ANCIENT VVISDOM - Deathlike

The record name made me think of "Euronymous" Øystein Aarseth record label - Deathlike Silence Productions. I don’t know if the Americans from Ancient VVisdom are in any way Mayhem fans or fans of Deathlike Silence Productions releases, or this is just a coincidence. Anyway, it doesn’t really matter why they chose this name.

Ancient VVisdom is a relatively new band for the rock scene. No, this is not the Swedish band Ancient Wisdom, bu the American band Ancient VVisdom, totally unrelated to the Swedes or their black metal. Ancient VVisdom comes with a decent, calculated and laid back occult folk rock... very laid back! If you like folk rock, occult rock bands and not only, but you’re trying not to take the band too seriously. This is not something unheard of, Ancient VVisdom haven’t invented the wheel or any great gift to humanity, but they sound good for what they’re trying to achieve. Deathlike is a decent record, a bit diluted at times. Why diluted? Because it sounds more like Nickelback light with occult lyrics than a fierce and mystic band. But it’s not that bad, because Ancient VVisdom has its moments. From the title track - Deathlike, continuing with The Last Man on Earth, Never Live Again and Here Is the Grave plus the intro The Beginning, this record has some interesting pieces. Unfortunately the music of Ancient VVisdom does not manage to have on Deathlike the effect that the music of Hexvessel has (another important name of the new wave of occult rock bands) not even the effect of their first album - A Godlike Inferno (2011). In conclusion, overall Deathlike has its good parts and the less than good parts. Unfortunately the latter hang a bit heavy in the balance.

H. Nota: 6.5