Verge - The Process Of Self-Becoming (EN)

There we have it again. The scoring of the album is very difficult. However, I have set myself a task. The promo sheet describes the new album of Verge nearly perfect as always. Usually I did not pay much attention to it.

I firstly listened to "The Process of Self-Becoming" and wasn't thrilled. Only then I have read the info sheet. The clarification that this album is a concept album about existential philosophy is really insightful. The framework of the text is not enough to enter the details of the concept and the person Kierkegaards (one of the most significant Danes). If one is interested, one could research.

However, I can judge the musical realization of the concept in consideration of the liking of the band for misanthropic and negative topics in general. The guitars move like a saw through the songs with painful tones and melody parts that recurring low in variation. The screamed vocals that are sometimes also clear or nagging harmonize perfectly with the music and highlight the dominated mood. Unfortunately the bass has often a niche existence here, too. As a result it only does its work and nothing more. The drums are intensive engaged with hi-hats and cymbals and reveal the cold atmosphere.

The album is roughly broken down into 3 parts that in fact differ musically but the total arrangement is similar. While the first part "Aesthetic" is faster and harder, the other parts "Moral" and "Religious" drift away into the insignificant. The music flattens and offers no arc of suspense or all kind of outbreaks to speak of. It is especial noticeable in the last song "Religious II - Grounding In The Unground" that is rubbery with its nearly 12 minutes duration. Here one cannot listen for 5 minutes and don't miss a thing. The high rating is arising from the technical ambitious production and delivery as the band remains true to its own style.

Conclusion:
Truly, this album isn't easy to digest. It calls for more attention and requires that the listener has a certain mood to enjoy it completely. But if one is currently melancholic or misanthropic, one can hardly enjoy something. It is meticulous.

Rating: 7,5/10

Recommendations: Aesthetic II - The Futility Of It All