There's a very strong argument for Painkiller being the metal album with the best cover art, something that completely distils the awesomeness of metal music in a way that few others could. I see a lot of really great cover arts, often times when browsing the new releases page, so I know that seeing one that really sticks with you can make or break the album. That's why Veilburner's previous album, The Duality Of Decapitation And Wisdom, made such an impact on me, to the point where I had to spend a huge portion of my review specifically mentioning how huge that impact was and how it made me re-evaluate their music. So, knowing that they were already working on a follow-up, and then seeing that follow-up basically apply that same zany art style but with something that feels structurally similar to the awesomeness in the Painkiller cover ensured that, at least as far as the cover goes, Longing For Triumph, Reeking Of Tragedy would not be diminishing returns.
On the music side though, having a new record so quickly after the previous one can diminish the returns, especially if it's clear that the band is using the same creative juices as for the previous album. The Duality Of Decapitation And Wisdom was my favorite Veilburner album, and what I really appreciated about it was how its experimental nature manifested in a way that didn't make the music feel suffocating or endurance testing, and how the quite silly vocal performance gave it its own unique identity, and that's something that translated pretty well into Longing For Triumph, Reeking Of Tragedy.
While The Duality Of Decapitation And Wisdom, the band's 7th album, was structured around the number 7, having 7 tracks of exactly 7 minutes, Longing For Triumph, Reeking Of Tragedy reduces the numeric obsession, having 8 tracks of variable length, and more so having its lyrical concept forming a story where infinity (not that far of a cry from the number 8) plays a huge role. I'm sure there was a lot of thought put into how having a loop in the story would also translate into certain repetitions in the music itself, but that's not something I've managed to catch unto just yet.
I did manage to get the impression that Longing For Triumph, Reeking Of Tragedy relies instrumentally on more repetitions, on riffs that while not necessarily sounding straight-forward, alternate less chaotically. Saying that the album is "hooky" would be a far cry, but it is "hookier" and more adept at presenting its melodies in a way that makes them approachable without compromising its weirdo ethos. And I can't deny that some of its use of repetition and the mind-boggling nature of the riffing does add at least a touch of ethereal psychedelia, a dreamlike quality where the vocals decidedly anchor it in the nightmare-ish.
If there's any part of Longing For Triumph, Reeking Of Tragedy that feels less exciting and vital, that is only in comparison to its predecessor(s), as it continues to espouse a unique sound within extreme metal.
