"VACUA rise from the depths of underground, pagan, and esoteric Rome with their debut album "Mater." Following the release of their debut EP, "Mater" includes seven Black Metal tracks (and a brief Interlude) defined by a style that is both melodic and aggressive, featuring memorable hooks and relentless tempos. This time, the production is modern and no more raw/lo-fi (unlike the debut EP). The album reconnects us with Mother Earth and our essence as ephemeral beings, while also confronting the mistakes of our species. Constant violation of Mother Earth and Her consequential desperate self-destruction is the main theme, sung in Italian. It is also a tribute to those who worshipped Nature by glorifying it and offering themselves as earthly tribute—like the "Janare", the typical witches of Southern Italy."

The album has eight songs, and "Falce dei Reietti" is first. It has an aggressive sound, but is not without some melody in the guitars. It takes a slower turn, to somber tones, approaching the midway point, but the aggression returns. "Dies Funeris Terrae" has another deeply aggressive sound from the thick guitar work and speedy drums. The first two songs aren't overly inventive, but you have to admire their commitment to their sound. "Dissolto" is a bit shorter than they first two songs, but no less intense. The thick guitar work creates that familiar "wall of sound" that you often hear in this type of music, and the vocals keep a high level of intensity.

"Agoraphobia" hears the band keep the foot steady on the gas pedal without letting up. The first four songs are blistering. Again, their commitment is impressive but they aren't offering a lot of variety. "Rantoli nel Buio" is another highly intense song with a burning pace, and it's fairly clear through six songs that this is what we are going to get. That's disappointing to me, because the band isn't without talent, they just need to take some more chances and work in more diversity or every song sounds similar. "Aura Glaciale" is the final song on the album, and besides some opening intensity, it has a Thrashy groove. It still has a high level of intensity, and that will not change.

Don't get me wrong, the album wasn't a total loss, and the band is obviously talented, but they need to ease off the gas pedal every now and again. Work in some different vocals, some different sounds…the genre is quite forgiving these days. They can still maintain their intensity while embracing some other methods.