Metal band Valley of Chrome releases new album, Victorious.

Metal band Valley of Chrome releases new album, Victorious.

by rick olivares

Filipino metalcore band Valley of Chrome is releasing their fourth album, Victorious, this coming February 22.

For Victorious, Valley of Chrome including their manager Jeff Keenan, have upped the ante. Beginning last July 2018, the five-piece band stepped out of their comfort zone by performing at the Hammersonic festival (that featured a lot of international bands) in Indonesia. The band returned to the studio and recorded 10 blistering tracks that vocalist Rogel Africa describes as “the band’s heaviest” in their 16-year history. 

According to band manager Jeff Keenan, performing at the Hammersonic festival made the band pay more attention to detail and be more technical in their music. “I think the results are for all to see and hear on Victorious,” he promised. “And to help elevate things to another level, we were able to get noted Brazilian painter, Marcelo Vasco, to do the cover for Victorious.”

Fans of metal music will recognize Vasco’s name. The painter’s work has adorned the covers of albums from noted bands such as Slayer, Machine Head, Kreator, Soulfly, Hatebreed, Testament, Dimmu Borgir, and former Twisted Sister vocalist Dee Snider’s solo album, For the Love of Metal to name a few.

The Brazilian had to immerse himself in Valley of Chrome’s music before putting his paint brush to the canvas. 

Said Simon of Vasco’s art adorning their cover, “It’s mind-blowing. It was a surreal moment when we all first saw the artwork. We know his work from bands like Slayer and Kreator and all of us in the band are fans. When we got the artwork, we went, ‘This is really happening!’”

I like the fact the local metal bands are raising the bar. A few years ago, Slapshock recorded the magnificent Night Owls with System of A Down’s Shavo Odadjian, noted producer Terry Date, and mixer Damien Page Lewis. And now, we have Valley of Chrome’s Victorious that finds the five-man band in their best form while wrapped around in the arresting and twisted art of Vasco.

The artwork isn’t the only one that is mind blowing. So is the music that delivers on the promise of heaviness. It’s tighter and more cohesive. Listening to the propulsive drumming of Paul Eusebio is like the sound of a thousand skulls being bashed on the bass drum while bassist Jordan Constantino lays down frenetic bass work. As for the shredding and tortured guitars of Tatel Marcelino and Kaloi Cambaliza – they complete symphony of the damned. 

In doing so, the newfound tightness and heavier sound makes me think of Archenemy and other bands. And as heavy as it is, Simon doesn’t simply growl his way through Victorious. He alternates between the banshee wailing and the more melodic. It sure is interesting how they interpret this live. 

Song-wise, the 10 tracks all build on the “victorious” theme. 

“Feast of Famine” – A short instrumental that opens the album that sets the mood.

“KKK” – Or “Kanya Kanyang Krus” that tackles the daily struggles we all go through

“Victorious” – The lone track in English is a celebration of resilience and learning from one’s mistakes.

“Markang Bungo” – Everyone is going to die at some point so might as well make the most out of life.

“Maskara” – It is about staying true to one’s self.

“Simula” – Everyone deserves a second chance. This is about hitting the reset button.

“Balang Araw” – Dreams come true if one works hard enough for it. And when the time is right.

“Alay” – A song for sacrifice.

“Yakap sa Multo” – The first single off the album. It is about accepting the ghosts of the past and moving on.

“Curtain Call” – The album closer and with a cinematic flair that is an excellent counterpoint to “Feast of Famine.”

Victorious is definitely an album you can be proud of. It stands toe to toe with any of the best of our local metal masters and then some. And it finds the band reborn with fire and ambition.