Metal Underground.com

2013 is looking to be another eclectic year for metal, and the recent Aural Music signees in Void of Sleep are kicking off the January release rush with an unexpected hit. Ignoring all the standard tropes of extreme music, “Tales Between Reality and Madness” works a broad range of sounds to appeal to a wider audience, while still scratching the metal itch.

There’s no question about it; Void of Sleep is a metal band, but there’s a huge amount of rock and stoner influences to be found throughout the entire release. Opening tracks “Blood on My Hands” and “Wisdom of Doom” start off with some of the heaviest material, keeping the guitars loud, distorted, and at the forefront of the music. The yelling-based vocals are halfway to clean singing and offer a great counterbalance to all the standard growling and screaming, which are completely absent on the album. For another twist, some minor psychedelic aspects suffuse a few of the tracks as well, giving off a bit of a prog feel. The overall package offers a strong showing for fans of Tool or other hard rock-focused bands.

On the downside, the sound quality could use a nudge upward, as the vocals and guitar tones are a bit faded and frequently overly distorted. It seems a distinct possibility that Void of Sleep might have been going for the fuzzy atmosphere on purpose, but a cleaner sound would offer a better listening experience and give more punch to the vocals. The bass in the first few tracks also becomes a constant buzz in the far background, although many of the later songs focus in strongly on the bass and bring the rhythm to a front and center position.

While the formula probably won’t work for all metal fans who typically stick just to the death and black varieties, “Tales Between Reality and Madness” is an underground gem worth discovering for most music lovers. If you dig stoner, hard rock, or sludge, and need a new band to check out, Void of Sleep is an excellent way to kick off your musical journey in the new year.