Judgement - Dark Publications

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Album Description
VNV Nation's last album, Matter and Form (2005), was hailed by critics for its high-impact array of tone and sound, from hard hitting anthems to euphoric symphonies. In April 2007, the band is poised to release its next album, Judgement, which promises to be their most powerful and unique release to date. Having already broken the boundaries between industrial and other alternative music styles on Matter and Form, VNV Nation take this idea to new heights by creating a sound that is a collision of ever present insight, energy, emotion, past and future. From its fast pace, pounding bass-line and melody to its electric-guitar like synth sounds and Ronan Harris's thought provoking vocals, "Nemesis" rings through as one of VNV's most aggressive anthems to date. "Testament," which could be described as an electronic-indie anthem, "The Farthest Star" and "Carry You" provide a bright, hopeful outlook, while "Movement" presents a dark trance flavor to the band's ever expanding repertoire of song possibilities. The omniscient "Descent" sweeps in with dark electronic rhythms and lyrics that describe complete devastation, giving the yin to the yang of the ethereal ballad "Secluded Spaces" that makes you feel like nothing in the world could be more beautiful. With every album, VNV Nation manages to tear down more and more musical boundaries. Judgement will be their greatest achievement thus far.

Customer Reviews: Read 30 more reviews...

2 out of 5 stars

Still Mediocre a Year Later April 11, 2007
23 out of 35 found this review helpful

*Edited on 6/26/08*

In my previous review, I had claimed that "Judgement" was almost wholly without merit; in retrospect, I may have been overly harsh. If I could, I would change my review to three stars.

Track one adds nothing. Tracks two through six range from tolerable to good -- "The Farthest Star" and "Testament" are fairly solid VNV tracks that I would have expected before they released the failure that was "Matter + Form." "Descent" is the closest they've come to making a follow-up to "Second Skin" (which is a good thing), and "Momentum" is a fun dance cut. "Nemesis" is this album's kinda-aggressive song, which would have done well with a second verse and less of those warbling high-pitch synths around the chorus.

Unfortunately, after that, the album just turns into garbage. "Secluded Spaces" and "Illusion" are just crappy pop ballads without redeeming qualities, "Carry You" is still a crappy pop song disguised as EBM, and "As It Fades" might be more tolerable if it didn't follow a pile of crap. Let me clarify some things -- VNV Nation can do slow songs well, as is evidenced by "Carbon," "Tempest," and "Distant (Rubicon II)." They can even do softer (lyrically, not musically) songs -- "Beloved" might not have been the best song on "Futureperfect," but it certainly wasn't the worst. However, when they combine the two, it usually ends in failure, as it has for the last three albums.

If this was a six-track EP that ended with "Nemesis," I'd give this 4 stars, maybe even 5 stars just for being better than "Matter + Form" and reassuring me that VNV Nation can still make good music. As a full 10 songs, though -- 5/10 isn't really VNV quality. They can do better.

3 out of 5 stars

Not great, but pretty good April 15, 2007
15 out of 22 found this review helpful

VNV Nation's (Ronan Harris and Mark Jackson) new album "Judgment" (2007) sees a continuation of the dance/techno/futurepop/trance/synthpop styling that has defined the band since its inception. Basically, if you liked VNV Nation's earlier work, you'll get something out of "Judgment" too. When the album is good, it's really good, as the band is more than capable of churning out infectious, captivating dance beats with multi-dimensional layers of electronica. That said, while VNV Nation are great at what they do, they are not evolving. The album has a sort of "been there, done that" quality as it seems that the band is stagnating creativity. In addition, while past VNV Nation albums like "Future Perfect" (2002) and "Matter and Form" (2005) were good all the way through, "Judgment" is a bit stale by comparison. The songs start to sound redundant after a few minutes and the album, overall, is monotonous.

If you're a fan of VNV Nation, definitely check "Judgment" out, as it's still a pretty creative, interesting piece of work. If you're new to the band, however, you're better off checking out "Future Perfect" or "Matter and Form," as those are stronger albums in a similar vein.

