One of the most accomplished newcomers SIGNAL REX has come across in recent years, the shadowy entity of VALAIS burst from the voidal womb fully formed in the middle of 2021 with their self-titled debut album. Despite existing in the vast (and vastly inconsistent) wilderness of Bandcamp, Valais in fact imparted a power and poignancy that takes most bands at least a couple records to reach, if at all. Both classically composed and forward-thinking, VALAIS understood right from the start the core tenets of true black metal, but equally understood how to inject their own personality and poise into such to create something that adds to the language of BLACK METAL rather than mimics its speech patterns (and sloppily so).
I believe that Valais has an intimidating sound, which is not afraid to push its limits. There is a silent fury that manifests itself throughout the songs, it’s a melodic sound, but cruel and visceral. The stunning voice and coming from the depths of the underworld seems to whip the instrumental, especially the virtuosic guitars with well-constructed riffs and charming tremolo.
The tracks do not have titles and this is also dispensable here, the Roman numerals already symbolize how it was done in the old days, marks of place of speech.
Signal Rex has an impressive ability to discover and polish the European underworld. The call now came from Ireland, from Dublin. Very impressive, I could say it is very reminiscent of the 90s, but it’s way beyond that. It seems to transcend the limits of dating and plunges directly into our understanding like a mantra.
Take note of this name, as they are coming underground and making an immeasurable contribution to the nascent Black Metal scene worldwide. Altogether in “Valais” debut we have 3 tracks and two intros and the tracks are around 9 to 13 minutes long, and they are not tiring, on the contrary: they are creative and very well built. I think we have one of the best albums out in 2022.
I listened at least six times before doing this review and I see that there is a tribute to the classics of the 90s, but without nostalgia for an era that does not return, but with the certainty that they dictate the way to be followed. May the world know VALAIS.
No, Valais as a work is a towering monument of tension and release, skillful contours and subtle dynamics, richly malevolent melody and slipstreaming violence. Aesthetic touchstones include the likes of Slidhr, latter-day Leviathan, and even Blut Aus Nord at their wiliest, but VALAIS also exhibit an understated sense of the pagan – perhaps stemming from their native Ireland, or perhaps from some strange cosmos far beyond our comprehension… Either way, all of this coalesces into a whilrlwinding five-song/37-minute experience that feels far vaster than that succinct runtime otherwise suggests. As such, SIGNAL REX is honored to rightfully release this tome in all physical formats.
