VoD are a Viennese metal combo formed in January of 2013 who have often been described as groove/heavy metal. VoD consists of Dan Gallar (vocals), Dejan Jorgovanovic (guitars), Thomas Hava (bass) and Mike Gr (drums). Their dbut album, cleverly titled "Deception Unveiled", was released in October 2013 and received very positive reviews. Everybody at the time conceded that VoD has a somewhat different and distinct sound. Their sophomore effort "Tearing Up the Roots" however is without a doubt a more mature effort, chock-full of groove-laden heavy metal tunes with very charismatic and unique vocals. Far from being a band trying to fit into the many sub-genres of metal, VoD have managed to create their own sound with their amalgamation of styles, moods and vibes. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by none other than Norbert Leitner of Udio Media Studios. The band knew damn well that only someone like Norbert would be able to successfully capture the essence of the sound the band was after for their second album. From the threatening thrash sound of "Stench of Fear" to the crushing stoner riffs of "This Is My Reality" or the darker, moody, almost gothic atmosphere of "Summer's Dying" and the heartwarming "Redemption Mode", the VoD outfit managed to create a cohesive yet very varied disc. The avid metal connoisseur will instantly pick up all these influences yet at the same time will concede that the guys keep a perfect sense of cohesion, giving their sound a whole sense of unity and personality throughout. The lyrics on this album are also very soulful and thought-provoking, getting the listener to embark on a labyrinth of thoughts upon each listen. In essence, VoD don't really embrace any label in particular and they simply call themselves... METAL. Yes, pure unadulterated Austrian metal and proud of it!