Somehow, three often conflicting musical realms (heavy metal, prog rock, and experimental) can be detected on the 2009 release by Virus,
The Black Flux. Most times, this Oslo, Norway-based outfit sounds comparable to
Voivod, but at other times sound like a distant musical disciple of
the Melvins (with far less distortion on the guitar and more discernible vocals). Either way, one thing's for certain. These chaps like to stretch a guitar part until your brain goes numb, as evidenced by the album's title track, which rambles on for nearly three minutes before the vocals finally kick in. Elsewhere, a tune like "Lost Peacocks" cuts to the chase quicker when it comes to the vocals, with a singing style (courtesy of Virus' singer/guitarist, Czral) that sounds patterned after the late/great Ian Curtis from
Joy Division. ~ Greg Prato