ALBUM REVIEW: Pole – Veuve

Psychedelic meets stoner rock on Pole, the brand new album from VEUVE. The Italian trio, since their formation in 2013, have become known for pushing the boundaries when it comes to their music and the soundscapes created on every record, they’ve put out so far, with Pole being no different. Inspired by the character V.M. Varga from the show Fargo, the record explores sounds and styles within the world of blues, shoegaze and noise rock.

The opening track Land Of Denial is, according to VEUVE, meant to act as the most ‘bluesy and spoken’ song on the record, a fact that anyone could easily agree with. The track itself starts out with instrumental feedback before the full band comes in to establish their stoner rock roots with a bass heavy introduction, before they shift into that blues sound. Even if you’re unaware on who the song is based on, you can still detect that dark confidence and hard exterior of someone who you know you don’t want to mess with. You also can’t help but visualise a western scene where the antagonist walks into a saloon which had one been loud and bustling, but now everyone sits in silence.

For the most part, it’s fair to say that record is more focused on sound than it is on vocals which, when used, only elevate the already theatrical scene further. Each song on the record seems to establish a different location and theme that when put together seems to create an ongoing story. Moving into The Thaw, which is more guitar focused, is relatively more upbeat and feelgood with several mini breakdowns and a stunning psychedelic section that creates a sci-fi meets dystopian soundscape.

Whilst Quest For Fire is more of the theatrical nature where the droning guitar is used to tease something epic as it elevates in volume before ending up somewhere that brings in a little of everything we’ve heard so far along with some hard rock and nu-metal elements. And things finally conclude with a section that is rather ‘twinkly’, the bittersweet ending of a conflict where there is triumph as well as heartbreak.

The following two songs, Inner Desert and The Sudden Light, was meant to be one long 25-minute track before being split in two. It appears to carry on the story with a long droning guitar section, possibly as a representation of the sadness we’re still experiencing from earlier before we then shift into something more uplifting. Whilst still stoner rock meets psychedelic in nature, we also hear the experimentation of middle eastern music that, paired with a low bass, sounds beautiful. Towards the end of the track, and in the closing song, Thrive On Empty Temples, we fully return to a more gnarly hard rock sound as the story reaches it’s end.

Pole is a record that does exactly what is promised: creating an innovative musical soundscape. This record is a  perfect way to escape reality.

Rating: 8/10

Pole is out now via Go Down Records.

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