Atmospheric/melancholic progressive metal/rock from Finland/Portugal, latest full-length album released in 2012.
Welcome aboard the Vertigo Steps universe...
Founded by Bruno A. on the heels of the Arcane Wisdom years, set to engage on an untimely aural endeavour, assembling together the most diverse, intensely challenging and downright drenching effort: Vertigo Steps is born.
Forged in September 2007 e.v., Vertigo Steps saw dim light predominantly as a studio project, Bruno A. handling composition and lyrics, but for the ambitious debut venture 7 guests left their scar, carefully handpicked for their various areas of expertise and unique attitude towards the music. Making it a cross-European affair, with inspiring musicians from Finland, Norway, Sweden and naturally, Portugal. Core members are the duo of Bruno A./ Niko Mankinen, with Daniel Cardoso (Anathema, Anneke, Head Control System, etc.) joining in for rhythm section and production. Plus the renowned guests.
VS I... self-titled
Vertigo Steps recorded its first full-length album “Vertigo Steps” in March/April 2008, mixed & mastered at UltraSound Studios (Braga, Portugal) by Daniel Cardoso (mandatory choice for the helm). The 10 songs formed an ever emotional melting pot of ideas gathered in the former years (including "I of the Storm", a track from the Arcane Wisdom sessions as well as state of the art compositions such as "The Swarming Process" or "The Gruesome Smile" ). "Vertigo Steps" also featured an orchestral-laden overture and an instrumental interlude, seamlessly shifting moods between full-on Melancholy Metal catharsis, demented groove assaults and textured, orchestrated ambiance.
The album was also vaguely conceptual and with a certain soundtrack feel. Lyrics dealt with pain, dreams, reality, projections, ill-hidden secrets, mind-disease, decadence & departure. Songs underlined raw emotion over technique. Artwork to suit them. It enjoyed huge media praise - some of it can be read below. A special video was shot for single "Fire Eaters", again earning great feedback and wide TV broadcast.
VS II... the melancholy hour
Chapter II "The Melancholy Hour" started to take shape since the dawn of 2009, with new compelling and addictive compositions for a sophomore release. Recording took place in April/May 2010 at UltraSound Studios (Moita, Portugal), with master Daniel Cardoso (again producer & drummer). Two inspiring studio-webisodes were shared and the band worked with the same talented artist for the artwork.
The sound was rockier, progressive and more solid and memorable than ever, with more than a few surprises on a truly unique effort and quite a leap and landmark for the band... 12 tracks, including a cover of "Sweet Sweet Rain" (Gene Loves Jezebel)! Special vocal guests included the likes of Jules Näveri and Stein R Sordal. A highly praised videoclip has been released for the song "INhale", as well as a studio episode. The band also won a pre-nomination for MTV EMA - BEST PORTUGUESE ACT and have been enjoying radio/media highlights, broadcast and interviews.
VS III... surface/ light
While the sophomore album made its way through audiences and media, VS returned to composing on October 2010. And an incredibly fertile period ensued, with up to 13 tracks being accomplished as of March. The songs delve deeper in crafting a unique sound, still with traces of metal and many a rock groove but progressing further away into new, unnamed territories. Songs are shorter, some quite direct and all relying heavily on ambience, trademark melancholy and mesmerizingly memorable melody lines, with more post-rock and ambient slowly creeping in. A dark luminosity and cinema everywhere - the path has been found, now more than ever.
The vocal guest list is top class, featuring unique talents such as Jan Transit, Patrik Karlsson and again Stein R Sordal. The band hit UltraSound Studios with Daniel Cardoso in late September and the album was ready by early December. Without a shadow of the doubt, the best VS album ever... A video was shot in January for "someone (like you)", by a norwegian artist and band fan, once again highly praised for its originality and aesthetics. The presentation EP "sublight, the album "surface /light" and the special edition of the latter, featuring all three VS albums, were released by Ethereal Sound Works in April 2012. Follow all news and do leave us you thoughts via Facebook or MySpace
Now that you're aboard, do leave your intentionally offensive praise & step into the Vertigo avalanche.
"SURFACE / LIGHT could possibly be the heaviest record of the year that’s not really a heavy record. Much like recent work from Katatonia and Amorphis, Vertigo Steps have achieved a Zen like balance between atmosphere, melody, and heaviness. With SURFACE / LIGHT, Vertigo Steps continues to prove themselves to be one of the best bands that you should be listening to."
"The album is an enterprising and formidable release which brings essences of rock, metal, and progressive rock into a compulsive sky of melancholic atmospheres and warm emotive clouds that stir and incite the emotions. It is a tremendous example of songwriting. It is a statement of far reaching atmospheres brought from the melding of heavy and stirring sounds with emotive and ardent dark to light feelings by the band."
As requested by a fellow member from USA!
Genre:
Progressive
Subgenre:
Atmospheric / Melancholic Progressive Metal / Rock
/ XBTT (1) by Dejavu