Vordøna—Quadrivium (2023)

Cover for Vordona—Quadrivium (2023) shows a figure with fire above their head. The fire appears to be surrounded with trees shaped into a circle.

Details

Music composed and performed by Pavlo Mysak; the lyrics written and performed by Tony Ricci. Mixed and mastered by Facundo at Novoestudios in Valencia, Spain.

Released on Sliptrick Records on Friday 27 June 2023

Encyclopaedia Metallum | Facebook | Instagram

Band

Tony Ricci—Vocals
Pavlo Mysak—Instruments

Tracks

Prelude
Dark moons
I. Altered perception
II. Deliverance
III. Recollection
IV. Testaments
Postlude

Review

Quadrivium (2023) is the debut album from New York’s progressive rock/metal due Vordøna,

Meant to be experienced as a work from start to finish, Quadrivium (2023) is an emotive piece of work. It combines orchestral arrangements, ethereal soundscapes and hard-hitting rock.

*Quadrivium is performed by this duo…rivium*

The album opens with an orchestral introduction, “Prelude” (track 1) that sets the tone for the rest of the album. It is both ominous and delicate.

Soon, we are thrown into “Dark moons” (track 2), which features heavy guitars, driving drums, and emotional vocals—a powerful statement about the dark side of human nature.

Tracks three, four, five and six make up the tetralogy, four songs that tells a story of inner thought and transformation, with each song thought-provokingly exploring a different aspect of the human psyche.

The churning opening riff to “III. Recollection” (track 5) is one of the stand-out moments on this release.

The album ends as it began, with a return to the soundscapes of the opening track in “Postlude” (track 7).

Conclusion

The problem that I have with a lot of modern progressive rock/metal is that is just all sounds very… same-y. I don’t want to detract from the skills of the musicians or the song writing. It’s all very good. The production is spotless, the mix is nicely balanced. It’s just… I lingered on this release more than most, trying my hardest to really hear it. But this album still flowed past me with only a few passages making me stop to take notice.

Maybe I’m just not the right audience for this—if you are deeply into your progressive metal, I am sure you will love this. The opening track created a beautiful atmospheric soundscape that set the tone for the rest of the album, the trouble is… it remained a soundscape, a pleasing background. Perhaps, like many releases, I just need to live with it more, perhaps my inner landscape just wasn’t right for listening to it this week.

Anyway, it’s good… it just didn’t connect with me beyond the surface aesthetic.

Review score: 70%

Video

Disclosure

GrandSounds PR contacted me inviting me to review Vordøna’s forthcoming album, thank you. I have no connections to either GrandSounds PR or Vordøna. I’m not being paid to review this, but I did get a free digital copy of the album to review which is pretty cool. Many thanks to GrandSounds PR, and to Vordønafor continuing to create fresh, new music.