Van Canto, Trust in rust

I’m always enthusiastic when I hear about a new Van Canto album, I know many consider them only a gimmicky band, but I like them a lot. They have a good vibe, put a smile on my face and some of their collaborations are really really awesome (Hansi for the win). But this album I’m not feeling it. It sounds like they’re just going through the works and have zero interest towards their music and zero joy of singing, which to me is probably the most off-putting thing when it comes to music. Even mediocre music can be made better by the artist’s enthusiasm and not even Opeth- like level of compositions can be saved by a lack of honesty and of caring. Maybe Sly leaving affected them in terms of songwriting or general mood (since he did seem like the most cheerful and carefree guy in the band, maybe he was the motor behind their attitude). But I have to say that as far as vocal skills go, I dig the new guy, Hagen. He has a raspy deep voice and he seems rather versatile. 

Back in the lead – not a fan of the dissonant and minimalistic sound, it sounds very insipid and dull. It’s supposed to be a “we are back” type of track, but all I get from it is that they are bored and want it to be over, as it severely lacks the kick.

Javelin – it has a catchier chorus, but for the most part is still rather characterless. Van Canto has always been a band that made me think they’re having tons of fun singing, but this time I don’t feel any fun or any other sort of vibe coming from them. The music itself is just as repetitive and lifeless as they are and all those high notes seem thrown in there just to check some list and not because they have a place there or come naturally. 

Trust in rust – ok, now we’re getting somewhere. Not their best effort, but at least this one makes me feel something other than complete blankness. It’s upbeat and it sounds like a tongue in cheek version of Manowar, even though I could do with a few less “trust in rust”‘s. 

Ride the sky – after a cool verse that made me think maybe there’s still some hope for this album, we are greeted with one of the most anti-climatic choruses ever. I don’t understand what they were aiming for with these dissonant moments, but they didn’t get there. The rest of the track is actually pretty good, but every time the chorus comes in, it breaks the flow and takes me out of the joyous excited mood the previous parts had just managed to create. 

Melody – rigidididirigiiddddimdimdoooo. Yup, all shall come to sing the melody like one. Because this actually is a melody we can come sing like one, full of energy, infectious and well, melodic. I like the Last night of the kings-style bridge a lot and the explosion of voices and drums at the end is a more than welcome infusion of enthusiasm.

Neverland – again with this “lacking the kick” problem. The verses are quite pretty, with a pleasant melody and then the bridge grows so nicely and promises a powerful chorus and then it just falls flat. It definitely doesn’t help the song that it’s the most uninteresting part gets repeated the most. 

Desert snake – I can’t believe that the one time they get the dissonant darker style to finally work (and work so well, nonetheless) they feel the need to unnaturally sweeten it by the middle of the track. Thankfully it grows back right after Inga’s cheesy bridge and overall it manages to be the best part of the album (which granted, doesn’t mean much in this context). And it dispels any regret I had towards Sly’s voice, as it shows more of Hagen’s strengths. 

Darkest days – without that bridge that was completely thrown in there without any connection with the rest of the melody, it’s just a song that passes by my ear and then it’s over. 

Infinity – once more the verses give some promise, only to be drowned in the most insipid chorus and the cheesiest bridge. It seems like they’re not even trying, they still sound bored like shit and like they’re doing karaoke.  

Hells Bells – how can one make AC/DC sound lifeless and not fun is beyond me, but there you have it.

Heading home – a pleasant song with a campy vibe of people singing around a fire. It may have had more impact if it were closing off a better album, but it’s still a sweet moment.

I have no idea what happened to these guys, it almost seems like they’re trying to be serious and be taken seriously. I don’t know why they would feel the need for that because they were doing just fine before, if you ask me. But anyway, let’s say they did what they wanted. Then why seem so miserable in the process? Everything sounds like they couldn’t wait to get it over with, like they had almost no ideas for a new record and they just made one because they had to, for some mysterious reason. And what happened to Inga? I always found her and her voice awesome, but this time I feel like she is weak link and her parts almost always drag the song down. And even if they had some issues with repetitivity before, I don’t remember the ad-nauseam iteration of the chorus being such a present and distressing problem. 

I’m not happy with the result at all, especially after the previous release where they showed such promise when they successfully tried a more dramatic approach instead of sticking to the well know territory. Maybe they stretched too much out of their comfort zone, or tried to recreate the previous record even if they weren’t really feeling it this time, or Sly’s absence is taking its toll? I have no idea, but it just doesn’t work.