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METAFICTION

Votum

Progressive Metal


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Votum Metafiction album cover
4.00 | 85 ratings | 7 reviews | 34% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 2009

Songs / Tracks Listing


1. Falling Dream 9:04
2. Glassy Essence 6:16
3. Home 6:31
4. Faces 3:55
5. Stranger Than Fiction 4:23
6. Indifferent 4:58
7. December 20th 9:25

Total Time 44:32

Line-up / Musicians


- Maciej Kosinski / vocals
- Alek Salamonik / guitar
- Adam Kaczmarek / guitar
- Zbigniew Szatkowski / keyboards
- Bartek Turkowski / bass
- Adam Lukaszek / drums

Releases information

Studio album, released by Mystic Production (MYSTCD107) / Progrock Records in 2009.

Thanks to Pablo_P for the addition
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VOTUM Metafiction ratings distribution


4.00
(85 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(34%)
34%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(39%)
39%
Good, but non-essential (22%)
22%
Collectors/fans only (4%)
4%
Poor. Only for completionists (1%)
1%

VOTUM Metafiction reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars After being so impressed with their debut "Time Must Have A Stop" I must admit my expectations were very high for this one. Maybe too high. This album still has that dark atmosphere but they've cut back on the heaviness leaving me a little disappointed overall at what they've created here. This is still a good record, in fact for those getting into this band for the first time I expect mostly 4 and 5 stars. I knew from the first listen that this wasn't as good as the debut, too laid back for one but also the songs aren't as good except for the last one. As I mentioned in my review of their debut lyrics are very important to them over everything else and I think they've comprimised the music here as a result. By the way the packaging with this cd is really well done.

"Falling Dream" is dark and atmospheric to start. Reserved vocals arrive after 1 1/2 minutes then it turns quickly into this ballad-like tune with backing vocals. Not a good start. "Glassy Essence" is heavy and uptempo but then it settles when the vocals arrive around a minute.The tempo continues to shift somewhat. Nice guitar late. A much better tune. "Home" builds quickly but settles just as fast when the reserved vocals come in. A calm with atmosphere 2 minutes in. Reserved vocals are back before 3 1/2 minutes then it picks up again.

"Faces" reminds me some of the later FATES WARNING albums, dark atmosphere with no outbreaks. "Stranger Than Fiction" is heavier and more uptempo with vocals. Some growls here after 2 1/2 minutes and later at 4 minutes. "Indifferent" opens with piano as fragile vocals come in. Drums follow then it's full after 3 1/2 minutes. "December 20th" is by far my favourite track. Atmosphere and reserved vocals to start, it's heavier a minute in. It sounds like "Damnation" 5 minutes in. Heavy again at 6 minutes.

3.5 stars.This may grow to 4 stars. As I said earlier I think most will love this record but for me it's a step down from the debut.

Review by Menswear
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars Slower, softer, deeper.

Yes, this album is different than Time Must Have a Stop. Yes, the tendency to aim towards ballads is obvious and yes, it disappoint me a teeny tiny bit.

By no means the album is bad, it's just a change of pace. The band founded it's niche into slower and less claustrophobic atmosphere, instead of burning fuel on the Riverside tangent they experiment on the first album. If your ears don't like to be rubbed the wrong way, you will enjoy this album because it won't mess with your hair often. But then...why so many ballads?

I frankly didn't expect songs structures like those: rythms done by pop-modern keyboards without solos, singing mostly in lower tones, almost whispering at times, a minimum of anger...should I say this is a more romantic album? Yes, yes I do.

Think of heavier Enchant.

..and oh, the screams are more belivable this time; no sodas involved this time.

Review by Second Life Syndrome
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars Votum is a band with much potential. I recently discovered them, and I fell in love with their melancholy, profound music in the vein of Riverside. Votum indeed is profound. While their music style tends to be softer, deeper, and moodier; their lyrical content is a punch in the gut. They do resemble Riverside in some slight ways, but no more than how some progressive metal bands resemble Dream Theater---the comparison is there, but is of little consequence.

