Quo Vadis

Forever

(c)(p)1996 Quo Vadis

Review by Neil St.Laurent

Thanks to VomiT Productions for the CD

The progression of the extreme genres is sometimes viewed negatively by the extreme fans out there; for progression needlessly dillutes the purity of the old school sound. With Quo Vadis it is a fairer statement to say they are contributing to the enrichment of the extreme... additionally they are the only band that I know that has an original blast beat (no, I didn't think it was possible either).

Quo Vadis, unlike so many other progressing death bands, has instead of becoming a doomdeath band, acquired their desired sound from a variety of the atmospheric melancholic genres and repurposed them directly into an extreme sound. It isn't very often that I can do this, but I can likely draw similarities to Kataklysm and Anathema within the same song. I will rather though create a strong comparison with some other rather unknown bands, Kohlappse and Gomorra (now Solar Spine). These bands, like Quo Vadis, don't approach the music as an attempt to be a part of a genre, instead they have a clear vision of an album and use the techniques available to them in order to produce an emotionaly powerful album. A collection of black metal shrieking and mood, death metal riffing and blast beats, and the doomy interludes, creates a trasncendent sound (with intended comparison to fellow Quebec band Transcendence).

Although it isn't about the individual components, it are those components that in the end are actually responsible for producing the sound. First note is on drummer Yanic Bercier. This guy can go from slow anticipatory beats (the kind that let you know something insane is just beyond this slow part) to the absolutely insane blast beats, in which case he still manages to find some room for originality. The guitar tracks varies in its approach and style throughout, you can find the muting of power metal provide an aggressive sound, or the eccentric lead style begun back in the 80's. What is uncommon in the album is that of a flowing melody provided by the guitars (something that Sentenced has become notable for), they are always fairly rigid and holding a distinctly lead quality. Despite the sound being highly technical at times and lacking in smooth transitions, it still retains an emotional aspect to it, although not to an excess level.

Quo Vadis is one of those bands that also recognizes the value of vocal contributions. Itman and Frydrychowicz provide vocals with Bercer on backup vocals. The range is generally from guttoral growling to black metal style shrieking. There is of course plenty of opportunity for a bit of speaking or other vocals, and at times even layered with each other.

Completely and without question Quo Vadis "Forever" is excellent. There, that's it... excellent.

Quo Vadis is:
Yanic Bercier - Drums, Backup Vocals
Remy Beauchamp - Bass
Bart Frydrychowicz - Guitars, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Arie Itman - Guitars, Vocals, Violin

Contact:
VomiT Productions
POBox 44
Station NDG
Montral, Quebec H4A 3P4
Canada

Email: quovadis@axess.com
Web: http://www.axess.com/bartf/QV.HTM

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