From their EPK, “VINTRAS was born as a conduit for misery and desperation. The reflection of a disintegrating psyche, ebbing and flowing through peaks and troughs of depression, frustration and anger. What was endured has been channeled into a singular expression beyond the mortal coil, beyond the ordeal, beyond the physical. What was known is no more, now captured as immaterial missive within the flickering of timeless flame. The vision of the self: a figure desperately fighting against the inevitable slide down the spiral. The realization that we are all trapped as one: trapped by our past and unable to escape our future. A perpetual existence, wretched and forlorn. “Timescarred” presents a suite of six compositions, epic in their melancholy, sweeping in their scope. In sorrow, in pain, in regret and in flickers of hope – a work of passing time in the wake of dream and the shadow of demise.”

The album has six songs, and “In Death’s Dream” is first, and it very aggressive, as well as rich…filled out. It is also very intense, and runs back and forth from anger to desolation. Both of these things can have a high emotional impact, although they are very different feelings. The title track is another lengthy offering. It begins with a slower pace, but the intensity is still at a ten. There are more shifts along the way, but if you keep your feet on the ground, you can bend with them. “Hinterland” begins with clean tones, and the album’s tight hold on you lessens a bit, but you can still feel the heavy emotional burden of that perpetual existence they talk about. For me, it borders on just giving up and throwing in the towel on anything good that may come out of your life…but keep listening.

“The Wretched Wanderer” is the shortest song on the album, at just under six minutes, but it is still very intense, although a bit of a groove develops in the song at times. By contrast, “Dethrone” is the longest, at just under 11 minutes. The rage develops like a slow boiling of water, until it violently explodes. I am not sure which tones are more dominant here…hate, or despair. It does drag on just a bit for me, but I suppose that is the point. “Sorrowed Lands” closes the album, and that title is very fitting for the music…it is depressing, and despondent. Rage soon takes over though, and it busts through the barricades like a storm through paper. This was an excellent album, and its biggest strength was the level of intensity coupled with the strong senses of anger and desolation all mixed together. This is not for the faint at heart.