ALBUM REVIEW: Unholy – IJdelheid

IJDELHEID is the solo project of GREY AURA singer and guitarist Ruben Wijlacker and takes its name from the Dutch word for vanity. Wijlacker might be best known for being a part of a heavy metal group, but on his debut solo album Unholy he takes a different approach to music. Will it be a success?

Sadism is the first of the eight songs on the record, and it has a gorgeous instrumental introduction of a gentle acoustic guitar before the almost operatic vocals kick in. The song itself does not have a lot going on; however, the almost intimate style of it instantly makes it stand out. The guitar at the end brings the song into a full circle moment.

Gathering follows, and it is the first single off of the album. It should be noted that this is also the first song with lyrics in, on which Wijlacker has commented: “The folkish cadence contrasts with its surrealist lyrics, which deal with nightmares, oppression and God.” Wijlacker‘s vocals are haunting as they always teeter on the edge of something holy. The bare bones of the track match the previous one; this keeps the pacing of the album in line.

The stripped-back vibe of the album continues with Justine, the third song. The good thing about the album not focusing much on big, loud sounds is that each song can be appreciated in its entirety. Furthermore, it becomes more accessible for general audiences. There is also a positive of the pacing of the album being consistent and easy to follow. On the other hand, Southern Masquerade mixes things up a bit. This makes sense because it is the halfway point of the album. It still has a stripped-back feel, but the acoustic guitar is swapped for an electric guitar. This creates a more atmospheric song. Of course, the previous songs were also atmospheric in their own way; however, adding an electric guitar makes the song stand out more.

Floating Crowns and The Onset Of Grand Decay continue the electric guitar tradition that Southern Masquerade started, as does the record’s closing pair of Kiss The Prophets and Afterlife. This is good because it creates constancy throughout the album. It also does not affect the pacing of the album.

In conclusion, Unholy is a fantastic debut album. The pacing is spectacular, as it never speeds up too fast or slows down too much to ruin the album. There is also fantastic production on the record as well. The songs are accessible and should appeal to any audience. The best thing about this album is that it steps out of the box that we call genres, and creates an easy-listening, yet very unique experience. The mixing of genres is achieved very well, as there is something for fans of everyone from SWANS and NICK CAVE to SLOWDIVE and AGNES OBEL, as well as being for fans of rock, metal, or anyone who likes their music that does not fit into a box. Overall, Unholy is a holy piece of work in our ever-expanding genreless world.

Rating: 8/10

Unholy is out now via Onism Productions.

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