More specifically, Votum has a great mix of music here. I have not purchased their first album yet (though I plan to), and I have heard that it is heavier than "Metafiction". That being said, this album is full of ballads with a few heavier songs thrown in the mix. This does not pull the album down at all, although I will admit that during the first few listens I was wishing for some heavier songs. I must point out, however, that this wish was merely because Votum is so good at the heavy stuff. There are two heavier songs on this album, and both of them are fantastic and very progressive. Overall, though, props should be given to the vocalist and the drummer here. The vocals are outstanding; they are technically incredible as well as emotionally vulnerable. The emotion really comes through here, and this is something I love. The drummer is also to be commended. He concocts some great and unique beats, and does not try to steal the show when the emphasis is on the lyrics or the breathy vocals. All the musicians in this band are exceptional, however.

The theme of this album centers on the idea that we have more than we know. It tells the sad story of a suicidal man who does not stop to see all that he has in the love of his wife and family---and he has even more than that (as seen in the final track). This concept is very profound, and it causes one to stop and "smell the roses".

Track List:

1. "Falling Dream": This is a great opening track that will really grow on you after 4 or 5 listens. It presents the primary theme of the album quite well, but also gives you an idea of the musical concept as well. 9/10.

2. "Glassy Essence": This is easily one of the best tracks on the album. The chorus is incredible, and the medium tempo keeps thing melancholy. 10/10.

3. "Home": This is another great song that presents a lot of emotion, and it provides some great prog rock as well. 8/10.

4. "Faces": This is probably my least favorite song on the album. It is a slow ballad, but there is little in the way of interesting lyrical content or music. The vocals are incredible, to be sure. It is not filler, and it is still enjoyable, however. 6/10.

5. "Stranger than Fiction": This is one of the two heavier tracks on the album, and even involves some screaming at the end. It is really well done, and the drummer really stands out here. 9/10.

6. "Indifferent": This is another slower song on the album that really brings the emotional punch. Again, the vocals are amazing, and the raw humanity here is gut-wrenching. The final act has a faster tempo that perfectly complements the rest of the song. 8/10.

7. "December 20th": This is the best song on the album. It is heavy at parts, breathy in some areas, and amazing as a whole. Not only is musical expertise present, but the vocals and the concept of the album both come to fruition. We see the end of the story, and an emotion low is reached. This is an outstanding track. 10/10.

Overall, this is an exceptional album that just missed "essential" status. I am looking forward to their first album; and, according to the Facebook page, they have a new album coming soon. I will certainly buy this immediately. Votum's "Metafiction" is highly recommended.

Latest members reviews

3 stars After their surprisingly good bebut ("Time Must Have a Stop"), the expectations of Votum's follow-up were high. "Metafiction" is a good album, but not that good, sad to say, because their music is really good. They are real professionals and by hearing any of these seven songs anyone can be su ... (read more)

Report this review (#299726) | Posted by DeKay | Sunday, September 19, 2010 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Votum have been quoted as saying that the atmosphere of the music is the primary drive behind their music, and this statement comes through very clearly in both their albums, but more so on Metafiction. Metafiction is beautiful in it's composition from beginning to end and has no low points. In m ... (read more)

Report this review (#288516) | Posted by Ramma | Monday, June 28, 2010 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Boasting much, much better production and overall songwriting than debut "Time Must Have A Stop', Votum's 'Metafiction' is about as good as it gets for straightforward progressive metal. Vast, spacious and mellower than Riverside, there is some amazingly tasteful guitar work on display here, alon ... (read more)

Report this review (#261187) | Posted by Candlejack | Saturday, January 16, 2010 | Review Permanlink

5 stars The bands' first album (Time Must Have A Stop) seemed to pass by relatively un-noticed by the reviewers here but luckily I bought the album on a personal recommendation. I would describe the music as melodic progressive metal with the sublime vocals typical of many Polish bands of the last dec ... (read more)

Report this review (#261161) | Posted by demolition man | Saturday, January 16, 2010 | Review Permanlink

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