Literature has almost always been a direct inspiration for motion pictures. Taking on the mastery of written words – whether be a novel, short story, or poem – translating it into a visual medium is challenging, but when done right, riveting. The same can be said for music; also an artistic platform that has taken cues from writings throughout history. Really a matter of finding something that moves us in an attempt to create in our own light, one musical project which has excelled in this field is Germany’s The Vision Bleak.
The partnership of Ulf Schwadorf (vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards) and Allen Konstanz (vocals, drums, keyboards), as a duo they formed the Vision Bleak back in 2000. A long time ago, since then they have successfully crafted music that lays comfortably within the realm of Gothic Metal, mixed with tints of Doom Metal, and matched with a strong literary background. What some may call as Horror Metal, looking back, their material has touched on many more macabre elements; including Horror cinema (an example 2004’s “Wolfmoon” as reference to 1941’s The Wolfman), as well as classic writings (an example their 2007 album The Wolves Go Hunt Their Prey which is loosely based on H. P. Lovecraft’s short story The Haunter of the Dark).
Done so in a very intelligent manner that in exchange entices their listeners to even do their research on the subject matters, now in 2024, The Vision Bleak return with what could be their most unique efforts to date. Marking what will be their first album in 8 years, the last being 2016’s The Unknown, what they are calling Weird Tales arrives on April 12th through Prophecy Productions. What will be their seventh overall studio album, the title derives from Fantasy/Horror Fiction magazine of the same name. First published in 1923, the magazine featured published writings of H. P. Lovecraft, Seabury Quinn, and Clark Ashton Smith, to name a few. Masters of tales feeling with dark curious imagination, The Vision Bleak were compelled to pay homage to them, as well as others like Edgar Allan Poe amidst their newest musical odyssey.
Unique in many facets, The Vision Bleak’s Weird Tales makes the bold move of presenting the material as one continuous track. Something that has been done before in Metal music (for example, Green Carnation’s 2001 album Light of Day, Day of Darkness), Schwadorf and Konstanz keep Weird Tales under 42 minutes, breaking it into chapters. What this means is, yes, the album is one continuous play, but within that are 12 chapters with enticing subtitles to inform you where you stand in the story. Something that can be consumed as a digital stream, truthfully, it would be most effective in a physical format (either on CD or vinyl). However, no matter what format you choose, Weird Tales is wholly a dazzling listen of dark, melodic Metal.
Something you can piece apart if you so shall wish and listen to in sections, the best way to take what The Vision Bleak does here is to devote the time to start at the beginning, and stay focused until the end. Within this window of time The Vision Bleak carefully layout sounds that are rich in Gothic texture (thanks to the guitars, keyboard accents) and haunting mostly clean, but carefully placed harsher vocals. Matching this, of course you also have original chronicles of Horror penned by Schwadorf and Konstanz themselves. Honestly done with the utmost care, in the way 1931’s Frankenstein interpreted Mary Shelly’s novel or 1976’s Carrie interpreted Stephen King’s for film, The Vision Bleak’s Weird Tales does for music.
A fantastic experience for Metal and Horror fans alike, Cryptic Rock gives The Vision Bleak’s Weird Tales 5 out of 5 stars.
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