Volturian
Red Dragon

Many seems to have positive things to say about the debut album by Volturian, Crimson that was released in 2020. This second album have not been quite as well received, even some negative opinions have been expressed. Perhaps it is the cover that isn’t brilliant, I didn’t hear Crimson but wouldn’t be surprised if it was better than this one. I was curious as the label mentions that it is for fans of The Birthday Massacre, and I believe I qualify as a fan of that amazing band. If they had been TBM clones I would have been a fan of Volturian, but they aren’t.

A pop metal album with female vocals and a big use of synths, but they are more Lacuna Coil and their peers than something akin to The Birthday Massacre. I would say that Volturian offers a well-produced album with a fine sound, and some catchy songs. The vocalist is pretty good, but not outstanding in any regard. The variation of the album is okay, and the ten tracks takes a bit less than forty minutes to play through.

It is not the most unique or creatively exciting album, when you mention something like The Birthday Massacre I get the hopes of synthpop in a rock’n’metal suit that is bound to awe and sound unique – had Volturian just copied that I would probably been very impressed and a new fan. Now I just listen and doesn’t hear anything that is really great, it is an album from a band with great potential but doesn’t turn that great potential into a great album. It lacks the strong and memorable hit songs, and I think the vocalist needs to have a bit more soul in her singing. It is a solid effort, but it doesn’t set the world ablaze or take off towards the skies.

One more to make up the numbers is how I think of this album, it doesn’t stand out or awe me. I listen and sometimes nod approvingly, but in the end I find that I am a bit bored, and that this album is a bit boring. They are an interesting band, and you might find that this album is worthwhile if you check it out, but I can’t help thinking that it would be a better choice to check their debut album Crimson (that I haven’t heard) before checking out this one.

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