Sometimes, as someone who spends way too much time listening to new music, you yearn for some sense of familiarity. You want change and innovation, but you also need comfort, just like dead grandma’s food would offer. Enter Varices – The Undoing, MeloDeath that promises to be reliable when it comes to delivering solid riffs, but let’s see how much of that is true.
Undoing is pretty direct in its proposal. It’s MeloDeath that doesn’t complicate itself too much. I don’t mean it’s simple or boring, but that the album borrows heavily from Swedish classics like In Flames and The Haunted. Fortunately, it doesn’t do it excessively (no Come Clarity here). Undoing never gets cringe and it keeps a nice sense of consistency that reminded me more of bands like Necropanther or Glacier Eater. MeloDeath bands that don’t settle with the typical sound of the Scandinavian school. So, it managed to be as comforting as my lower back needed.
Catchy riffs and competent musicianship. It’s an album that plays it as safe as a Norwegian Black Metal band. It just sticks to fun vocal choruses, clean production, and ideas that appeal to most of us Metalheads. You might be wondering: “Catto, you sound less inspired than usual, and that says something”. You’re correct, my little grasshopper, but don’t worry—I’m not even close to hitting burnout, or I hit it so long ago I feel nothing anymore! But this is where I have to jump off the ship and tell you what I found less interesting in Undoing.
Honestly, there’s nothing terrible or precisely wrong here. It’s just a similar complaint to the one I had in the latest Rotting Christ review: Undoing is safe and maybe makes me too comfortable (the therapist said I’m stuck in my comfort zone…). It’s fun MeloDeath that stays consistent from beginning to end, but I’m left wanting something more; that unknown factor that will make me come back to it over and over again.
Either way, if you grew up with Soilwork, Dark Tranquillity or other Gothenburg-inspired MeloDeath, Varices might have what you need. You just need to keep realistic expectations. This is a more modern interpretation of those old works, but if your sole purpose is accessible headbanging, then I believe Undoing has what you’ve been looking for. In my case, I’m just going to send another mail to HR to see if they give me that sick leave finally. Wish me luck!
Label: Shunu Records
Release Date: 1 June, 2024
Website: https://www.varices.nu/
Country: Sweden
Score: a forgone sad day, or 3.0/5.0 for those who can count
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