This 1990 album is the last from Valor before our timeline intersects with Rozz Williams again. It is almsot more likea Laibach album. Opening with a droning symphonic piece before lightning hits Frankenstein's castle. "Malus Amor" finds them clicking back into a rock formula. Granted, 1990 was a weird time for music, and they were at the most transgressive end of the weirdness as death rock started to merge with industrial. The beat almsot reminds me of Robert Palmer. But if you think about it, it's not too far removed from the Revolting Cocks. It struts more than grooves.
They bring in pieces that return to sprawling stretches of unsettling amabiance and balance them out with songs more supplied with actual instrumentation, such as "vexatio" which brings a creepy sensibility to blues-tinged rock. Even this descends into weirdness, but we were at least given something with more substance to contrast it with, which is pretty dark. "Somnium" has a straight-up rock drum beat and oddly rendered rock chords. Volar's stream-of-consciousness vocals rein it in to something on brand. Not what you would think of as death rock, but it still sounds like the band.
"venenum" has some rockabilly qualities. It would have fit well into today's indie rock market. They were ahead of their time even when trying to find where to go next. This album is much better than I remember it being."Mors Voluntaria" finds heavier guitar looming in. I liek the weird effects on his voice for this one. Not as many guitar solos on this one as the previous Valor albums, nor are there any hints of Jimi Hendrix, which is an improvement. There is some weirdness they wander into between the heavy riff segments. This sometimes causes it to wander off. "Vita Volutaria" is more of an abstract outro. I will give this on a 9.5; it's better than I remembered.
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