Visions of War

Reviews

Phane / Visions of War …Is This 2024, or 1984 split EP

Can you go wrong with a split EP between Vancouver’s PHANE and VISIONS OF WAR (who are scattered a bit everywhere these days)? I had the pleasure of seeing the former on their European tour last year, and thoroughly enjoyed their dynamic blend of beefy UK82 à la LAST RITES and the DISTURBED, over-the-top early metalpunk like ENGLISH DOGS, as well as early DOG SOLDIER. They deliver as usual here, with one original scorcher and a flamboyant cover of ABRASIVE WHEELS. On the flipside, VISIONS OF WAR, if you will allow a tautology, do what they do. These undying survivors of the ’90s Eurocrust wave unleash raw cavemen crust for fans of DOOM and HIATUS with a touch of the gruffest käng like SVART PARAD on this recording. Like PHANE, they also grace us with a cover, ONE WAY SYSTEM’s anthemic “Give Us a Future,” a song I played an awful lot as a teen, and I have to say they fall a bit short here, especially the vocals. The EP does not disappoint if you are into both bands, but it might not be an ideal point of entry if you are unfamiliar with them. I fall into the first category, so I am happy as a pig in mud.

Simbiose / Visions of War split EP

I’ve said it in a previous recent review, and I’d say it again: VISIONS OF WAR keep getting better. From my perspective, the band was on hiatus for some years around 2013, but when I actually look into it, they seem to just put out a quality recording every few years. It is not oversaturated, but this is another split within a year or so, and again, I’m impressed! They just get heavier, tighter, and faster each time. Three tracks, and what can I say, this perfect Euro-crust like it was 25 years ago, yet polished in all directions. SIMBIOSE plays a more technical percussion angle while ripping through with metallic fury. There is a more hypnotic thrash attack going on here and the editing is tight. This is hardcore punk played with experienced skill. Neither side is all-out raw—the overall flavor of the split is brutal crust punk with some harmony but more grinding displeasure. Well-balanced, but clearly differentiated sides. I love this washy ink illustration on the cover. Yes, I believe they are skulls, but not entirely human. Come to think of it, both logos look really well-crafted here, too. Excellent stuff, I need to learn more about SIMBIOSE (Portugal), as VISIONS OF WAR has been my second favorite Belgian punk band for quite some time (see second sentence).

Arrogänt / Visions of War split LP

Cool to see VISIONS OF WAR are still around—I was organizing my records this weekend and put on their split with OLHO DE GATO. I haven’t heard anything from them in a decade! Anyway, they retain a guttural crust vocal delivery with clean rhythmic D-beat hardcore à la later ANTI-CIMEX. Chords are bright and the tones are dense and dark, which creates balance and contrast that is aggressive and smoothly irreverent. Vevarsle at its finest; dirgelike, heavy, metallic, and crust as ever. This side totally rages. ARROGÄNT follows with an even heavier death-beat, with echoing vocals and an industrial punk pace. Percussion palpitates and bitterness seethes. Dual vocals complement one another, similar to FLEAS AND LICE meets MEATHOOK SEED. This looser and more raw and chaotic side suits the split so both sides are unique but equally sinister. I want it!