Quintessence of Versatility - Extreme Metal - Rennes, FR
In the later episodes of “The Sopranos”, the musings of Carmela Soprano during her philosophical trip to Paris illustrate best the situation of France’s Quintessence of Versatility. The extreme metal band with deathcore leanings exists within a thriving French metal community—the members having all spent time in numerous successful groups before finally coming together in the late 2000s—yet my unexpectedly isolated American location has caused this robust ecosystem to completely pass me by throughout my entire life. In the show, over an elaborate dinner spread, Soprano ruminates on how we never realize that the whole world keeps on living, even when we’re not there, and my ignorance of Quintessence of Versatility can only be described as such. I never apprehended such a music scene in my days, but the band’s 2014 EP, “Reveal The Truth”, has done just that—and now I see the truth.
Recorded with multiple producers at three separate locations, “Reveal The Truth” somehow manages to generate a sense of uniformity, despite its colorful upbringing. The five tracks here are all seasoned compositions of heavy, aggressive and intense metal that are unafraid to beat you down into the cement with double bass and discordance. Opening track “Forever Depressed” wastes no time in painting a bleak picture with an equally bleak accompaniment. Drummer Aurélien "Wally" Groussolle puts forth an overwhelming percussive onslaught, matching the technical copper riffing with the utmost dexterity, as vocalist Guillaume Gandon proves his aural diversity, bree-ing and screaming at both ends of the spectrum.
In short, these songs are the essence of sonic maximalism. Quintessence of Versatility writes and plays, intentionally or otherwise, to pummel the listener into a fetal position, almost never letting up in intensity and aggression. The short length of “Pimp Yourself” is about as much of a break as you’re going to get on “Reveal the Truth”, with additional momentary lapses in extremity in “This Is Our Life” (an extended, Between the Buried and Me-esque jazzy interlude) and closer “Unapplied Laws”, with its fist-pumping melodic guitar solo, straight out of a Power Metal 101 textbook. Other than that, you should prepare yourself for a severely heavy listening experience—one that is rarely matched by bands in the States—full of riffing, double bass and darkness.
Both a vice and virtue, Quintessence of Versatility’s extremity in their writing will both astound and awe listeners, impressing some while off-putting others, which is to be expected when so firmly entrenching your music in such a polarized genre. Power pop fans and pop punk enthusiasts will probably go running home to their mothers in tears after listening to just a few seconds of “Reveal The Truth”, but any metal fans out there are only going to be desperate for more at the EP’s conclusion. This is as heavy as heavy gets, and with a two-week tour currently in the works, we can certainly expect to be reading some news articles soon on metal clubs’ walls falling down after Quintessenceof Versatility stopped by to play. They’re coming, whether you’re ready or not.
Official Website/Music:
http://www.qov-official.com
Support on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/QoVofficial
By: Max Puhala
Recorded with multiple producers at three separate locations, “Reveal The Truth” somehow manages to generate a sense of uniformity, despite its colorful upbringing. The five tracks here are all seasoned compositions of heavy, aggressive and intense metal that are unafraid to beat you down into the cement with double bass and discordance. Opening track “Forever Depressed” wastes no time in painting a bleak picture with an equally bleak accompaniment. Drummer Aurélien "Wally" Groussolle puts forth an overwhelming percussive onslaught, matching the technical copper riffing with the utmost dexterity, as vocalist Guillaume Gandon proves his aural diversity, bree-ing and screaming at both ends of the spectrum.
In short, these songs are the essence of sonic maximalism. Quintessence of Versatility writes and plays, intentionally or otherwise, to pummel the listener into a fetal position, almost never letting up in intensity and aggression. The short length of “Pimp Yourself” is about as much of a break as you’re going to get on “Reveal the Truth”, with additional momentary lapses in extremity in “This Is Our Life” (an extended, Between the Buried and Me-esque jazzy interlude) and closer “Unapplied Laws”, with its fist-pumping melodic guitar solo, straight out of a Power Metal 101 textbook. Other than that, you should prepare yourself for a severely heavy listening experience—one that is rarely matched by bands in the States—full of riffing, double bass and darkness.
Both a vice and virtue, Quintessence of Versatility’s extremity in their writing will both astound and awe listeners, impressing some while off-putting others, which is to be expected when so firmly entrenching your music in such a polarized genre. Power pop fans and pop punk enthusiasts will probably go running home to their mothers in tears after listening to just a few seconds of “Reveal The Truth”, but any metal fans out there are only going to be desperate for more at the EP’s conclusion. This is as heavy as heavy gets, and with a two-week tour currently in the works, we can certainly expect to be reading some news articles soon on metal clubs’ walls falling down after Quintessenceof Versatility stopped by to play. They’re coming, whether you’re ready or not.
Official Website/Music:
http://www.qov-official.com
Support on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/QoVofficial
By: Max Puhala