When an established musician is going out on their own and creating something new, you never know what to expect. Some end up making something beautiful, some don’t quite hit the mark. With Verona on Venus, not only is it beautiful, but it is also incredibly memorable. Mike Spreitzer (DevilDriver), has constructed a magical album full of darkness, comfort, and surprises, the biggest surprise being his vocal range.
Spreitzer has been working on this album for many years, making sure to do it the way he felt was going to feel right to him. The timing of the tracks, the exploration, the (of course) incredible guitar work, and the industrial elements make this a very interesting listen. When you add the lyrical content and vocals, it becomes even more special. This guy has been holding out on us metal fans, and I am grateful he has decided to bring us into his world.
While I initially felt a familiar 90’s embrace, I realized it warped into something else entirely by the continued listens. I will be doing a full review right before the release, which is January 19th, 2024. I encourage you to hurry and get your copies as well as jump on some merch, because I have a strong feeling this album is going to do extremely well. You can grab your VoV stuff here.
Mike was kind enough to sit down with me for the second time, but this time discussing Verona on Venus. (If you are viewing from your phone, please scroll to the bottom of the page and click “View Desktop Version” to gain video and interview access).