5 out of 5 stars

Judgement is Great for VNV Nation May 19, 2007
11 out of 18 found this review helpful

I have played the newly released Judgement CD several times before I felt I could post a review. The first two times I listened with a few friends and a new person who had never listened to VNV Nation before. My significant other purchased this album for me and sent it to me and it was only right that she was present to listen to this album. I was looking forward to this album for several months and I have not been disappointed. I was left feeling impressed, moved and happy. The album lived up to my expectations and how could it not. VNV Nation is in my top 3 favourite artists behind Lifehouse and ahead of Delerium.

If I am to rate this album it would be a solid 9.5/10. The opening song is a industrial opening "Prelude" that revels in the natural flow of the well known fusion synth pop sound. "The Farthest Star" is the second song and it has some choice lyrics and a movable beat that makes the listener groove to the beat.The lyrics were great;

We possess the power
If it should start to fall apart
To mend divides, to change the world
To reach the farthest star

The third song is another beautiful synthetic melody with a hard hitting rhythm "Testament", that Ronan Harris speaks a message of a humanity hell bent on destroying itself with wars and destruction of the ecosystems. A pertinant message in the maelstrom of synth beats and beautiful drum action, a excerpt from the lyrics included;

And I'm not the only one who thinks we're trying to say
To the heavens and all who hear us, behold all we have made
We bring destruction, we bring war without an end
Then we live in hope that tomorrow never comes
That it never comes

The fourth song "Descent", is a more morose darkwave industrial beat with a foreboding message of mankind and war. It is a statement of what man does in the name of religion;

Manmade prophecies serve to vindicate
All sides who claim themselves
Worthy servants obedient to the same God
A God who commands them to Kill

The fifth song aptly called "Momentum" is probably the fastest song of the entire album and the most dance friendly. It is a song with strong driving beats that you can move your body hard and good on a dance floor with scintillating clean lyrics. I absolutely loved this song and can tell it will become one of my most listened songs in fairly short order

The sixth song "Nemesis" is another friendly dance song with a interesting sound that relies heavily on Ronan's quick fire voice. This song is another favourite of mine. The lyrics of this song bear the title of this album and the cover art. It is a album born out of the Book of Revelations in theme;

Want justice for the voice that can't be heard
Vindication for every suffering and hurt
Where retribution holds dominion over Earth
Because judgement day's not coming
Judgement day's not coming
soon enough

The seventh song harps back to "Legion" & "Forsaken" in the purely instrumental mode. Deep, dark, with good use of the keyboards, synths and the electronica manipulation, this is a softer and slower song that one can close their eyes to and indeed drift away into your dreams and fantasies. Julie and fellow listeners enjoyed this song.

The eighth song "Ilusion" was one of the most surprising for me and it is a romantic ballad that opens with a beautiful piano rendition before moving into electronica. Ronan Harris sings this diamond perfect and this song has the most wonderful open lyrics of love and illusion, that of love that is never lost. It is another song that will become my favourite;

I know it's hard to tell how mixed up you feel
Hoping what you need is behind every door
Each time you get hurt, I don't want you to change
Because everyone has hopes, you're human after all
The feeling sometimes, wishing you were someone else
Feeling as though you never belong
This feeling is not sadness, this feeling is not joy
I truly understand, Please, don't cry now

The second last song of this wonderous album is "Carry You" another surprise for me, but a pleasant one at that. It has a nice beat and again colourful lyrics that will bring a smile to your lips. It is VNV Nation on a cusp between the old and the new. Another song you could play for a loved one, over and over again;

Though it seems the past and future look the same
Suffice to say that you're still here
Though the past, the unwanted memories
Are holding on to you
All the power in the universe
Conspires to carry you

The last song which is track 10 on this album was Julie's favourite for it was ethereal in feel and sound with almost angelic vesper. This song paves the way for "Reformation" EP due out in early November 2007. I can't wait.

This is a truly amazing album and I thank my baby for getting it for me. She knows how much VNV Nation means for me, and people who know me know how close I am in thoughts and mind with this music. Indeed "As It Fades" the last song reveals that VNV Nation will never fade, not whilst Ronan is alive. This is truly a heartwarming and beautiful album. This CD will make you a fan of this duo. Congratulations VNV Nation from one heartfelt fan!

