the right atmosphere and mood for the rest of the album. “Emanation” is the very long composition with the ominous orchestrations, eventually a cavernous vocal parts and majestic dark keyboards which helps create this epic atmosphere. The band accelerates on the next track called “Sinistrum”, offering an initial blast-based opening before their trademark slow parts return. “Parinama” is the eerie track with a few strange melodies before the album highlight called “Feind” (listen to the song below) takes over with a majestic sound, mainly due to this beautiful and intriguing soaring solo of Fabian Guschlbauer. “Antisphere” on the other hand has its softer approach thanks to the aforementioned keyboards. “V.O.A.D.” is characterized by some dissonant leads while on “Retrograde” they add a few electronic tones and overall a great deal of a melancholic melodic lines. On “Vindex” there’s a strong emphasis on ominous keyboards, which are often then complemented by frightening vocal parts. “Mölingssken” closes the album with the heady modern tones where the band utilizes instrumentals to enhance a vibe. Another interesting feature is the top-notch album outro played by Mortuus (Marduk, Funeral Mist, DomJord)!

Now a few words on a stunning production from ‘Soundlodge Studio’, Rhauderfehn Germany, where the likes of God Dethroned, Anvil, Sinister, Dew Scented also recorded their music. They created a perfect balance with their production this time, as it feels raw, organic and full of atmosphere while still allowing every member of the band to shine on his instrument.

Vama Marga is totally unpredictable and oppressive, yet an atmospheric and masmerizing, journey from slow depths to raging fires and back into the icy abyss of the soul. Dare to witness the apocalyptic awakening of Adversvm? Mandatory listen for fans of My Dying Bride, Evoken, Incantation, Thergothon, Anathema, Saturnus, Catacombs and Disembowelment!

Learn more on this particular release at https://adversvm.bandcamp.com/album/vama-marga or their label http://www.moribundcult.com/