1914 · Viribus Unitis | BLACK 2LP

Black double vinyl in gatefold sleeve.

Background information about 'Viribus Unitis'

Ukrainian blackened death/doom metal formation 1914 return with unrelenting force on their fourth studio album "Viribus Unitis", Latin for "With United Forces." Far more than a historical reference to the personal motto of Franz Joseph I of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the title reflects the band's resilience through war, loss, and upheaval – a powerful symbol of survival and solidarity. Continuing their chronicle of World War I, 1914 shift their focus slightly, from the raw portrayal of death and destruction to themes of camaraderie, endurance, and the emotional landscapes of those who endured the horrors. While previous releases like "The Blind Leading the Blind" (2018) and "Where Fear and Weapons Meet" (2021) centered on the futility and finality of war, "Viribus Unitis" explores the human bonds forged under fire and the strength of those who returned: broken, changed, yet still alive.

Musically, 1914 remain true to their identity – brutal mixture of blackened death metal, slow-burning doom, and ambient war soundscapes. This time however, their sound gains a broader dynamic range, with soaring melodic leads, orchestral textures, and haunting clean vocals that provide dramatic contrast to the crushing heaviness. One of the album's highlights is a collaboration with Aaron Stainthorpe of My Dying Bride and High Parasite on "1918 Pt. 3: ADE (A Duty to Escape)", whose mournful voice adds a solemn, almost liturgical quality to this elegy of grief and brotherhood on the front lines. The album traces a timeline from 1914 to 1919, painting a grim journey through the war's rise, climax, and hollow aftermath, told through real events and personal accounts of a Ukrainian soldier in the K.u.K. army.

For fans of:
My Dying Bride, Bolt Thrower, Sabaton, Kanonenfieber and Mgła

Track listing

LP 1:
A1. War In
A2. 1914 (The Siege of Przemysl)
A3. 1915 (Zwinin Ridge)
B4. 1916 (Südtirol Offensive)
B5. 1917 (Verdun)

LP 2:
C6. 1918 Pt. 1: Prelude to Madness
C7. 1918 Pt. 2: POW (Prisoner of War)
C8. 1918 Pt. 3: ADE (A Duty to Escape)
D9. 1919 (The Home Where I Died)
D10. War Out (The End?)

Manufacturer: Napalm Records Handels GmbH, Hammerplatz 2, 8790 Eisenerz, Austria , Contact: napalmrecords.com