Vola // Friend Of A Phantom // Album Review

So, if you are not already familiar with Vola you should be. These guys are monstrous in sound as they are crazy-beautiful technically as you could ever want a band to be. I first came across Vola back in 2018-2019 when they played The Sophie Lancaster Stage @ Bloodstock and they were a very welcome palet-cleanser amongst a lineup of Black and Death metal bands on the stage that year. Their progressive sound was very welcome on that day. Their electronic edge broke the monotony of a plethora of similar bands gracing the stage on that day, I had the pleasure that year of chatting with them and delving into their sound, once again more recently post-shamdemic I caught Vola in Dublin @ The Olympia supporting Devin Townsend, after chatting with drummer Adam Janzi in a sidestreet just off The Olympia we talked inspiration and process. I got a better insight into this fascinating band.

These guys have the most majestic sound, a glorious blend of utter brutality fused with a melodic quality they are simply impossible to ignore. Their latest album ‘Friend Of A Phantom’ their fourth studio album, is yet another stride forward for this Nordic band since their debut ‘Inmazes’way back in 2015, each album ‘Applause Of A Distant Crowd’ (2018) and ‘Witness’ (2021) has seen the band grow exponentially to become an absolute tour de force and a band you have to experience live when you can.

What can you expect from their latest offering? More of the same, these guys have a formula that works for them, a niche that transcends genres. You have an easy-on-the-ear melodic quality to all their songwriting that allows any listener the opportunity to lose themselves in this sonic tapestry, the brutality and guttural vocals to deliver a real punch when required and the airy electronica that provides the juxtaposition that’s required to pull you back out from the depths when needed from a wall of distortion crashing down on you.

As with any Vola album, the musicianship is sublime, and the journey it takes you is unlike anything you will experience in 2024, they offer that transcending quality like Sleep Token, pushing and pulling you with every track, challenging you at every turn, as you envelop yourself are these glorious recordings you just imagine the force of these songs live, the air hitting you in the chest as they pummel you from every angle. There are too many quality tracks on the album, but one of my personal favourites is ‘Paper Wolf’ with its frenetic, thundering rhythmic quality that just overwhelms the senses from start to finish.

Friend Of A Phantom is just a beautiful album, Vola goes from strength to strength, I for one cannot wait to see where they take us next. Up first we have a European Tour to enjoy with a select few UK dates on the tour also, if you have yet to witness Vola live, you simply have too, it is a glorious sonic and visual experience that every music lover should throw themselves into.

Friend Of A Phantom arrives November 1st courtesy of Mascot Records, if there was ever a band to spend your hard-earned money on Vola, is it, you can thank me later.

Review: Mark ‘N’ Load

Pre-Order Friend of a Phantom Here

VOLA Reveal Pulverizing New Single ‘Cannibal’ featuring In Flames’ Anders Fridén

Watch the Official Video featuring Anders Fridén here:

The Friend of a Phantom UK Tour Dates

22 Nov – London, Heaven

23 Nov – Nottingham, Rescue Rooms

24 Nov – Glasgow, G2

25 Nov – Manchester, Club Academy

26 Nov – Bristol, SWX

Also, watch the videos for Paper Wolf | Break My Lying Tongue | I Don’t Know How We Got Here

Tour Dates:
Tickets available HERE

01.11 – Århus, Denmark @ Voxhall
02.11 – Gothenburg, Sweden @ Pustervik
03.11 – Oslo, Norway @ Vulkan Arena
05.11 – Tampere, Finland @ Pakkahuone
06.11 – Helsinki, Finland @ Vanha Ylioppilastalo
08.11 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Fryshuset Klubben
10.11 – Berlin, Germany @ Columbia Theater
11.11 – Krakow, Poland @ Hype Park
13.11 – Prague, Czech Republic @ MeetFactory
14.11 – Vienna, Austria @ Flex
15.11 – Munich, Germany @ Backstage Halle
16.11 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Komplex
17.11 – Milan, Italy @ Live Club
19.11 – Cologne, Germany @ Kantine
21.11 – Paris, France @ Petit Bain LOW TICKETS
22.11 – London, England @ Heaven
23.11 – Nottingham, England @ Rescue Rooms
24.11 – Glasgow, Scotland @ G2 LOW TICKETS
25.11 – Manchester, England @ Club Academy
26.11 – Bristol, England @ SWX
27.11 – Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg @ Rockhal
28.11 – Eindhoven, Netherlands @ Effenaar LOW TICKETS
29.11 – Hamburg, Germany @ Markthalle
30.11 – København, Denmark @ Store Vega