5 out of 5 stars

Dazzling return to Form April 7, 2007
8 out of 10 found this review helpful

After the virtually song-less experiment that was Matter + Form, VNV nation have learned from their mistakes and put together a brutally tight piece of music. Not to say that VNV haven't used the good elements on M+F ; far from it. The first song, "The Farthest Star" really picks up where "Arena" and "Perpetual" left off, but with stronger rhythm sections and lyrics. The analogue-synth-pop sound is still there, but with a much fuller sound. Instead of being a limiting factor this time around, the old-school instrumentation fills the sound-spectrum. The next song, "Testament," takes the album in another direction all together. The very live sound is heavy, and the synth lines are as grating as on "Chrome," but melodic, instead of fragmented. The tempo is fast, the bass is strong, and "Testament" becomes the first song on the album to really soar.
The next pair, "Descent" and "Momentum," are very reminiscent of Praise the Fallen, with a dark, driving sound and bass heavy synth lines, but with an upgraded, more real feel. "Nemesis" is a big romper-stomper of the album in "Fearless" style, as is "Carry You," but "Illusion" stands out as the most boundary-pushing of the album. It features a synth-piano sound as heard in "Colours of Rain," but here the emotion comes through in a tear-jerking style. Masterful.
The last song, "As it Fades" is the best outro yet. VNV has always had an epic sound, but "As it Fades" sounds like The Lord of the Rings in is sheer mournful beauty. A perfect closing.
Besides the into and closing tracks, every song on Judgement [sic] features lyrics and motion, and every song is really a SONG. There is no filler whatsoever on Judgement, like on Empires before it, but at the same time, the new post-futurepop VNV sound rules, producing a unique and heartfelt effort by the boys.
Bravo, I say! Trance, Synth-Pop, and EBM fans as usual will love the album, but so, perhaps, will the indie rock group, and hey, maybe a little radio play? "Testament" and "Farthest Star" really could make it.
Easily the best album since Empires.

5 out of 5 stars

Judgement Day Is Not Coming Soon Enough April 11, 2007
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

I had the fortunate opportunity to see this band live for the Judgement tour and got the album a week early. After fully digesting it, I must say it is a FANTASTIC record. While I still think Futureperfect is the best VNV Nation album, Judgement does surpass Matter + Form, mainly because there is more vocal tracks, which makes the songs more enjoyable. I'm sure all of VNV Nation's songs would be a lil' less interesting without Ronan's vocals. So we get 8 varied tracks sandwiched in between two orchestral opening and closing pieces. I guess my only complaint is that some of the synth lines sound way too similar to past songs, but the continuous improvement in both lyrics and production gives these songs an epic feel. Judgement is obviously a darker album being that the theme is Judgement Day, the end of mankind. Lyrically it contains many of VNV's most popular themes, but on tracks like Nemesis and Descent we see Ronan really tapping that dark visceral vein of his. The vocals on Descent are spoken, not sung, and believe me when I say Ronan sounds seriously grim on that track! A very haunting song. The two light-hearted obvious singles are The Farthest Star and Carry You. Those are great upbeat pop songs. Testament and Nemesis are the "heavier" songs with ultra-fast beats and familiar throbbing bass and synth lines(Praise The Fallen anyone?), and contain lyrics that practically cry for the world's demise. Illusion is the ballad of the album. A quiet cascading piece with great singing. As far as the intro/outro pieces go, I'd say the opener is very Neo-Classical in nature(As is a lot of VNV Nation's instrumentals), while the closing piece is angelic with synth-choir effects. For the first time in a long time the instrumentals work to great effect on this album creating a solid feel and direction. Also a plus is Ronan's vocals seem more raw and unpolished, especial on The Farthest Star. I can almost feel his voice reverberating in my head. Bottom-line is that if you consider yourself a VNV Nation fan at all, then you must get this album because without it you'll be missing some great electronic music. Not the best, but fresh and crisp in sound and new avenues were definitely traveled to create this fine album. Ronan Harris did a great job. Also, see the band on this tour if you can because they played almost the entire Judgement album when I saw them last week. Exciting stuff.

Buy this record.

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