Volkor X - This Means War

When a being born in the year 1000 comes asking for you a review you do not and can not say the word "No" to such an omnipotent galactic force that can probably vaporize any man with the twitch of an eyebrow. This is why I am more than proud to bring to your attention Volkor X, otherwise known as the Swallower of Worlds and the Intergalactic Triumphant Victor amongst other things. Though the Conqueror of the Peoples of the Universe is all powerful, it is also the brainchild of one man from France who uses Synthwave as a way to coordinate carefully planned attacks across the universe. And by the looks of it, it seems as if Volkor X is dominating the synthwave scene by storm. 

Released just two months ago on cassette, CD, and vinyl formats, Volkor X's debut album This Means War has already sold out on CD and Vinyl, and I'm sure that the cassette will be sold out soon. I wouldn't even doubt if it's sold out by the time I'm done typing out this sentence. Either way, the big fat eight in the upper right hand corner and the fact that I'm telling you to go buy this now before it sells out for good should be a damn decent reason to at least look at this album. 

The synthwave shenanigans begin off with 'Prelude To War' which is exactly what it sounds like. Cinematic sci-fi noises combine with electronics of the future while a slow beat works its way into the song past the half way mark. 'Masked Death' takes frittering  but frantic lines alongside chase filled and thrilling synths. 'Run Away' pounds away some of the best synth lines on the album and would look awesome in a live concert with smoke on a keytar...So long as said player commanding the keytar is wearing some awesome retro platform boots. 

It's easy to see where Volkor X gets his inspiration from as soon as you hit the song 'Beacon', in which fellow synthwaver Dimi Kaye conducts an epic guitar solo. There are spoken word segments from Earth Abides: Part 1 of 2 (an older post-apocalyptic film based off of the 1949 novel of the same name) and fit very well within the world Volkor X has sucked me into. The same process is repeated on the song 'The Bomb' of the album, although the spoken word is sampled from the film Attack From Space. 

'Hyperlseep' is a very calm and mellow, atmospheric song - as if you're drifting in space on a path to nowhere. The mood of the song fits its title very well. The last and also title track on the album is frenetic and features kick ass drum and bass elements along with a sick guitar solo done by Sylvain Coudret. 

All jokes about the gigantic overlord and conqueror of the galaxies, the Frenchman behind Volkor X's sound is very, very good at what he does and I'm glad synthwave fanatics have embraced him so well. Because so have I. I already mentioned how fast this guy's music is selling out, so if you're a stickler for physical, limited copy editions of music, act fast! 
Aug 28 2016