REVIEW: 1914 - Viribus Unitis

Have you ever seen a war documentary? There always seems to be a mix of archival footage and sounds, with modern day documentarians and interviewees. This kind of approach is rarely seen in music. That is because most artists are not 1914. This Ukrainian blackened death metal outfit have a history of creating conceptual albums that revolve around the great war, and on their fourth album, Viribus Unitis, the band have crafted something truly spectacular. An album that is part documentary and part music, and one which captures the vibes of war unlike anything we have heard in recent times. 

Viribus Unitis kicks off with an intro - War In (The Beginning of the Fall) - that feels as if it was taken from an ancient documentary, with a really old-fashioned sounding song, which sounds as if it came out of a TV broadcast about the first world war. This is followed up by 1914 (The Siege of Przemyśl). This track kicks off immediately with blast beats and a very atmospheric yet fast-paced riff before the vocals kick in. The pace is consistent for the most part, but just before the two-minute mark, there is a small section where another of those old-timey songs play before the band returns with a slower section. This section is much more melancholic, and there are some really subtle vocal layers which really elevate this opening track. The song ends with a final verse and chorus which once again include blast beats galore which is what is to be expected from a black metal song. 

The following track is the longest by far and is a nine-minute-long black metal masterpiece. 1915 (Easter Battle for the Zwinin Ridge) perfectly captures different elements of what blackened death metal is. It is heavy at times, atmospheric at times - this song is an extremely haunting listen, especially as it progresses. The first half is just as rapid as the album opener, but it is the second half of this track that truly makes it sensational. After a relaxing guitar and bass duel, the blast beats return with the vocals, but this time they are layered to sound like a medieval choir, and to say that this sounds haunting is an understatement. Another relaxing section follows which gives us a breather as with the nature of this song, but we know something is just around the corner. The next section is a slower, much more sombre one, with the drums being slowed down, and the vocals being more melodic albeit still with the choir layering. This is how the song ends, with this eerie yet beautifully melodic section which is executed fantastically. 

What comes after the halfway point of this album is where the conceptual element comes into play. Here, 1914 opted to have a trilogy of songs which tells the story of a soldier, who fought in the first world war, and who struggled to come to terms of how brutal it was, and the PTSD that comes with war. The highlights here are the first and last songs in this trilogy. 1918 PT 1: WIA (Wounded In Action) is self-explanatory. It is a track about getting injured in war. This one once again opens with another documentary-esque intro before the band comes in. The mood here is vastly more serious as the instrumental parts are much simpler, and no typical blast beats are heard anywhere once this track begins. The chorus here is the easiest to distinguish on this record in terms of how obvious it is compared to the other tracks. 

The final song of this trilogy is entitled 1918 PT 3: (A duty to escape) and it is extremely moody and depressing. The guitar riffs are played in much lower registers which furthers the moody ambience this song emits. The vocals here are a mix of harsh and clean. Both are complimented with different drum beats and riffs which is a special touch the band gives to this track, which easily helps it stand out. The bridge on this track has a melancholic prog metal feel to it, before the final chorus kicks in which includes both the harsh and clean vocals on top of each other which is another outstanding example of how well this album has been recorded. 

The song that follows is the final proper song on Viribus Unitis, and it is also the second longest, clocking in at just over seven minutes long. 1919 (The Home Where I Died) is a very creepy yet beautiful ballad. Here, the clean vocals dominate, and every lyric sung is easily felt which helps remind us just how horrific war is. The drumming on this song is effective as the beats were clearly written to accompany the vocals, as opposed to being their own thing. Another notable aspect of this track is how the guitars are barely noticeable. This adds an element of eeriness to the song and helps give it a more effective minimalistic sound which at the same time, makes this a standout song which portrays the horrors of wars in the simplest of ways.

Both musically and thematically, this is an outstanding album. The tracks throughout this record are mostly consistent with only a couple that are not on the same level as most of the songs here. What is consistent however, is the war theme. The vibes are consistently depressing and showcases how 1914 believe the battlefield should be represented, and the result is a record that constantly sounds haunting and extremely emotional.

Bands like 1914 are here to remind us all that war is the ultimate evil humanity can pull off, and Viribus Unitis is an example of what war and at times, being a soldier may feel like as this album tackles a wide array of topics, such as battles and PTSD. The main point of this album, however, is to showcase how bad war may feel, and we believe that this is executed to near perfection. War is one of those things that may never disappear, unfortunately, but if bands such as 1914 continue to show just how devastating it can be, the world may just be a tiny bit better.

Score: 9/10

Viribus United will be released on November 14th 2025, via Napalm Records.

Words: Itay Gilad

Photos: Sofiia Ruda